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Photo Gallery: Century United, Pittsburgh Hotspurs play to 1-1 draw to put wraps on WPSL season

Pittsburgh Hotspurs and Century United women's teams battled to a 1-1 draw at Founders Field on Wednesday (Photo courtesy David Hague)

All photos courtesy David Hague 

In the second meeting of the season between the region’s WPSL clubs, Century United rallied to find a second half equalizer against Pittsburgh Hotspurs in a match that would end in a 1-1 deadlock at Founders Field on Wednesday evening..

David Hague was there to caputre the action of the second and final meeting between the two Pittsburgh-area clubs who’ve made their WPSL debut this season. Each team’s roster is filled with many current and recent college players.

After losing its first two matches of the season, Century United (2-2-3) extended its unbeaten streak to five games, while the Hotspurs completed its first season in WPSL play with a 1-4-2 overall record.

It was clear that when these two sides meet, you can throw out the records or places in the standings. It’s a battle between two clubs that have assembled a lot of Pittsburgh-area female soccer talent with not much separating them.

Emily Cooper scored an early goal to give the Hotspurs the lead in the first half, but Century United battled back to level the match after earning a penalty kick in the second half.

The Hotspurs, looking to avenge its loss to Century United in early July, came out on the front foot on its home turf.

Lena Spencer made an excellent run after a great build to set up Cooper’s goal.

Century United responded by earning a penalty kick early in the second half — in the 47th minute.

It was apparent that Hotspurs weren’t happy with the PK call…

The match was physical, with neither side giving in — and each pushed for the go-ahead goal for much of the second half.

Each side had opportunities, but the goalkeeping in the match was solid.

The starting keepers — both from Duquesne’s women’s program — Bella DeFabbo (Hotspurs) and Maddy Neundorfer (Century) faced their share of pressure, coming off their lines a few times to deny goal scoring opportunities and making numerous saves.

In the second half, Hotspurs created dangerous chances from veteran Jansen Jamison, who previously played with Steel City FC, and Sydney Routch, a Duquesne University winger/outside back.

With high-level of play between the sides in both meetings, with the progress that each club made this spring and summer and the number of talented players in our region that were allowed to continue to develop and grow as players in their first season in the WPSL, this appears to be just the beginning of a what could be come a great rivarly and progression of the women’s game in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

Pittsburgh Soccer Now is looking forward sharing more from both clubs for their takaways from the 2021 campaign and what each club’s aspirations will be moving forward to 2022 and beyond to continue to grow the women’s game in the region.  

David Hague Photo Gallery 

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