LAS VEGAS - PDA Fire didn’t need another five minutes. It only needed five seconds.

That’s just how down-to-the-wire things came in an epic U17 girls match with Real Colorado on Saturday in the Las Vegas College Showcase played in Kellogg Zaher Complex.

Real dodged a couple potential game-tying goals, including one last one just before the final whistle sounded signaling their 2-1 victory.

The match was a clear case of opportunities vs. opportunist. New Jersey's PDA Fire put pressure on Real for the entire second half and clearly wore down their fatigued defense, but couldn’t capitalize.

Colorado, on the other hand, was downright efficient and escaped with a momentous victory.

Midfielder Lauren Coviello put in what turned out to be the game-winning score. She managed to win a free kick and put a header through PDA’s defense and into the net.

“There was a deflection and it came out to me and I headed it,” explained Coviello.

Colorado, playing in its second match of the day, has a tough schedule this weekend that at tournament’s end will have included PDA, Eclipse Select and the San Diego Surf.

Midfielder Hayley Hughes thinks the formidable opponents can actually be advantageous to her team.

“It’s always better for us playing harder teams; we have the mentality that we have to go after them and work better,” she said. “I’m proud of us, we’re playing better.”

After Coviello’s goal made it 2-0, Real had to persevere just to hold on.

PDA forward Kaitlin Brenn made it 2-1 late in the second half, and from there the Fire applied relentless pressure.

Mary Gibson Wagner seemed to be involved in every scoring threat for PDA, and played a fabulous game. She had a shot at tying things with a left-footed chip that was saved by keeper Meghan Thomas.

The Fire has a host of dangerous attackers including Kristen Niederhaus, and Gabriella Guzman.

But in the end, what PDA didn’t have was what it needed most.

More time.

OTHER STANDOUTS

Grace Holmes, U15 Eclipse Select forward: It isn’t possible to outwork this talented striker. During one particular sequence Saturday, Holmes lost her shoe, yet still managed to win a ball 10 yards downfield. While she’s not the fastest player, she changes speeds well and is technically proficient.

Nmachi JeriAnn Okoro, U16 Dallas Sting forward: Okuro in her own words: “I know that if I make a good run - because I’m super duper fast - and they get me a ball that’s perfect, I know that we’re doing well.”

Okoro, who runs track (the 100, 4x1and 4x2 relays), isn’t exaggerating. She drew gasps every time she got the ball Saturday with bursts of speed that would’ve made Hussein Bolt proud.

Kathryn Oehring, U17 Real Colorado defender: Tall and poised defender who held her own against PDA’s vaunted offense. Oehring was poised the whole match, and wasn’t afraid to take space - recording an assist on her team’s first goal.

RANDOM OBSERVATIONS

The U16 Dallas Sting have conspicuous tassels that dangle from their socks. It’s a look that reeks of Las Vegas, but actually has a meaning that exceeds any fashion statement.

“It’s a tradition in our club,” said midfielder Taylor Freeman. “You have to earn your tassels - it’s something that each team has to earn. And they also help to keep your socks up, and that’s good ...

The U15 Eclipse Select team had a crowded bench, but not because it had plethora of players. No, it’s because the Eclipse employed three very active coaches. At halftime, the team broke into three groups where each coach spoke a word of encouragement.

Unfortunately for them, it didn’t appear to triple the odds of success, as they fell 2-0 to Real Colorado, but it was nevertheless an interesting way of doing things.

 

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