Stjarnan take maiden Icelandic Cup

Tukwila, WA – Over the weekend, Sounders Women Kate Deines and Veronica Perez raised the Icelandic Cup for their current professional team, Stjarnan FC.

Stjarnan won 1-0 against Valur Reykjavík to take their first Icelandic Cup, with captain, Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir, hitting the winner from 25 yards out, nine minutes from time.

Stjarnan denied Valur a fourth successive Icelandic Cup in front of 1,272 fans at the National Stadium in Laugardalur.

"It was an amazing feeling to be a part of the biggest game in Icelandic soccer," Sounders and Stjarnan def/mid, Kate Deines, said after the win. "It was even more amazing to get the victory and be crowned the Icelandic Cup Champions, the first time ever in our club’s history."

Captain, Gunnhildur Yrsa Jónsdóttir, hit the winner from 25 yards out on 81 minutes, and Stjarnan coach, Thorlákur Már Árnason, said after the game, "We were supposed to be the favorites against a young Valur team, so the pressure was on us, but we handled that pressure. We have an experienced team which knows how to win trophies."

In the league, defending champions Stjarnan are six points adrift of Thór with three games to go while Valur, back in fourth, are out of contention. Only the title-winners in Iceland will gain entry to the UEFA Women’s Champions League next year.

Stjarnan make their UEFA Women’s Champions League debut next month in the round of 32 against fellow newcomers FK Zorkiy Krasnogorsk of Russia, with a potential last 16 meeting with holders Olympique Lyonnais if they advance.

 "I do not know much about our opponents," said Árnason. "I only know the other Russian team has been doing well, so our opponents must be good too. Still, I think we have a chance and we are determined to go forward."

  Veronica Perez (left) & Kate Deines (right) (DawgsInIceland.com)