WPSL Third Coast: PFC Academy gets second straight win
The Pensacola FC Academy defense blanked visiting Union 10 FC as the Pelicans held on for a 1-0 win thanks to Jezlyn Nelson’s first-half penalty kick. It was the Academy’s second-straight victory.
The Pensacola FC Academy women’s team beat Union 10 FC 1-0 Wednesday at Ashton Brosnaham Stadium. The Pelicans’ starters are pictured above. CREDIT: Pensacola FC
Academy gaining confidence
Pensacola FC’s academy teams are younger and less experienced than the senior sides; when they compete in the same leagues, the “academy” tag may cause opponents to take them less seriously than the older Pelicans.
“We also know that the other squads will typically be more experienced than we are but that just gives us a chip on our shoulder, not a monkey on our back.”
— PFC Academy coach Austin King
That’s fine with academy women’s coach Austin King.
“We know that we can play and compete with most teams that we play,” King said Thursday. The Lady Pelicans beat Union 10 FC 1-0 the night before, moving them — at least temporarily — into third place in the six-team Third Coast Division of the WPSL Gulf Coast Conference. “We also know that the other squads will typically be more experienced than we are but that just gives us a chip on our shoulder, not a monkey on our back.”
PFC Academy tied Gulf Coast United and lost by a goal to the Florida Roots to start the season; a 6-0 loss to the Lady Pelicans’ senior team May 28 left them with a 0-2-1 record and one point.
King wasn’t concerned.
“After losing 6-0 to the senior Pelican squad, some might have thought we were not going to be able to win any games,” he said. “However, I think even in that match we played better than we did last season. I am really proud of the ladies for winning back-to-back games and looking forward to the potential of the rest of the season.”
Against Union 10, from Daphne, Ala., Norah Petermann earned a penalty kick in the eighth minute and Jezlyn Nelson made converted the ensuing kick for the match’s only goal.
“The rest of the first half was a back and forth affair, but to be fair Union 10 probably had the better run of things,” King said. “In the second half, we created three clearcut chances with 1-v-1 opportunities (two for Petermann and one for Michelle Melancon), but were unable to convert them.”
King said the team — especially Avril Clark, Taylor Kerle and goalkeeper Remy Redmon — played great defense down the stretch with Union 10 pushing hard for an equalizer. Redmon finished with eight saves.
The Academy (2-2-1, 7 points) will try for its third-straight win Saturday when it hosts TLH Academy (2-2-0, 6 points) in the first match of an academy doubleheader. The women’s match is set to kickoff at 3 p.m. at Ashton Brosnaham Stadium.
Pensacola FC Academy’s men’s team (2-2-1, 7 points) will play Gaffa FC (2-4-0, 6 points) from Jackson, Miss., at 6:30 p.m.
THIRD COAST DIVISION STANDINGS
• Pensacola FC, 3-0-0, 9 points, +8*
• Gulf Coast United, 2-1-1, 7 points, 0
• PFC Academy, 2-2-1, 7 points, -4
• TLH Reckoning, 2-2-0, 6 points, + 3
• Florida Roots, 1-3-0, 3 points, -3
• Union 10 FC, 1-3-0, 3 points, -5
*WPSL caps goal differential at +8; PFC has scored nine goals more than its opponents).
SCORES
• PFC Academy 1, Union 10 FC 0
UPCOMING MATCHES
(Times CDT)
WEEK FIVE
Saturday, June 7
• PFC Academy vs. TLH Reckoning, 3 p.m., Ashton Brosnaham Stadium, Pensacola
• Gulf Coast United vs. Pensacola FC, 4 p.m., Herbert Wilson Stadium, Gulfport
• Florida Roots vs. Union 10 FC, 7:15 p.m., Joe Etheredge Stadium, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Sunday, June 8
• Florida Roots vs. Gulf Coast United, 3 p.m., Joe Etheredge Stadium, Choctawhatchee High School, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.