Written By:  Katie Parker
             West Region Contributor

Photos By:   Noel Danseco
             @drive_x_strike

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In a rivalry as old as the league itself, the San Francisco Nighthawks edged out the California Storm for the Pac North Conference Title. The Nighthawks and the Storm are both founding members of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) and have competed in Northern California for 24 seasons.

 

Fans began pouring into Davis Legacy Legacy Complex near Sacramento more than an hour before kickoff on Sunday, July 10. Bounce houses, cornhole, wine tastings, bubble soccer, food trucks, and a merchandise table - all part of the typical Storm gameday experience.

 

This day felt different though. It was the Pac North Conference Championship Final and the energy in the air was palpable.

 

As fans arrived, the sunny northern California day pushed 100 degrees. Near the end of warmups, the Storm gathered in a branded team tunnel, complete with a smoke machine, for a theatrical entrance onto the pitch.  

 

After the teams huddled, the conference final kicked off with a tweet of the whistle. Given all the excitement and noise from the fans, it would have been easy to miss Storm Head Coach Jamie Levoy say to her team, “Remember, they’re going to come out hard in the first 10!”

 

And that’s exactly what happened.

 

In the 7’ Nighthawks midfielder Keely Roy (University of California, Berkeley)  gave San Francisco the lead.

 

“I saw the ball coming across, and for me, I’m always looking to get in behind. So I saw a little break and I just got in there. I saw [Storm’s Madison] Ayson closing, that’s my old teammate and she’s got long legs. I was like, I have one shot to hit it and I was like, I’m just going to put a toe on it.” Roy said. “So I got lucky, keeper came out and I lifted it over her.”

 

Levoy believes her side came out a little flat because of adjustments in the lineup.

 

“I take full ownership of that. I think it kind of threw us off a little bit,” Levoy said.

 

San Francisco found itself up a goal early, but the intensity from both sides never let up. Looking at the crowd alone, it would’ve been difficult to tell if they were spectators at a tennis match or a soccer game - possession changed sides quickly and constantly. The lack of points on the board was incredibly misleading. Both teams, especially the Storm, had an abundance of chances and each keeper had hero moments with huge saves.
 

By: Noel Danseco

 

Storm fans held their breath on a San Francisco corner that flew into the 6-yard box untouched and bounced around, ricocheting off players like a pinball machine before being cleared.

 

On the other end, Storm’s left-footed midfielder Kaylee Gillespie (William Jessup University) let shots rip from everywhere in the offensive third. One series of plays earned the Storm three solid chances in a row as it took shots, got rebounds, sent the ball back out wide, and tried again - a series ultimately halted by Nighthawks goalie, Raquel Lau (UC Davis).

 

Levoy pointed out it was the first time all season the Storm’s opponent had scored first.

 

“I told them, ‘this is a great opportunity. Let’s see how we respond to it,’” Levoy said. “You can sulk and you can say, ‘oh my gosh, the game’s over.’ No, show some character. Let’s go! This is a great opportunity for us to seize and just show what we’re made of. And they did”

 

In the 89’, as chants of “Let’s go Storm” broke out, captain Elizabeth Hutchison (UC Davis alumna) served a gorgeous go-ahead ball to Stanford University standout Maya Doms racing toward the goal with ‘Hawks defenders hot on her heels. The ball bounced perfectly in front of Doms as San Francisco’s Lau left her line to challenge. With one touch, Doms gave it just the lift it needed to arc over Lau’s outstretched hands and bounce into the goal.

 

By: Noel Danseco

 

New ballgame.

 

The 1-1 draw held firm through the 30-minute overtime sending the match to penalty kicks.

 

Lau got her hands on the first PK, but the force behind Lindsey Porter’s (UC Davis) shot drove it past her into the goal. Roy tucked the ‘Hawk’s first chance just under the crossbar. Off to a 1-1 start.

 

Lau read the next one perfectly, deflecting Gillespie’s attempt with a diving save. Both sides scored once more resulting in a 2-2 draw after five penalties each.

 

Hutchison stepped up for the Storm and heartbreakingly sent her attempt high. SF’s Gina Woodward, who previously played professionally for the former Bay Area Breeze, had the chance to end the thrilling back and forth. After a calm approach, she sent a right-footed pass to the right lower 90, past the Storm goalie.

 

By: Noel Danseco

The Nighthawks rushed the field in celebration. San Francisco won 3-2 on PKs to earn its first Pac North Conference Championship.

 

“It feels so good - and let’s be honest, it’s always so much more fun winning on someone else’s turf!” Woodward said, “I’m so happy for my team. We all just put it out on the field. My heart is full.”

 

While it’s anxiety-inducing to watch PKs as a fan, Lau felt confident going in.

 

“I’ve trained all my life taking PKs against my brothers and my teammates. Always at practices I’m like, ‘hey I need the reps,’” Lau said. “Before the PKs, I told my team, ‘just focus on getting the ball in, leave the defense to me. I’ve got your back.’”

 

With the Nighthawks’ first Conference Title comes its first trip to Regionals. San Francisco will host Miss Kick Football Club (4-1-3) from the SoCal Conference on Saturday, July 16.

 

By: Noel Danseco

 

No matter how far the ‘Hawks go now or in the future, that Conference Final win on a hot July night against a 24-season rival will be one to remember.

 

“It’s honestly an indescribable feeling, playing in that kind of competitive match, with the fans and the atmosphere. You remember these kinds of games throughout your career. It’s just something special,” Roy said. “It makes this game feel like a world championship.”

 

Watch the Regional Playoffs live on Eleven Sports, the official streaming partner of the WPSL.