DRAPER — A pair of newcomers crashed the party at the Women's Premier Soccer League Final Four.
The Long Island Fury, playing in its inaugural season, scored once in each half en route to a 2-0 win over San Diego in the semifinal round Friday.
The Fury will meet River Cities FC of Missouri, another first-year squad, tonight at 8 in the WPSL championship game, which is being hosted at Juan Diego Catholic High.
When Long Island of New York was founded back on Dec. 15, coach Paul Riley hoped his squad could finish at .500 or maybe squeak into the playoffs. Now the Fury is a game away from winning the national amateur league, composed of 39 teams throughout the United States.
Long Island began the season on a hot streak, and it hasn't looked back.
"We've kind of grown from there," said Riley.
A pair of sisters got the goals for Long Island. As Riley pointed out afterward, at this point in the tournament, it only takes a moment of brilliance — or two — to separate the teams.
Shannon Donovan certainly provided that in the 74th minute, sealing the game for Long Island.
Leading 1-0, Donovan approached a free kick 32 yards off the line. She connected with the ball perfectly, drilling an unstoppable shot inside the upper-left corner of the goal.
"After I hit it, it felt good," Donovan said of the goal, which Riley labeled a "1-in-a-250,000" type of strike.
San Diego features two former World Cup players — Jennifer Lalor-Nielsen of the United States and Ouying Zhang of China — as well as a couple other veterans. On the other hand, the Fury consists mainly of young players. Accordingly, Riley felt his squad could wear down the SeaLions in the blistering heat and on an artificial surface.
"I thought our young legs got us through this game," he said.
Riley also heaped praise on his defense, which largely kept San Diego from getting quality chances, especially in the second half.
After creating a number of chances that sailed off target, Long Island went ahead 1-0 in the 38th minute.
Sub Katelynn Donovan, Shannon's sister, ran onto Cody Newman's perfect pass through the middle. Katelynn Donovan took several touches to the right before unleashing her shot past the goalie at the far post.
While Long Island probably carried more of the play in the first half, the first great chance fell to San Diego in the 27th minute. After Lalor-Nielsen swung a corner kick into the box, it was headed back toward the middle of goal. Carrie Schmit got to it, but her effort was cleared off the line by Long Island's Sue Weber.
Without a full-professional women's soccer league, the WPSL represents one of two national leagues in the United States. The W-League is the other.
RIVER CITIES FC 2, AJAX AMERICA 1: Jennifer Nobis scored once and had an assist as River Cities came from behind to beat Ajax California in Friday's other semifinal.
"She is a defender's nightmare," River Cities coach Justin McMillan said of Nobis.
Nicole Bucciarelli-Jacobson put Ajax ahead 1-0 in the ninth minute, but Nobis equalized late in the first half. Then, she assisted on Ashley Pistorius' game-winner in the 57th minute.
River Cities started out late but managed to attract most of the top players from Missouri, which has paid huge dividends.
WPSL Final Four
At Juan Diego Catholic High
Tonight's final
Long Island vs. River Cities, 8 p.m.
Tonight's consolation game
San Diego vs. Ajax America, 6 p.m.
E-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com