AC: Brady's Bunch Edges Seattle Starz in OT Thriller, 5-4

By Glae Thien
WSL Special Correspondent

SAN DIEGO -- Junior attackman Gabe Garcia scored the game-winning goal a minute into overtime to give top-seeded Brady’s Bunch a come-from-behind, 5-4 victory over eighth-seeded Seattle Starz Elite in an Adrenaline Challenge Adrenaline Elite Division quarterfinal Sunday morning at Robb Field.

Garcia converted off an assist from Nick Colletti to keep Brady’s Bunch (4-0) alive in its bid for a second Adrenaline Challenge title in three years.

Brady’s Bunch overcame a two-goal, second-half deficit to advance to Sunday afternoon’s semifinals. It will next face fourth-seeded San Diego LaxDawgs Brown at 12 p.m. The LaxDawgs routed fifth-seeded Danville Sniper, 11-4 in one of the morning’s other semifinals.

Toward the end, Brady’s Bunch players chanted, “Do it for Brady!” in recognition of the team’s namesake, the 18-month-old son of coach Mike Wein, who has been battling leukemia for the last year. Mitch Flaherty scored with a minute remaining in regulation to force overtime.

“This win feels really good,” said Garcia, who stars for Northern California-based Foothill-Pleasanton. “We won that for Brady.”

Seattle’s Taylor Wisman scored his second goal of the game to extend the Starz’ lead to 4-2 with 16 minutes remaining in regulation. Justin Straker began the Brady’s Bunch’s comeback by scoring four minutes later.

“We got the momentum,” Garcia said. “It helped us out in the end.”

To open the game, Colletti and Stephen Dunn each scored in the first six minutes to stake Brady’s Bunch to a 2-1 lead. The teams then went scoreless for 13 minutes before Ryan Deal converted for Seattle.

Cameron Parker scored with 10 seconds to play in the first half to give Seattle (1-1-2) a 3-2 lead.