CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. -- As the final precious seconds of the Girls Under-16 President's Cup game were ticking down in the second extratime, the Manhattan Kickers were awarded a corner kick. But there was one slight problem: there was no one at the corner flag to take. Central midfielder Emma Pichl then ran over to take it. She sent her attempt toward the far post. It was so on target that it hit a WSA Freedom player and went into the net.

The Freedom quickly got the ball back to the halfway line as soon as possible, kicked off and the referee whistled twice to signify that the game was over and the Kickers had earned a dramatic 2-1 victory at Clifton Common on Monday.

"You couldn't get a better finish," coach Mike Preffer said. "Not so much as the coach, but as players, it was unbelievable."

"We were happy about that. The finish was just fantastic. You couldn't ask for anything better. Ten seconds, 20 seconds before penalty kicks. What a relief because no one wanted to win or lose by penalty kicks."

Pfeffer was putting together his lineup for the dreaded shootout -- the penalty kick tie-breaker that would have been needed had the game ended in a draw.

"I had it in mind so everyone was on the field," he said. "I was prepared to go that route. We have a terrific keeper, so I wasn't really worried about that."

As it turned out, Pichl wasn't the Kickers' No. 1 option to take corners. Meghan Siller is. However, Siller said she was tired so, Pichl had no qualms in attempting the set play, even with all that was on the line.

"I said, 'All right, I'll step up and do it,' " Pichl said. "I used to take them, but she has a good kick."

On at least one play, Pichl had the perfect kick.

She explained her strategy.

"I was trying to get it to the back post so I curved it," she said. "It just curved in and one of the players hit it. I was kind of lucky, I guess.

"It's good enough for me."

Certainly good enough to send the Kickers to the national championships in Murfreesboro, Tenn. from July 8-11.

"Yes it is a [big deal]," Pichl said. "It's exciting.

"It's a big step up because we want to get into higher leagues to show ourselves and play better opponents. So it's a way a way to step up our team to better leagues to notice us more."

The goal in Tennessee would be to come home with a trophy or a plague for the team and medals for the players.

"I would hope so," Pfeffer said. "We've been to the nationals before in [another competition]. We had so many injuries. We didn't do well down there, but it was a great experience. I'm hoping maybe we can come home with something if we play smart."

Monday's match was a close one. The Freedom, representing New York West, struck first, scoring off a counter from a failed Manhattan corner kick. The Kickers equalized several minutes later in what was a physical encounter.

"It could have gone either way," Pfeffer said. "Both teams played really, really hard. We only had 13 players the whole tournament."

The Kickers came to the Capital District with 14 players, but one player was injured in the competition.

"We were playing a little banged up, so I moved my girls in and out quick, every five or 10 minutes," Pfeffer said. "Plus the heat was a factor. Their style of play was that they sat back and counter attacked on us and we were just playing possession and control, trying to break their counter attack. It worked out for us. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for them."

Pfeffer, who started the season as an assistant coach, became temporary head coach after Adam Goldstein resigned last week due to other coaching pursuits and family commitments.

The team has moved around a bit in recent years. It started out as the Manhattan Kickers before merging with the Brooklyn patriots. Then it became the Brooklyn Knights before becoming the Kickers again.

"Its been a big transition," Pfeffer said. "We had a lot of obstacles in our way. You know politics, with parents, managers. Our head coach stepped down. So I am filling in here for the transition. so we will get another coach in place."

The temporary one didn't do such a bad job Memorial Day weekend.

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