Chihuahua Savage, Detroit City FC meet for inaugural MASL W championship

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The first ever Major Arena Soccer League Women Championship game is set, and it will be the Chihuahua Savage meeting Detroit City FC for the title Sunday afternoon at 2  p.m. at Buccaneer Arena.

Chihuahua advanced with a 6-3 win over Dallas RPFC, who were playing their second game in as many days, and were the only team to defeat the Savage during the regular season. The host Demon Hawks fell 11-5 to Detroit City, the playoff's No. 1 seed and only undefeated team to advance to the post season in 2024-25.

Sunday's title game will be broadcast live on the Iowa Champions League Network on YouTube. 

>> CLICK HERE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP GAME BROADCAST <<

Chihuahua opened fast, with three goals in the first and another early in the second to jump to a 4-0 lead,  Penalty trouble against Chihuahua helped RPFC gain momentum later in the quarter, with  Lexie Anderson getting a power play goal. But RPFC likes to move its goalkeeper Courney Burnette up as an extra attacker with the man advantage, and Dallas gave up a shorthanded goal when Valarie Macias scored from her own yellow line. Kenne Kessler -- who had six goals in her team's 11-4 win over the ICT Aztecs in the Friday quarterfinals -- got that one back to leave RPFC within three at the break. 

The two teams traded just lone goals in the second half -- one  more from Kessler to make it 5-3 --  and a final Savage goal from Sylvia Elicerio who led MASL W in goals and points this year. 

Detroit started even faster than Chihuahua, as "Le Rouge" scored six times in the first quarter, and tacked on two more in the first three minutes of the second, to burst to an 8-2 lead. They eventually stretched it to 11-3 in the second half to cruise into Sunday's final. 

Seven different Detroit City players found the goal, led by two scores each from Kayla Addison and Fatima Nasser.  Also scoring were Jennifer Panergo,, Shannon McCarthy, Hannah Crum,  Katie Coleman,  and Summer Green. Kerstyn Williams got the win in goal.

Iowa's goal-getters included Angelica Murillo, Elsie White, Karina Katz, Josee Primeau and Allison Groothuis.

Tickets for Sunday's championship game are available at the link below.

>> CLICK HERE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP GAME TICKETS <<