July 30, 2008

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. - East Carolina senior midfielder Madison Keller picked the perfect time to tally her first goal of the 2008 United Soccer Leagues W-League season as she scored in the Washington Freedom's 6-5 extra time win over the Charlotte Lady Eagles in the Eastern Conference Semifinals on July 25. The Freedom completed their run to the W-League National Semifinal a day later as it defeated the host Atlanta Silverbacks, 2-1, in the Eastern Conference Championship Game, also in extra time.

In the win over the Lady Eagles, Keller scored her squad's third goal of the match in the 22nd minute, lifting the ball past the Charlotte keeper off of a feed from Sarah Huffman to make the score 3-1. The 11 goals scored in the match tied for second most in the W-League's 14-year history, equaling the Eastern Conference Final showdown in 2004 that saw the New Jersey Wildcats win 6-5 in regulation against the Montreal Xtreme.

Keller earned time in 12 games for the Freedom in the regular season, playing 921 minutes. Another Pirate senior, Nicole Moore, also experienced W-League action this summer as she suited up for the Fredericksburg Lady Gunners. Moore was part of 10 contests while playing 734 minutes.

Should Keller and the Freedom defeat the Regular Season Champion Pali Blues in the second semifinal at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 31, they will face the winner of Seattle and FC Indiana in the W-League Championship Game on August 2 at 7:30 p.m. The championship contest will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel. Fans can log on to www.washingtonfreedom.com or www.uslsoccer.com for more information on the W-League Playoffs.