In a match that befit a showdown between the Women's Premier Soccer League Desert Conference’s top two teams, FC Tucson took an early lead and were able to hold off Atomic City FC in a tense second half to garner a 2-1 win at Kino North Stadium on Friday night.
Two goals by Luz Duarte and a solid effort by the backline kept Tucson (4-0-1, 13 points) four points clear of second-place Atomic City (3-2, 9 points).
Both of Atomic City's losses have come to Tucson, with a 5-1 verdict in Las Vegas on June 13.
“We knew this would be a difficult challenge,” said FC Tucson coach Kelly Pierce. “We knew going in this was the most important game of the season. We knew they were keeping up with us on points. We knew they wanted redemption.”
Duarte scored in the 25th minute on a pass from Haley Harris to put Tucson up 1-0 during a first half in which they dominated.
FC Tucson continued to keep up the pressure in the second half and that resulted in Duarte scored a second goal in the 56th minute off a corner.
In a match that befit a showdown between the Women’s Premier Soccer League Desert Conference’s top two teams, FC Tucson took an early lead and were able to hold off Atomic City FC in a tense second half to garner a 2-1 win at Kino North Stadium on Friday night.
Two goals by Luz Duarte and a solid effort by the backline kept Tucson (4-0-1, 13 points) four points clear of second-place Atomic City (3-2, 9 points).
Both of Atomic City’s losses have come to Tucson, with a 5-1 verdict in Las Vegas on June 13.
“We knew this would be a difficult challenge,” said FC Tucson coach Kelly Pierce. “We knew going in this was the most important game of the season. We knew they were keeping up with us on points. We knew they wanted redemption.”
Duarte scored in the 25th minute on a pass from Haley Harris to put Tucson up 1-0 during a first half in which they dominated.
FC Tucson continued to keep up the pressure in the second half and that resulted in Duarte scored a second goal in the 56th minute off a corner.
But Atomic City responded with more possession and quite a few chances coming from the wingers before Quincy Bonds blasted home a ball that rebounded to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 64th minute.
Both teams pushed to add to their goal totals but neither could find success in a back-and-forth final 25 minutes. Tucson also hit the crossbar twice in the final stanza.
FC Tucson will be back in action against long-time Phoenix rival SC del Sol on Friday, July 2, in its final home game of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
But Atomic City responded with more possession and quite a few chances coming from the wingers before Quincy Bonds blasted home a ball that rebounded to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 64th minute.
Both teams pushed to add to their goal totals but neither could find success in a back-and-forth final 25 minutes. Tucson also hit the crossbar twice in the final stanza.
FC Tucson will be back in action against long-time Phoenix rival SC del Sol on Friday, July 2, in its final home game of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
