Los Angeles-FC Gold Pride: Sol Clinch WPS Regular Season Championship

It's official: the Los Angeles Sol are the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer regular season champions.

A resolute FC Gold Pride stood in the way between them and the title at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara. But it was the defensive heroics of Karina LeBlanc that ensured that the Sol would host the first WPS championship game in a 0-0 draw on Thursday night.

“We are delighted to win the WPS Regular Season title,” said Los Angeles Sol manager Abner Rogers. “We have had a great a great five months and are very happy to have won for the city of Los Angeles and our great fans.”

Both teams had numerous opportunities to score, with each side tallying 10 shots. The best opportunity for LA came in the 67th minute, when Han Duan's shot was blocked by FC Gold Pride goalkeeper Allison Whitworth.

Karina LeBlanc made three saves to earn her league-leading 12th save of the season.

Los Angeles improves to 11-2-5 (38 points). FC Gold Pride drops to 3-9-4 (13 points). In spite of being given a stay, the draw puts FC Gold Pride further and further out of the playoff picture.

A loss or a draw for the Lionesses of the Bay in any of their remaining games will essentially end any mathematical hopes of making the postseason.

The Los Angeles Sol will travel to the Windy City on Sunday, Aug. 2 to take on the Chicago Red Stars. Kickoff is scheduled 6:00 p.m. ET and will be covered by Fox Soccer Channel.

FC Gold Pride, meanwhile, will have a lot to think about as they go on a virtual suicide mission to Fenton, Missouri's Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park to take on St. Louis Athletica.

Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET and will be covered by Fox Soccer Channel.

07.23.2009

Santa Clara, California – Buck Shaw Stadium



Los Angeles Sol – FC Gold Pride 0:0 (0:0)



1 2 F

Los Angeles 0 0 0

Bay Area 0 0 0





Scoring Summary

None


Lineups



Los Angeles Sol: Karina LeBlanc; Manya Makoski, Sharlota Nonen; Brittany Bock, Keri Sanchez, Aly Wagner (77: McCall Zerboni), Camille Abily, Lisa Sari (46: Shannon Boxx), Aya Miyama, Han Duan, Marta.



FC Gold Pride: Alison Whitworth, Leigh Ann Robinson, Kristen Graczyk, Carrie Dew, Greer Barnes, Formiga, Tina DiMartino, Leslie Osborne, Brandi Chastain (80: Yokers), Tiffany Milbrett, Adriane (90: Massengale).



Misconduct Summary



LA: LeBlanc (caution) 79’



Statistics



                    Los Angeles     FC Gold Pride



Shots                 10                    10

Shots on Goal       1                      3

Saves                 3                      1

Fouls                  7                      7

Corners               4                      5

Offside                2                      0





Referee: Felisha Mariscal

Linesmen: Maurizio Laudane, Marlene Duffy

4th Official: Colin Arblaster

Attendance: N/A

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 65 degrees