It's crunch time for Black Queens

WOODBURN -- In one of its last tuneup matches before the Women's World Cup, Ghana's national team beat a select team from the Women's Premier Soccer League 2-0 on Monday at Woodburn High School.

Patience Sackey scored off an assist from Adjou Bayor in the 18th minute, and Genevieve Clottey converted a penalty kick in the 72nd minute in a game in which Okoe Aryee, the Black Queens' coach, tweaked the lineup -- at least a little.

"We need to take time to see everyone, and we need to be very careful about making sure people don't get hurt," Aryee said.

That's because Aryee expects to cut two players before final rosters are turned into FIFA by Monday. With the deadline looming, intensity at practice and on the field is growing, according to Mimi Osei-Agyemang.

"We know it's coming," Osei-Agyemang said. "Our training is picking up and becoming more competitive.

They also are improving. Ghana and the select team, with players primarily from California, tied 0-0 on Saturday in Tigard.

In their second meeting, Ghana controlled the first half and avoided a second-half letdown, which hurt it in a 2-1 loss to the University of Portland on Aug. 25.

"We're playing better as a team. We're creating more chances, getting better opportunities to score," Enyo Dzata said.

The Black Queens will play their last scheduled exhibition against the University of Oregon at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Pape Field in Eugene.