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Jordana DeNegri
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2025
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PDA
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SAN DIEGO, California - The National Championship game in the ECNL U13 age group is set. Virginia Development Academy will take on PDA Blue on Sunday at 10:20 at the Surf Cup Sports Park. VDA and PDA both won their semifinal games 1-0 over NTH Tophat and World Class - FC, respectively. PDA needed overtime to squeeze past World Class while VDA notched the lone goal in the second half.
NTH - Tophat had the first chance of the game. Right back Mary McLaughlin hit a great shot from 25 yard out but it went just over the bar.
VDA’s Aryanna Oliver had the first shot on goal of the game on an effort from the top of the 18 yard box. Jenna Sapong did well to get her body behind the effort and snag the save.
The two teams went into the break even at 0-0 as the game turned into mainly a midfield battle.
It was much the same in the other contest as the two teams settled on a scoreless first half.
Dylan Jovanovic had the first shot on goal of the second half as World Class FC searched for the opener. Claudia Volino made the save on the shot. Jessica Kaye had the next chance for WCFC, but she just barely missed the frame of the goal.
After the two early shots, it was the Anna Kavountzis show. The WCFC goalkeeper came up with two great saves in the second half.
Neither team could find a breakthrough in the second half, as VDA claimed the 1-0 win on the adjacent field.
In overtime, Kavountzis put on the cape and went into superwoman mode. She made three saves in the first overtime period. Daisy West also blocked a shot for WCFC to keep PDA off the board.
However, Jordana DeNegri would not be denied. She finally found the breakthrough late in the first overtime period. DeNegri dribble across the top of the box and then rifled a shot across her body to the opposite corner.
DeNegri’s goal would hold up as the lone tally of the game as PDA’s defense did well to keep WCFC away from threatening the goal.
VDA and PDA return to the action on Sunday for who will walk away with the trophy. TDS highlights some of the individual standouts from the semifinal games below.
