After 82 tense minutes in Bay FC’s match against North Carolina Courage on Saturday night in San Jose, head coach Albertin Montoya could finally take a much-needed breath.
“I think someone said that maybe I broke my vertical jump (record while) celebrating,” Montoya said. “I absolutely lost it because they deserved it.”
Veteran defender Abby Dahlkemper’s goal in the 83rd minute secured a crucial 1-0 win for Bay FC, sealing the victory over North Carolina Courage.
“It’s surreal,” Dahlkemper said of the goal and the moment. “I’m so happy to be back home and the team has allowed me to be myself, and that’s just a testament to the girls, the culture they’ve built, and the culture we’re continuing to build. It’s incredible.”
The goal was Dahlkemper’s third of the season and her first since scoring on August 30 against the Portland Thorns.
She scored off a free kick late in the match, following a foul by North Carolina. Attacker Rachael Kundananji delivered the free kick into the box, where Dahlkemper found it near the goal and tapped it into the back corner of the net on the volley.
“She has a sense of just calm on the ball,” said Montoya. “She just has a good understanding of what I’ve said since the very beginning, which is to recognize the moments, and then take advantage of the other team. Then she scores this goal, which is a big goal for us, and the team is kind of feeding off that energy.”
“We needed a win tonight, Bay FC attacker Tess Boade said. “We were knocking on the door and I think that moment Abby scored, she turned around and we just locked eyes. We were both like, ‘yes, that’s the moment. Now we just defend for our lives.’”
Bay FC was aggressive from the opening minute of the match, creating several chances on goal in the first half. The best opportunity came in the 12th minute when Dorian Bailey found attacker Asisat Oshoala, who beat her defenders and charged toward the goal. However, in a one-on-one situation, her shot was saved at the last second by Courage goalkeeper Casey Murphy just outside the six-yard box.
Throughout the night, Bay FC continued to generate opportunities but struggled to make the final pass or find the space for clear shots on goal. Oshoala had another chance off a North Carolina turnover just outside the 18-yard box, but her shot was parried away at the far post by Murphy with a diving save just before halftime.
Bay FC maintained their attacking pressure in the second half, highlighted by a pair of free kicks just outside the 18-yard box before the one that led to Dahlkemper’s decisive goal.
The win was crucial for Bay FC’s playoff chances, keeping them just above the playoff line heading into their final regular-season match against the Houston Dash on Nov. 2. The team will be off next week due to the FIFA international break.
Despite the victory, Bay FC was unable to clinch a playoff berth in their home finale, as Racing Louisville defeated Portland 1-0 with a late goal by Taylor Flint in the 87th minute. Bay FC needed Louisville to lose or draw to secure a playoff spot with Saturday’s win.
Nevertheless, the win puts Bay FC in control of their destiny heading into Decision Day on Nov. 2 at Houston. A win or draw will clinch a playoff berth, with a win potentially lifting them to the sixth seed, while a draw could see them finish either seventh or eighth, depending on Portland’s result against Angel City on Friday, Nov. 1.
Photo by Twitter/BayFC
