The Northern Virginia Majestics completed the season sweep of the New York Magic with a resounding 4-0 victory Saturday night at Iona College. The Majestics offense came alive and the sturdy Northern Virginia defense contained the Magic attack, only allowing six shots on the night. 

 

Northern Virginia faced the Magic just six days prior, relying on a single goal by midfielder Kelly Hammond to earn the win. The Majestics found their rhythm early and often, beginning in the 8th minute of play when midfielder Jessie Deegan lined up a free kick from the right side of the New York third. Deegan’s kick floated deep into the box and was struck solidly on the volley from charging Majestic forward Ashley Banks. Banks shot whistled past the Magic keeper for the 1-0 advantage.

 

Northern Virginia doubled the lead in the 23rd minute on a through ball to the foot of Hammond from Northern Virginia forward Katie Watson. Hammond raced in at the New York goal and slotted a low shot into the opposite left corner for the second tally of the evening.

The Northern Virginia Royals Super 20 League team, currently residing in second place in the South Atlantic Division, earned an automatic berth into the United Soccer Leagues Super 20 North American Finals.  Last Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over nearby rival Fredericksburg Gunners awarded the Royals a spot in the prestigious tournament.

The Super 20 Royals finished the season 5-2-3, only losing to South Atlantic Division leader Carolina Dynamo during their 2008 campaign.  With two games remaining, the Hampton Roads Piranhas could move ahead of the Northern Virginia, but their place in the finals is already insured as tournament hosts.  Fredericksburg loss to the Royals mathematically eliminates them from contention, despite still having two games to play.  

 

The Northern Virginia Royals erased a two-goal deficit to tie the Richmond Kickers Future 2-2 on Friday evening at Howison Park. Royal defender Ricky Strong scored his first goal of the season, blasting home the equalizer in the 83rd minute to earn the comeback draw.

 

With the hot temperatures and sluggish humidity improving only slightly with the evening start time, the Royals and Kickers seemed oblivious as both teams played with a sense of urgency at different points in the match.   Not far removed from recent memory, Northern Virginia had fallen victim to a late Richmond surge in their previous meeting, surrendering two goals late in route to a 3-3 tie on the road.

 

It was the Kickers’ turn to storm into the early lead, scoring two goals in the first 18 minutes. Richmond midfielder Scott Robertson finished a pass from teammate Andrew McIntosh in the 11th minute of play, giving the visitors the early advantage. Richmond doubled their lead seven minutes later when forward McIntosh’s shot eluded the grasp of Royal keeper Joel Helmic for the 2-0 lead.

United Soccer Leagues announced today the W-League Team of the Week for the thirteenth week of the USL season and named two Northern Virginia Majestics to the prestigious list. Majestic defender Mary Casey earned a spot on the top eleven players in North America and midfielder Kelly Hammond garnered Honorable Mention for their performances in games this past weekend.

On Friday night, the Northern Virginia Majestics found themselves two minutes away from a 1-0 loss at the hands of the New Jersey Wildcats. With the Majestics launching an all-out attack on the New Jersey net, defender Abby Lauer broke free in the right corner of the Wildcat box. Her low driven cross was pounded into the New Jersey goal by a thundering header from a crashing Casey in the 88th minute, giving the Majestics the 1-1 draw and earning her Team of the Week honors.

 

On Sunday night, the Majestics edged the New York Magic 1-0 on a flash of brilliance from Northern Virginia midfielder and team of the week honoree Hammond.   Hammond’s game-winner came in the 15th minute of play when defender Casey spotted her open down the left side. Casey dropped the ball onto the foot of the streaking Hammond who found herself in alone against the New York keeper. Hammond cut left but blasted her shot right, hooking the ball into the far side netting of the Magic goal in the 15th minute to ultimately beat New York.   

The Northern Virginia Majestics, plagued in recent weeks with the inability to score goals, found the net early and held on to edge the New York Magic 1-0 Sunday evening at Howison Park. Northern Virginia midfielder Kelly Hammond tallied the lone goal of the match and the Majestics defense did the rest to earn the victory.

 

The Majestics wasted little time in making their presence known, starting the match with a dogged attack at the New York goal. Northern Virginia defender Mary Casey nearly repeated her goal from Friday nights match in the 3rd minute, driving a pounded header at the Magic goal. However New York keeper Alicia DeFino (8 saves on the night) reacted quickly to deny Casey’s encore scoring performance.

 

Hammond’s game-winner came a short time later when defender Casey spotted her open down the left side. Casey dropped the ball onto the foot of the streaking Hammond who found herself in alone against keeper DeFino. Hammond cut left but blasted her shot right, hooking the ball into the far side netting of the Magic goal for the 1-0 advantage in the 15th minute.

 

The Northern Virginia midfielder nearly earned her second goal a short time later in the 21st minute. Majestic defender Megan Watson deftly maneuvered through the New York midfield and bolted down the right side of the penalty area. Watson’s rocketed cross found Hammond at the far post. Hammond’s one-touch volley at the goal was denied by the acrobatics of DeFino as the New York keeper deflected the shot wide.

The Northern Virginia Royals battled through stormy weather and torrential rain for nearly the full 90 minutes, emerging with a 3-1 win over the visiting Virginia Legacy. Two first half goals propelled Northern Virginia to the victory, earning the third win for the 2008 season.

 

Following a full hour delay for thundershowers, the Royals stormed out onto the pitch and struck first in the opening minutes. Northern Virginia defender Zach Ward fed fellow Royal Brian Hinkey in the 4th minute and Hinkey fired a laser from outside the box, striking nothing but Legacy net for the 1-0 lead.

 

The Legacy soon found themselves reduced to ten men on the pitch as Niko Aleksandrov earned two yellows in rapid succession in the 17th and 26th minutes. The Royals doubled their lead just before half as Northern Virginia forward AJ Sheta collected a cross from Matt Brady and slotted the ball past Legacy keeper Andrew McAdams for the ultimate game-winner in the 44th minute.

 

United Soccer Leagues announced today the final Super Y-League First and Second 11 Club rankings for the 2007 season, recognizing the league’s top competitive and administrative clubs. Northern Virginia FC jumped a spot on the First 11 Club ranking, earning the Royals and Majestics program as the tenth best Super Y-League club in North America.

 

Northern Virginia FC previously earned the number eleven spot on the preliminary First 11 Club rankings released in October. The U14 Royals, U17 Royals, U16 Royals, and U16 Majestics had all previously qualified for the chance at a North American title to garner the preliminary honors.

 

The release of the final rankings follows the SYL North American Finals, where 21 of the clubs in the rankings competed for ten championships held late last month in Tampa, Florida. With four teams showing well and the U14 Royals earning the title of North American finalist, Northern Virginia FC moved up a spot to tenth in the rankings.