Former U.S. national team goalkeeper Kim Wyant allowed just one shootout goal against the Chicago Cobras to spark the Long Island Lady Riders to their second W-League championship in Brockport, N.Y., Aug. 3. The Lady Riders, who also won the 1995 title, edged the Cobras 2-1 in the shootout to win the USWSL final 2-1. Wyant, whoÆs also the head coach at Florida Atlantic University, almost retired from competitive play last year when she ruptured the Achilles tendon in her right foot. But she returned to help the Lady Riders compile a 13-1 season record. During the course of the three-day championship tournament Wyant shut out the defending champion Maryland Pride 2-0 and beat the California Storm 3-2 after a 1-0 shootout win. She also had four saves in the final en route to MVP honors. Long IslandÆs Jen Bauman had given her club a 1-0 lead against Chicago with a 48th-minute strike set up by Dena Grossman. But SMU senior Marci Miller tied the match for the Cobras with a goal just four minutes later. In the shootout Wisconsin graduate Jill Stewart was the only Cobra to get past Wyant. Debbie Johnson nabbed the first for Long Island and Teresa Petruccelli notched the gamewinner. In the third-place game, former national team defender Megan McCarthy scored twice and assisted twice to give the Pride a 4-3 win over California. The Storm had led 2-0 with first-half goals from former Santa Clara star Erin Martinez. Three days before the final, the U.S. national team blanked the tournament host Rochester Ravens 8-0 in an exhibition match.
W-League Championship, First Round
Aug. 1 in Brockport, N.Y. California 2 Atlanta 0. Goals: Carroll (Lalor 73), Adamson (Hadfield) 83. Long Island 2 Maryland 0. Goals: Bowman 59, Martin 90. Rochester 0 Chicago 5. Goals: L.Seidl (Brennan) 13, Strey 38, McElmury (pen.) 39, Miller 52, Lamb (Skibski) 56. Aug. 2 in Brockport, N.Y. Chicago 2 Maryland 3. Goals: Linex (Skibski) 10, E.Seidl (Myers) 15; Cromwell 14, Cromwell 24, Shermeta 32. California 2 Long Island 2 (Long Island wins shootout 1-0). Goals: M.Holan 24, Lalor 55; Connolly 15, Connolly 80. Rochester 1 Atlanta 0. Goal: Scanlon 57.Final Standings
| TEAM | W | L | SOW | GF | GA | P |
| Long Island | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Chicago | 1 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 5 |
| California | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Maryland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Rochester | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Atlanta | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |