A fifteenth-minute goal from Manouchka Pierre-Louis saw FC Indiana snatch its first win of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League season against the Philadelphia Fever on Friday, June 29. The victory pulls FC Indiana out of the bottom spot on the table and into a tie with ASA Chesapeake Charge, who they face on Sunday, July 1.
A tense, tight contest was decided when Pierre-Louis latched onto a clever pass from Jordan Clark. She took a touch to steady herself then fired near post from 12 yards out. It was a goal out of nothing. Before then both defenses had been on top and there had been little to split the sides. Philadelphia controlled the first quarter-hour of the match, but after the Pierre-Louis tally FC Indiana counters seemed destined to produce another goal.
However, it never came. In the 83rd minute, Philadelphia created their best clear chance at goal. After a corner, Allen squeezed a shot but could not prod it past FC Indiana goalkeeper Geralda Santilus from ten yards out. Then with two minutes left Philadelphia’s Leanne Champ barely missed with a direct kick, just topping the crossbar.
