A lively crowd gathered at Farmer Jim’s in Canton, Ohio on Sunday afternoon to watch the Youngstown Nighthawks face FC Berlin in Major Arena Soccer League Women action, a match that would quickly turn into a statement performance from the visitors.

Although Berlin was listed as the home team, the match required a cross-border trip, and the squad arrived short-handed following a physically demanding weekend. Their previous meeting with Youngstown had been far more balanced during the first half, with the Ohio side controlling much of the opening period. This time, however, Berlin made sure there would be no slow start.

Despite operating with a small roster, and without Samantha Murphy, who was sidelined due to an injury sustained the night before, head coach Santiago Almada made a bold tactical decision. Goalkeeper Yasmeen Jamieson was instructed to play out of the net, a role she has experience in, and she delivered emphatically. Jamieson netted a brace in the first half despite dealing with a foot injury of her own, setting the tone for a relentless Berlin attack. By halftime, Berlin had built a commanding 11–0 lead. Angelika Mihalopoulos opened the floodgates alongside two goals each from Bryanna Caldwell, Marisa Oliveira, and Ally Rowe. Nicole Mailloux and Violet Hipkin also found the scoresheet in a first half that showcased Berlin’s depth and efficiency.

The second half followed a similar script. Berlin continued to press aggressively, while the Nighthawks battled to stem the tide, anchored by another outstanding performance from goalkeeper Taylor Fairchild. Caldwell completed her hat trick early in the third quarter to make it 12–0, but Youngstown refused to be shut out. Captain Andrea Precurato produced a fantastic free kick to put the Nighthawks on the board, drawing loud applause from the Canton crowd. Later, Lauren Kaminski added another superb strike for the home side.

Berlin’s offensive wave, however, proved unstoppable. Rowe added three more goals to cap a remarkable five-goal performance, while Hipkin and Oliveira each added two more. Mihalopoulos, Alessia Da Silva, and Mailloux also contributed as the visitors closed out a decisive 22–2 victory.

Violet Hipkin deservedly earned Player of the Match honours, but Marisa Oliveira and especially Ally Rowe delivered standout performances. Rowe’s extraordinary stat line — five goals and eight assists — allowed her to reclaim the top spot across multiple league categories, including total points, assists, and points per game.

The victory, combined with other results around the league, leaves Berlin with a postseason berth nearly secured. They will look to officially punch their ticket next Sunday at 12:00 PM when they host Süsserfuss Ballveiren at the Scarborough Soccer Centre. The Nighthawks will also close out their regular season at home against Süsserfuss, with date and time still to be confirmed.

Other results:

Friday, Feb 27th:

• Indiana United FC 0-1 FC Berlin - Great Lakes North Division
• Wichita Aero 5-6 ICT Aztecs - Heartland Division

• KS Astras 8-9 Omaha Queens - Midwest Division
• Iowa Demon Hawks 17-2 Iowa Raptors - Midwest Division
• Texas Lone Star SC 6-2 512 FC - South Division
• Cincinnati Sirens FC 5-2 Columbus Eagles FC - Great Lakes South Division
• Süsserfuss Ballverein 6-8 FC Berlin - Great Lakes North/South Divisions
• Detroit City FC 19-0 Youngstown Nighthawks - Great Lakes North Division
• Side FC Cyclones 7-5 Tulsa FC Channel Cats - Heartland Division
• RPFC (Dallas) 5-4 Atlético Monterrey - South Division

• RPFC (Dallas) 9-5 Atlético Monterrey - South Division
• Cincinnati Sirens FC 1-0 Kalamazoo United - Great Lakes North/South Divisions
• Youngstown Nighthawks 2-22 FC Berlin - Great Lakes North Division
• Omaha Queens 9-2 KS Astras - Midwest Division
• Texas Lone Star SC 7-3 Houston Indoor Club - South Division