Behind goals from Adriana and Katy Frierson, the Western New York Flash squeaked past the Chicago Red Stars 2-1 at Benedictine University in Illinois. The win improves the Flash to 9-1-3 on the season, and the team’s 30 points are good for a first-place tie in WPSL Elite with the Boston Breakers.

Captain of the Spanish National Team, Adriana has been on point for Aaran Lines’ club in the second half of the season, scoring four goals in her last three games. Her well-placed free kick from the edge of the 18-yard box put the Red Stars in a first-half hole, and Adriana’s aggression forced Chicago keeper Jamie Forbes into a mistake and created an easy goal for the alert Frierson.

In Lines’ continued goalie rotation, Alli Lipsher drew the start between the pipes and, despite good fortune from having a Chicago goal called back, conceded only one official tally to the Red Stars’ Lauren Alkek in the second half. Earlier in the match, a supposed own goal by Chicago was reversed, disallowing a marker for the visitors as well.

Here’s the table as it stands right now:

The Flash concludes its regular season with a home match against Boston Sunday at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester. The Breakers are tied with Western New York atop the league, this weekend’s match will crown a league champion—a draw between BOS and WNY is the only way that Chicago can finish on top.

Ticket information for the regular season finale against Boston as well as playoff packages for the WPSL Elite postseason at Sahlen’s Stadium can be found here. 

(Header photo courtesy of the WNY Flash Facebook page.)