It's Dallas RPFC against Iowa Demon Hawks in MASL W championship showdown

DETROIT, Michigan -- It's not exactly a rematch, but Sunday's showdown for the 2025-26 Major Arena Soccer League championship has roots in last year's post-season.

The Iowa Demon Hawks will look to finish off a perfect season Sunday when they meet Dallas RPFC, whose only loss this season was by one goal on the road in Monterey. Kickoff is at 2 p.m. EDT from the Detroit City Field House. The game will be broadcast free of charge on the Detroit City FC YouTube Channel. 

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Iowa advance on Saturday by defeating host Detroit, 7-5, and RPFC punched their ticket with an 8-5 win over the Cincinnati Sirens. RPFC was knocked out of last year's playoffs in the semis by the Chihuahua Savage, who went on to win the title. Since Chihuahua did not field any MASL teams this year, a number of their players found their way to the Demon Hawks, a club that already has a league title as they won the 2023-24 MASL 2 championship.

On Saturday, Detroit found themselves down 2-0 in the first five minutes on goals by Alondra Tinajero, a goaltender who often joins the offensive push as a sixth attacker, and Andrea Gallegos. But Detroit had an answer to tie the game on goals by Katie Coleman and Mackenzue Reuber. Brissa Valdez and Silvia Castillo, the league MVP, got two more for Iowa before the end of the first, and Detroit never got closer than one goal the rest of the way. They managed to do that twice, but never found an equalizer. 

Detroit also got lone goals from Megan Verant, Kayla Addison and Kyra Karfonta. Iowa got a pair from Gallegos and additional singletons from Marta Gomzalez and Valeria Macias. Tinajero, a first team All MASL W pick this year, got the win in goal.

RPFC was down 3-1 midway through the third before their offense came to life and took a 4-3 lead to the fourth on goals by Ari Arboleda, Kenne Kessler and Emile Torres in a span of five minutes. And less than a minute into the fourth Fernanda Sarellano made it a four-goal run for RPFC, which saw Cincy climb to within one in the final 15 minutes, but no closer. 

Kessler finished with a three-goal night, and Mitzy Guernica and Leslie Razo each had one goal for Dallas. Toria Abbot scored a pair for Cincinnati who also got lone goals by Gabby Byorth, Natalie Oronoz and Mackenzie Kent. Courtney Burnette, all second team MASL W this year, got the win in goal.