TST: US Women, Bumpy Pitch men take home $1 million prizes

CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- It's all come down to this at The Soccer Tournament (TST) in Cary.

The US Women again emerged with the $1 million winner-take-all prize Monday night at the Soccer Tournament (TST), defending their crown with a 3-0 win against Bumpy Pitch FC with a heavy dose of UNC flair.

The US Women led 1-0 at halftime on a goal from former University of North Carolina player Tessa Dellarose and added a second on a hard strike to the top corner from Casey Loyd, another former Tar Heel.

The score was 2-0 as the teams heading for Target Score Time, which in this case was 3.

The third goal came from Evelyn Shores (yes, another former Tar Heel), who delivered her first goal of the tournament to seal the million-dollar win. It came after a defensive steal and assist from former US National Team star Heather O'Reilly.

Lindsey Harris, yet another former UNC player, was steady in goal for US Women, holding on to several hard shots without allowing rebounds in from of goal.

Goals by former University of North Carolina players Bella Devery and Tesssa Dellarose propelled US Women past Reunion City Dallas, 2-0, in the semifinals.

It was still quite a tournament for Bumpy Pitch FC. It's men's team came from behind for a dramatic 2-1 win against Pumas de Alabama for the $1 million prize.

Though this was Pumas' first appearance at TST, the squad did have some players who played last year with 2024 champion La Bombonera. But this year, they fell short.

The first half was a tense, scoreless affair, with both teams having clear chances but with both goalkeepers coming up with huge saves.

Pumas finally broke through with less than 12 minutes to go after a defensive giveaway left Miguel Aldair Giorgana Hernandez a clean look that he buried past the keeper.

That was the only goal of regulation, making the target score 2.

But Bumpy Pitch tied it at 1-1 on a long strike by Charlie Gonzalez, leaving the game next-goal-wins with the teams down to 4 vs. 4.

The teams went down to 3 vs. 3., then 2 on 2 as both teams played cautiously with the weight of so much money on the line. Gonzalez finally got the winner with a shot on an open goal from near midfield.

In its debut at TST, Pumas de Alabama made a strong run to the final, ending the run of Pat McAfee's The Concafa SC in the semifinals 5-1, stunning 2023 champion Newtown Pride FC, 3-1, in the quarterfinals, and crushing Seleccion Potrero, the squad led by former Argentina international and former Manchester City star Sergio Aguero, 7-0 in the round of 16.

Bumpy Pitch reached the men's final with a 4-1 win over Pasha Luxury FC, which had made an impressive run and featured former Manchester United player Tom Huddlestone. Pasha Luxury had knocked off last year's men's champion, La Bombonera FC, 4-3 in the quarterfinals.

Also Monday, TST organizers said the tournament attendance had officially crossed the 50,000 mark. Last year, about 42,000 people attended the event, so this was a significant jump.

See all match results here.