Bay FC Secures First Playoff Berth, Will Face D.C. in Quarterfinal Round

With its 3-2 win over the Houston Dash last Saturday to conclude the NWSL regular season, Bay FC not only clinched the seventh spot in the league but also made it to the postseason in its inaugural season. They are only the second expansion team in league history to make the playoffs in its first year of competition.

Did I forget to mention it was also a historic victory, as they set a new NWSL record for most wins (11) by an expansion team? Quite the accomplishment and something nobody foresaw just three months into the season.

Head coach Albertin Montoya repeatedly said after every game that this was a process, and it was only a matter of time before the team would establish its identity on the pitch and have positive results follow suit.

The first half of the season saw Bay FC fielding multiple starting elevens that couldn’t hold on to leads, gave up game-winning goals late in matches, or outplayed their opponents but failed to finish scoring chances. However, the team kept fans on their toes—and raised blood pressures during matches. There are many things you can say about Bay FC, but one thing you can’t say is that they weren’t entertaining to watch.

“We like to make it exciting every single game,” said Montoya with relief after their momentous win in Houston. “So I guess that’s why the fans enjoy watching us play.”

Zambian striker Rachel Kundananji has been an offensive force for the team, serving as the catalyst for their attack. She scored a brace (two goals, in soccer terms) against Houston, including the game-winning goal in the 54th minute. Alongside Asisat Oshoala, who has experienced a renaissance in her game over the past month, the African duo have been a nightmare for opposing backlines, as defenders struggle to contain them once they gain possession inside the box.

Both have utilized their size, strength, and deceptive speed to create scoring chances, making Bay FC a dangerous team to play against.

“Personally, I feel like this is the greatest team I’ve played on, with the way we’ve been pushing each other. And in this game, we started pushing each other to work hard and look out for one another. It just made me feel so special. We didn’t start the season well, but at the end of the season, we had to pull up our socks, and here we are now in the playoffs,” Kundananji said.

The team added a couple of key players late in the season, which helped propel them into the playoffs. First was the addition of center-back Abby Dahlkemper, who was acquired on August 26th from the San Diego Wave in exchange for $50,000 in allocation money. Not only has Dahlkemper solidified the backline, but she also provided offense, scoring the game-winning goal against the North Carolina Courage on October 19th.

Then, just five days later (on August 31st), they traded for forward Penelope Hocking from the Chicago Red Stars for a $350,000 transfer fee, one of the largest in women’s soccer history. Hocking has mainly come off the bench but has provided a spark with her ability to get open on the pitch and create scoring chances when she possesses the ball.

Bay FC is now firing on all cylinders, with team chemistry clicking at just the right time as they head into the first-round matchup with the second-seeded Washington Spirit. The Spirit are led by U.S. national team sensation Trinity Rodman, with Croix Bethune, Ouleymata Sarr, and Andi Sullivan among the other talented players who have made Washington one of the best teams in the league throughout the season.

Despite being 0-2 against Washington this season, Bay FC is a team no one wants to face right now, with confidence at an all-time high. The Spirit will need to do everything in their power to avoid an upset on their home pitch come Sunday afternoon.

Bay FC will look to keep their Cinderella season alive when they take on the Washington Spirit on Sunday, November 10, at 9:30 a.m. PST at Audi Field.