WPSL: Opportunistic LA Krewe Rush stuns nationally-ranked Pensacola FC
- Dan Stickradt
- Jul 7
- 2 min read

NATIONAL SOCCER NEWS: www.nationalsoccernetwork.com
LAFAYETTE, La. – It did not matter that the LA Krewe Rush had to face one of the top teams in the nation Thursday in the Gulf Coast Conference finals.
It did not matter that Pensacola FC had just climbed into the top spot in the WPSL Power Rankings the day before its match with the unranked Rush.
It did not matter that Pensacola FC came in with a 9-0-0 record and one of the best defenses around with nine wins, seven shutouts and a stellar 0.23 goals-against-average.
It did not matter that Pensacola FC had outscored the opposition 35-2 for a plus-33 scoring differential.
It did not matter when the LA Krew Rush faced off with Pensacola FC on Thursday night and the Rush only generated just two shots on goal.
None of that mattered, as the LA Krewe Rush posted the biggest upset of the 2025 season with a 2-1 victory over previously-unbeaten Pensacola FC in the Gulf Coast Conference championship at Lafayette (La.) Christian Academy.
Winners of the Delta Basin Division this season at 5-1-2, the LA Krewe Rush still prevailed against one of the favorites to reach the Final Four and perhaps opened the postseason with perhaps the biggest upset of the national tournament.
Playing high-paced pressure defense, the LA Krewe Rush were more opportunistic offensively by scoring on their only two shots on frame while their defense held the Pelicans (9-1-0) to a season low one goal. Pensacola FC came in averaging 3.89 goals-per-game.
Rammie Noel, Sarah Portis, Hailey Waterhouse and Shealbie Whatley smothered Pensacola FC’s lethal offense and only allowed the one goal. Goalkeeper Lauryn Starwood gained the win in goal on the strength of eight saves.
The LA Krewe Rush scored first in just the sixth minute when Salma Elhaimer (McNease State University) sent home her team-;leading 11th goal of the season to stake her side to the early 1-0 lead.
Brea Bailey (Alabama A&M University) pushed the lead to 2-0 just before the halftime break with her goal in the 44th minute. It marked the first time all season a team had scored two goals on Pensacola FC and the first time Pensacola had faced a deficit at the half.
Paige Phillips (Pensacola State College) finally got Pensacola FC’s offense untracked with a goal in the 54th minute to trim the deficit down to 2-1. But for a team that scored 35 goals in the regular season, that was the last goal of the campaign for a team ranked in the Top 25 all season.
The LA Krewe Rush advanced to the South Region semifinals July 12 where they will face McLean Soccer at the Revolution Sportsplex in Leesburg, Virginia.
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