WATERLOO - K-W United FC is one win away from a team trip to the Sunshine State.

Playing in its first-ever W-League playoff game, the second-year squad scored a 1-0 semifinal win over the Laval Comets on Tuesday night to advance to Saturday's Central Conference final against the undefeated Ottawa Fury.

Kitchener's Leticia Skeete scored the game's only goal with just seconds remaining in the first half at Alumni Field as K-W (7-3-3) earned the right to take on mighty Ottawa (11-0-1). The winner of Saturday's game will advance to the four-team W-League championship that will be played July 25-27 in Bradenton, Fla.

"This is a very big deal. This is the second year for this team and now we get to take it back to Ottawa," said Skeete, who plays NCAA Division 1 soccer for the University of South Florida.

"I really think they are beatable and if we play at our best, 100 per cent from everybody, we can totally take that game."

K-W took the difficult route to the final, holding a huge territorial edge against Laval but failing to turn that into an abundance of scoring chances. And when they did get their opportunities, shooters were either off the mark or Laval goalkeeper Genevieve Richard came up big.

"I guess we over-think and we don't want make that one mistake. Soccer can be a funny sport that way, if you don't put away your chances, the other team can come down and convert one, and it's nail-biting time," said Skeete.

That's exactly what happened on Tuesday as K-W goalkeeper Stephanie Bukovec was called upon to make a number of key saves in the second half after her side failed to put Laval away in a one-sided first half.

Skeete's goal - she called it a "gift from God" - came out of nowhere. Laval defenders botched possession in their own end and Skeete calmly converted from over 30 yards out as Richard was well, well off her line.

United coach Stuart Neely agreed his team should have put the game away in the first half and knows the women will have to play much better on Saturday to have a chance.

"It's a big mountain to climb. Ottawa is a fantastic footballing side, they're miles ahead of everyone else as far as talent goes, and our job is to go at them. We've got this far so we might as well take a chance and go at it," he said.

Meanwhile, United's Professional Development League squad will attempt to nail down a playoff spot on Wednesday night against the Toronto Lynx.

The men's team (7-3-3) can clinch a playoff spot in the Great Lakes Division playoffs with a road win over Toronto (2-8-3) but will need help if they tie or lose.

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The Michigan Bucks (7-2-3) and Chicago Fire (7-4-2) are also in the playoff conversation and play each other on Saturday in the final regular-season game for both teams.

mbryson@therecord.com; Twitter: @BrysonRecord