Surge advances to second straight conference title game

The San Diego Surge enters Santee Community Stadium before their Conference Semifinal contest against Seattle.

SANTEE (07/11/2015) Alexis Snyder rushed for 181 yards and three touchdowns to help power the San Diego Surge (9-1) to a 57-27 triumph over the previously undefeated Seattle Majestics (9-1) Saturday night.

The win clinches their second straight berth in the American Conference Championship where they will take on the Dallas Elite, who will host the contest following a 70-14 rout over the Kansas City Titans.

The Majestics set the tone during the opening kickoff by surprising the Surge with an onside kick. Seattle recovered and followed up with a 7-yard pass by Rachel Woods to Tessla Rennie that was fumbled and recovered in the end zone by Julia McComas.

The following Surge possession ended with Melissa Gallegos' pass getting picked off by Jackie McCall. Seattle capitalized with a 53-yard drive that ended with Woods finding Rennie again for a 7-yard touchdown connection.

On the PAT attempt, Christina Webb blocked the extra point and Jessica Springer returned it for a 96-yard two-point conversion.

The momentum changing play was followed up with a 5-yard touchdown run by Snyder, cutting the Majestics' early lead to 13-9.

Following a Seattle punt, Snyder found the end zone again on a 1-yard run to give the Surge a 16-13 lead.

After a deep kickoff by Melissa Strothers backed Seattle inside their own 10-yard line, Natasha Johnson killed any chance of a drive with a 16-yard pick-six that increased the Surge lead to 23-13 with eight seconds left in the first quarter.

A four and out by the Surge defense led to another drive that was capped off by Snyder's third touchdown run of the night.

Seattle answered with a 5-yard touchdown pass from Woods to Melissa Castor. The fourth down connection cut the Surge lead to 30-20 with 4:26 left in the first half.

The Surge had a chance to answer back before halftime, but what appeared to be a Knengi Martin touchdown run was called down at the goal line as time expired.

Following a Majestics turnover on downs that ended their opening drive of the second half, the Surge extended its lead to 37-20 with a 5-yard run by Deana Guidry.

Seattle struck back with a 40-yard touchdown off a swing pass from Woods to Chris Hernandez, cutting the Surge lead to 37-27 with 5:37 left in the third quarter.

On the ensuing possession, the Surge drove down to Seattle's 1-yard line. Guidry's attempt at a catch and run for a touchdown was fumbled in the end zone and recovered by the Majestics.

Seattle was unable to capitalize off the turnover which led to an 8-yard touchdown pass from Gallegos to Martin.

Thanks to a strong defensive effort, the Majestics couldn't get any more points on the board. The Surge sealed their trip to Dallas with Guidry's 6-yard reverse for a touchdown and a 3-yard scoring run by Adrianna Bush.

Impact Surge

RB Alexis Snyder

- Rushed for 181 Yards & 3 Touchdowns

WR Deana Guidry

- Rushed for 115 Yards & 2 Touchdowns

Surge Offensive Line

- 0 Sacks Allowed, 405 Rushing Yards, & 7 Total Touchdowns

Impact Majestics

QB Rachel Woods

- Threw 4 Touchdown Passes

TE Tessla Rennie

- 5 Catches & 1 Touchdown

WFA Playoffs (Conference Semifinals)

American Conference

SAN DIEGO SURGE (9-1) 57, Seattle Majestics (9-1) 27.

Dallas Elite (10-0) 70, Kansas City Titans (6-4) 14.

National Conference

Chicago Force (9-1) 49, Boston Renegades (4-3) 18.

D.C. Divas (10-0) 40, Atlanta Phoenix (6-4) 6.