Slow start dooms Legion WFC
Birmingham Legion pre-professional women's team falls to Southern Soccer Academy after conceding twice in opening 25 minutes.
A spirited comeback effort was not enough for Birmingham Legion WFC Tuesday in their USL W League encounter with Southern Soccer Academy.
In a game both delayed and relocated due to weather, Birmingham’s semi-pro women’s team conceded two early goals they never recovered from. Despite halving the lead before the break, Legion WFC never found the equalizer and ultimately fell 2-1.
Originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at the Dunnavant Valley Training Facility, the game moved less than an hour before kickoff due to severe weather in the area. The new location and start time were Briarwood Christian School and 4:15, but the game did not actually kick off until 5 p.m.
Once it did get underway, however, it was Southern Soccer Academy who immediately went on the front foot.
Just eight minutes into the encounter, an attack down the left side resulted in a perfectly weighted chip over the head of WFC goalkeeper Mac Titus and into the back of the net.
The Three Sparks nearly responded immediately off a deep free kick. Kierson McDonald sent it into the box for Avery Berryman to knock down, but Addison Soehn’s ensuing shot was straight at the keeper.
Not even a minute later, the other Soehn — Sydney Soehn — was making a great last ditch slide tackle to prevent a SSA forward going through for a one-on-one.
Sydney, the defender, ended up much the busier of the Soehn sisters for the next few minutes as Legion WFC endured repeat attacks from the visiting team. The Three Sparks struggled to retain possession in the center of the park, with Lauren Lucero often left isolated at the base of the midfield and unable to get things going attacking-wise.
Only resilient defensive work from Sydney, McDonald, Langston Lilly and Ava Mills prevented a second goal, but it could not last forever.
In the 21st minute, SSA’s dominance paid off again.
A forward made a good run in behind into the space between the left centerback and left back, and despite the acute angle lofted the game’s second chipped attempt into the back of the net.
Barely over 20 minutes into the game, the score read 2-0 to the visitors with Legion WFC yet to truly trouble the opposite goalkeeper.
The second goal did have an effect on the Birmingham women, however, who grew into the contest from there on out.
In the 28th minute, Mary Frances Symmes cut in from the right and let fly, but her left-footed effort was just over the bar. It showed growing attacking intent by the hosts, and it paid off with a corner five minutes later.
Addison sent the right-sided corner to the back post, where McDonald and Sydney combined to send it back across goal. Taylor Leib rose highest to meet the second ball and sent it crashing into the back of the net to reduce SSA’s lead.
An Addison free-kick nestled on just the wrong side of the post as the half wore out, sending the players into the break with the score 2-1 to the visitors.
Legion WFC continued their push for an equalizer in the second half, but it was not to be. Despite good combination play and movement to get into SSA’s final third, the final pass always seemed to be lacking for the young women.
Possibly a result of the wet turf field, the final ball more often than not was sent in with too much weight, evading the attacking players and going out for a goal kick.
SSA threatened to restore their two-goal lead late in the half as well, first with a shot across goal in the 76th minute.
Then, in the 81st, SSA sent a header crashing onto the bar from point blank range. The second ball fell back into the box, and only miraculous work from the surrounding defenders and goalkeeper Kacey Powell, subbed on at halftime, prevented it crossing the line.
Up the other end, Legion WFC’s best chances came from Symmes down the right flank.
Second-half substitute Sofia Sasan did well to win a aerial battle in the 86th minute which Symmes kept alive and carried to the byline. But the ensuing cross was claimed at the second attempt by SSA’s goalkeeper.
A similar situation lent itself to the final chance of the game deep in stoppage time as Symmes once again raced down the wing. This time, the midfielder lofted her cross, and whether purposefully or by accident it veered towards goal. But though it looked at one point as though the ball might fly into the net, it bounced off the crossbar instead and out for a goal kick.
There were to be no more chances for either side, and the game ended 2-1 to Southern Soccer Academy.
Birmingham Legion WFC are now bottom of the W League’s South Central Division, albeit with a game in hand on second-to-bottom One Knoxville. The Three Sparks head to second-place Greenville Liberty next at 7 p.m. Friday.
Legion WFC return home next week for their final home game of 2025 at 4 p.m. June 25, taking on Tennessee SC. They close out the season with a rematch with Southern Soccer Academy in Georgia June 28.