SAN JOSE, Calif -- The week leading into Saturday's NWSL Championship was dominated by distress over the future of Washington Spirit forward Trinity Rodman , and the league's inability to retain its biggest star due to the limitations of the salary cap.

But as the final minutes ticked away at PayPal Park on Saturday, Gotham FC midfielder Rose Lavelle was the star of the moment, the player who found that "magic," as head coach Juan Carlos Amoros called it the day prior, for a 1-0 victory over Washington.

Brilliance in those moments that matter carried Gotham through another unlikely playoff run to its second championship in three seasons.

Lavelle's trademark left foot curled a shot into the net in the 80th minute in one of the rare moments of transition in a match that was mo

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