PONTIAC, Mich. – The Thunder Bay Chill are headed back to the Central Conference championship.
The Premier Development League team, buoyed by a pair of Abraham Villon goals, knocked off Kitchener-Waterloo United FC 2-0 at Ultimate Soccer Arenas to capture Friday’s semifinal, setting up an all-Heartland Division final on Saturday against rival Des Moines.
The Menace earned a spot in the conference title game with a 2-0 win over the host Michigan Bucks.
While K-W United controlled much of the play in the early going, it was the Chill who found the back of the net first.
Villon broke down the middle in the 30th minute and blasted the ball past K-W United keeper Scott Levene, giving the PDL’s best defensive team a crucial 1-0 lead.
Midfielder Chris Makengo had a chance two minutes later to double the Chill lead, but Levene managed to punch away his shot.
In the 34th Villon had a free kick after K-W United ‘s Liam Callahan was served a yellow card for a hard tackle just outside the box, but Levene once again had the answer.
Chill keeper David Elias was also up to the task, deflecting Callahan’s own free kick out of harm’s way in the 38th and the two teams hit the halftime break separated by a goal.
Callahan had another great chance three minutes into the second half, but Elias made a leaping stop, the ensuing K-W United corner kick deflected wide of the Thunder Bay net.
Villon gave the Chill a cushion in the 70th minute, gaining the box and firing the ball past Levene, Thunder Bay jumping in front 2-0.
K-W United put pressure on in the final minutes, but couldn’t push the ball past Elias and had their season come to an early end.
Game time Saturday night is 7:30 p.m.
