Gotham FC

For most athletes, the offseason is a time for resting, relaxing, unwinding and seeing family and friends.  For Sky Blue FC defender Kendall Fletcher, the 2010 offseason served a different purpose.  From October 2-9, Fletcher and eleven other women’s soccer players headed to Catacamas, Honduras for a mission trip.

Through a league-wide Bible study, Fletcher was contacted by Joey Potter and Adrienne Saxon who work with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) in Atlanta.  Saxon had also worked with the Atlanta Beat during the season.  Fletcher was interested immediately.

And so her offseason adventure began, entwining her faith and sport together.

While soccer was a main focus during the week, the group did a variety of things for the Catacamas village they were visiting.

“Basically, we went down there in partnership with a healthcare clinic called Predisan and they do a lot of healthcare in Catacamas, Honduras,” Fletcher explained.  “We went down there and we did a lot of different things throughout the week but our main focus was running clinics for the women down there and helping them start a women’s soccer league down there.  So we would run three clinics throughout the day and then we would also go back to the village and see some of the things that Predisan was doing.

"We went to a rehabilitation center and we also went to a village where they were helping them build sanitation outhouses to help them sanitize their community.  We went out there and saw it and while we were out there, we saw this soccer field that was just like dirt and had goals that were made of like tree branches.  It was the coolest thing. 

"So we decided to go back and we had the first ever women’s soccer game in the village and we brought all the women to the church and we gave them jerseys.  We thought we were just going to do the little girls but all these older women started showing up and they wanted to play so we had 60-year-olds playing with six-year-olds.  It was amazing.

"And then we went back one more time to the village and just brought them a bunch of flour and diapers and just different cleaning stuff that they could use for the houses.  Then we brought that back to all the families that were involved in the church.  So yeah, we kind of did a variety of things but reaching out to that village and running the clinics for girls that were in the soccer league were the main things that we did. 

"We were sharing our testimonies—each day one girl would share a testimony.  It was an amazing trip.  It was a mix between some WPS players and some college players.”

There was an aspect of the trip that gave it a unique quality.  All twelve of the players who made the trip—four WPS players and eight collegians—were women’s soccer players.  The focus in Catacamas was mainly on the girls and women.  The impact was tremendous.

“The cool thing about when we went to the village was all the men wanted to play and we were like, ‘No, it’s just for the women and we’ll come back and play again for you guys.’  It really focused on them and one of the coolest parts of the trip was at the end of the week, one of the girls was telling us how much it meant for us to be there and do what we did,” Fletcher said.

One comment in particular stood out for the Sky Blue FC defender.

“She was like, ‘I can’t believe you came for us, no one ever just comes for us women.’  That was pretty cool for me to see the impact that that had and the uniqueness of the trip.  It really encouraged me to want to do it again.”

Fletcher has been involved in other Christian organizations and Bible studies while in high school and college, but the Honduras trip was her first mission trip.  It was also her first involvement with FCA.

“Yeah I’ve been involved with different Bible studies that work with my faith and sport but I worked a little bit with AIA (Athletes In Action) when I was in college,” she recalled.  “I never really got involved in FCA though it’s always been an organization that’s been around in high school and in college.  I never really got hooked into it until this Bible study that they ran through the league with this first trip.”

It was an opportunity to tie two of the most important aspects of her life together.

“It was the first major thing that I had done faith-based and soccer-based and like I said, it was really cool that I was able to do that because my faith is probably the most important thing to me in my life and soccer is right up there as well.  It was really cool that those two things could come together like that and have such an impact on me.”

Faith and sport came together for both sides, despite one of the biggest barriers of all—communication.  But, as Fletcher explains, there was a common language: soccer.

“One of the coolest things that I took away from the trip was that it was amazing how soccer could give us a common playing ground just to start from and to meet people and to have a common understanding,” she explained.

“I didn’t speak Spanish, a lot of them didn’t speak English. Some of the girls who went on the trip spoke pretty good Spanish but we were just there to play soccer with these girls and it wasn’t like we were coming down there to give them something they didn’t have.  They gave us just as much as we gave them and it was just a really amazing opportunity to share soccer and share my faith.” 

It wasn’t just the people of Catacamas that her group visited that impacted the former Tar Heel.  It was also those whom she traveled to Honduras with that made an impact on her.

“And also the girls that I went down there with, just getting to know them and just seeing the fellowship that we had.  It was a pretty cool trip just to see how the soccer can bring all of that together in such different worlds and yet we had a common bond and a common passion and how that really does transcend so much.”

Fletcher is already planning to visit Costa Rica after Sky Blue FC’s season ends.  She would love to go back to Honduras in the future as well.

Sky Blue FC takes on the Boston Breakers on Sunday, August 14, 2011 as both teams fight for the 4th and final place in the 2011 WPS Playoffs.  Follow @SkyBlueFC and @BostonBreakers for match updates.

Learn more about Atlanta FCA Missions trips 

All photo credits go to Robert Madrid Photography

Harlem, New York - As part of their commitment to promote a healthy lifestyle for kids, Citi for the second consecutive year has partnered again with the Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) as they kicked off the WPS 2011 season with their "Get Active with Citi Soccer Kids" community program for the children in Harlem.

Citi and WPS has every intention of hosting additional Get Active with Citi Soccer Kids clinics throughout this season, as part of the WPS league-wide platform to promote First Lady Michelle Obama’s nationwide campaign against childhood obesity.

Representing the WPS was the 2009 WPS Champions SKY Blue FC. Prior to the Sky Blue FC kicking off their 2011 Women's Professional Soccer League campaign in a 2-2 tie against the Philadelphia Independence, midfielder Allie Long and defender-midfielder Kendall Flectcher helped Citi run this successful soccer clinic in Harlem, where 60 children between the ages 8-12 participated.

These kids were from America SCORES, the after-school program which empowers students in urban communities through soccer, poetry and community service.

Also in attendance was Kristina Hentschel, WPS Corporate Development Officer Kristina & CFO who flew in from San Francisco, California to be part of this event.

In addition to Kristina's presence was Leon Othen, Regional Director for WPS Soccer camps who not only leads a well-run clinic, but also conducted an educational clinic for the volunteers of America Scores NY.

“We are thrilled to be involved with the WPS for yet another exciting and competitive season full of great soccer,” said Bill Brown, New York City Region Executive, Citibank.

“This partnership affords us the wonderful opportunity to support women’s athletics, share the experience of professional soccer with local communities and promote healthy living through our Get Active with Citi Soccer Kids program.”

What was captivating about this clinic is the synergy that was taking place on the pitch. The coaches, the children and the America Scores volunteers were all in sync as they enthusiastically participated in drills and scrimmages.

“The Get Active with Citi Soccer Kids program is a wonderful way to strengthen our relationships with the communities in which our teams play,” said Kristina Hentschel, Corporate Development Officer and CFO of WPS. 

“We are proud to have Citi return for a second season as a founding partner of WPS and this upcoming clinic illustrates the positive impact we can make by working together.” 

Following the clinic, both Allie and Kendall answered questions asked by the children in attendance. Not only did both players represent the WPS honorably, their presence signified the importance of having a women's soccer league.

One thing I observed with great attention was that the children from America SCORES NY were happy to have met two professional athletes. They didn't care that it was two women who played soccer because they cared more for two professional soccer athletes who took the time out of their schedule to give them a memory that they'll never forget.

While the WPS has done a marvelous job in promoting their league and securing a TV deal with Fox Soccer Channel, there's still not enough coverage. Despite the fact they have Marta, Five-Time FIFA World Player of the Year playing for Western New York, the WPS remains neglected.

As the WPS enters what many believe to be the most crucial season in their league's three-year history, there's a lot to be optimistic about. While they may be a six-team league, they've endured and have made the necessary adjustments for another season.

Question the location, fans and WPS officials commitment towards the WPS but that's still not addressing the real problem. When it's said and done, some of us in the media have made the decision to neglect the WPS in favor of other leagues and international superstars.

While I may not have the answers, I was willing to ask SKY Blue FC players Allie and Kendall on what journalists can do to help promote the WPS. They suggested that the media should write a weekly roundup of the WPS.

Another suggestion: Instead of focusing on the league, journalists should focus on the the athletes and the community service activities they do as representatives for their respected teams.

If I learned anything from the soccer clinic is that while organizations like Citi continues to sponsor the efforts and commitment of Women's Professional Soccer, readers will not know about it if I don't do my part in writing about the WPS and the magic they bring to the children who participate in these soccer clinics.

For more information on Citi, please go to www.citigroup.com

For more information about the WPS, please go to www.womensprosoccer.com

Cesar Diaz covers Soccer for LatinoSports.com. He's also a Columnist for USSoccerPlayers.com; Your source for American Soccer news brought to you by members of the U.S. National Team. Easily accessible, you may reach Cesar at cesar@latinosports.com and at Twitter at @CoveringSoccer. 

The Boston Breakers, aside from Kelly Smith, are slightly less torrid than they were going into last Sunday's game in Philadelphia against the Independence. But they're still on course for the playoffs.

The Breakers went into Philly with a chance to steal second place in the WPS table and came out with a hard-fought 2-2 draw—and a solid lock in the third spot in the standings. (The top four teams earn playoff berths.) Lauren Cheney found her way back onto the score sheet with an opening goal for Boston, only for Philadelphia's excellent midfielder, Holmfridur Magnusdottir, to cancel out Cheney's strike and then put the Independence ahead 2-1 in a busy first half.

But Smith, who scored for the fourth consecutive game and now has 10 goals on the season, equalized early in the second half, and the Breakers came away with a valuable point. They now sit five points ahead of fourth-place Chicago and have a game in hand. Perhaps the greatest threat to Boston in the standings at this point is Sky Blue FC, which trails Boston by five points but has a game in hand on the Breakers.

As luck (and the WPS schedule) would have it, the Breakers will take on Sky Blue on Sunday at 6 p.m. in their last regular-season home game at Harvard Stadium for 2010. As always, playoff implications will be strong.

The month of June was a busy one for the reigning WPS champions.  It began with the aftermath of the St. Louis Athletica suspending operations and consequently scattering  players across the league.

There was much speculation on where the Athletica players would wind up signing and Sky Blue FC was in the thick of those debates when it came down to Japanese midfielder Aya Miyama, who went on to sign with the Atlanta Beat.  Sky Blue FC did sign Kendall Fletcher to their roster as a developmental player as well as signing Italian captain Patrizia Panico.

Results were definitely a roller coaster for this team who entered the month with a record of 3-2-2 for 11 points.  The month began with a 2-1 loss to regional rival Philadephia on June 6.  Sky Blue was able to bounce back from an early deficit to tie the game in just the 11th minute. 

But the Independence were able to regain the lead midway through the first half and never looked back.

Defender Christie Rampone  (pictured above after being handed the 2009 WPS Championship trophy)  made her return to the field, coming on for Kacey White in the 56th minute.  White immediately handed Rampone the captain’s armband as she exited the field.

Sky Blue FC was able to bounce back the following week with a another 2-1 result, this time in their favor as they downed the Boston Breakers.  They were forced to bounce back from yet another early deficit but were able to even the score on a Heather O’Reilly goal early in the second half.

The game would stay deadlocked as the game progressed, seemingly going to end in a draw.  Three minutes of stoppage time was added on and a late take down by Lauren Cheney gave Sky Blue FC a chance to escape with three points.  Brazilian midfielder Rosana stepped up and buried the kick.

The next week was a rematch with regional rival Philadelphia.  Both teams were without several starters as the European international players were away playing with their respective national teams overseas. 

The Independence were able to get on the board early on, putting the home side in a hole for the third game in a row on a Danesha Adams goal in just the fifth minute.  Philadelphia was able to double its lead before twenty minutes was played as Amy Rodriguez buried a strike thirteen minutes later.

Sky Blue was able to slice the lead in half midway through the first half as forward Tasha Kai earned a penalty kick, which Rosana stepped up and buried.  The goal ignited some spark into the reigning champs but they were unable to find the back of the net for the equalizer. 

Meanwhile, Philadelphia was able to find the back of the net twice more for a 4-1 victory on June 19.

Once again though, Sky Blue FC was able to bounce back, earning a 2-0 victory over the league leading FC Gold Pride on June 27, just one day before the All-Star Game starters would find out which team they’d be playing on.

Rosana scored her third goal in as many games to give the visitors an early lead and Tasha Kai added an insurance goal late in the game.

The All-Star game festivities kicked off on June 28, with Abby Wambach and Marta picking their teammates in a unique Pick ‘Em format.  Starters Heather O’Reilly, Brittany Taylor and Karen Bardsley were selected by the two team captains while the rest of the Sky Blue contingent was assigned their teams by a coaches selection.

Heather O’Reilly, Laura Kalmari, and Tasha Kai suited up for Abby’s IX while Christie Rampone and Brittany Taylor suited up for Marta’s IX. 

Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was slated to start for Marta’s IX as well, but suffered a collar bone injury in training the day before the match.  Bardsley was in good spirits on the bench during the game but was lost for the remainder of the season for Sky Blue FC.

 

T-180 minutes to kickoff: Today, FC Gold Pride takes on defending champions Sky Blue FC at Pioneer Stadium, on the campus of California State University East Bay in Hayward, California.

T-150: The Lionesses of the East Bay, led by mastermind Albertin Montoya, are the queens of the hill in Women's Professional Soccer, boasting a 7-2-1 record (22 points). They are a point to the good of the Philadelphia Independence but have a couple of games in hand, and this is one of them.

T-120: Pauliina Miettinen's Sky Blue FC are sitting in fourth with a formation record—that is, a 4-4-2 record (14 points).

T-90: In other action around the league, the Indies were busy this week. On Wednesday, they drew 2-2 with an improving Atlanta Beat side before defeating the Washington Freedom 3-2 on Saturday.

On Friday, the Chicago Red Stars gave Omid Namazi his second victory at the helm with a 2-1 win over the Boston Breakers.

FC Gold Pride's next three matches involve the Atlanta Beat at Beat/KSU Stadium on July 3, a July 11 home date with the Washington Freedom that will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel, and a July 17 collision with the Philadelphia Independence at Pioneer Stadium.

T-75: Sky Blue FC's next three games include a July 7 date at Joe Yurcak Field against the Freedom, a July 10 road trip to Bridgeview, Illinois to face the Chicago Red Stars and a July 18 home tie with the Beat.

T-60: Lineups.

T-50: In other World Cup results...England were hammered by Germany 4-1, Uruguay toppled Korea Republic 2-1, and Mexico were sent packing by Argentina 3-1.

T-40: And you all know that the USA have also bowed out in extra time by Ghana 2-1. Good riddance, Bob Bradley. Nice knowing you...

T-30: A half hour to go. I like this new venue that the people in Chester, Pennsylvania erected: the world-famous PPL Park. There is a good view of the bridge, and every seat has excellent sightlines. And those Sons of Bens are vocal as ever.

T-25: But seriously, that will be an exciting match: Argentina vs. Germany—always a classic.

T-20: The possession battle will be crucial for FC Gold Pride, while consistency will need to be attained for Sky Blue FC.

T-15: Marta leads all scorers (alongside Amy Rodrigues of Boston) with six goals. Christine Sinclair has also chipped in four goals for FC Gold Pride. Nicole Barnhart has been a beast in goal, possessing a 0.80 goals against average. Shannon Boxx has four assists on the year for the Lionesses of the East Bay.

T-10: Laura Kalmari leads all scorers for Sky Blue FC with four goals, while Rosana has been hot as of late, with two goals in as many games.

T-5: Felisha Mariscal is our match official today.

1' - The first half begins.

3' - Early chance for Rosana out of reach.

4' - There's Karen Bardsley with the save.

5' - Nothing too spectacular early on; we are seeing some possession battles as the teams settle in.

6' - India Trotter getting her fifteen seconds of fame.

7' - The field here is quite lush, albeit artificial. The East Bay logo looks like a souped-up version of the Dayton Flyers logo.

9' - Some percussion can be heard in the distance. Out of touch for Heather "HAO" O'Reilly.

10' - Here's Trotter again. Now it's O'Reilly wide. Ali Riley was off on the delivery. Goal kick for Nicole Barnhart.

11' - Back come the Pride. They need to do something about their possession.

12' - Here come the defending WPS Champions. Rosana was not on the same page on that pass and the Pride reset the distribution.

13' - Some chippiness from Laura Kalmari. Here comes a corner for Sky Blue FC.

14' - Barnhart with the grab.

15' - Great marking on Marta. A spiderweb of orange closes in on the Brazilian international. Here's Ali Riley, but the black shirts are there.

17' - This stadium, Pioneer Stadium, is constructed in a pocket, which means that the temperature on the pitch is quite warm during day matches.

18' - Offsides on Kelley O'Hara. And thus, Sky Blue resets.

19' - Kalmari was open on that shot and needed to add more mustard to that hot dog. Blown chance to blow open the match.

20' - Good anticipation by Karen Bardsley on that save. Another forward run by Marta is snuffed.

21' - Side netting for Kelley O'Hara.

22' - No foul on that challenge. Tasha Kai looking like a sheika on the sidelines. Maybe we should call her Tasheika Kai?

23' - Rosana in the offsides.

24' - Back comes Sky Blue FC. This field is wide enough to bring back the university's football team.

25' - Diving header for Rosana misses. Great defending by Sky Blue FC.

26' - I tell you, these ladies will need some Gatorade G3 Series when this is over and done with.

27' - Marta is marked and is forced to retreat. This is great defense.

28' - I wonder who will win the All-Star Game: Abby's XI or Marta's XI?

29' - This is Kelley O'Hara. There is no one on that pass for the Lionesses of the East Bay.

31' - Barnhart dives in for the grab and Karen Bardsley responds on the other end.

33' - Sky Blue FC is parking the bus right now. I don't know what happened with the Fox Soccer Channel feed; they are not showing the time.

34' - A challenge by Daphne Koster results in a set piece.

35' - Kiki Bosio's communication was off the mark.

36' - Shannon Boxx seems to be a little bit out of shape. You know something? The match needs to be held at night down at Pioneer Stadium.

37' - Good defense by Meghan Schnur on Marta. All right, now the Fox Soccer Channel ticker is back on.

39' - O'Reilly rehydrates, and it's back to action.

40' - Too much, not enough flash from HAO? Who knows. Here is Nicole Barnhart. We are scoreless in this match here in Hayward, California.

41' - Again, Meghan Schnur denies Marta. A little trip by the No. 10 for the Lionesses of the East Bay. (I love that nickname.)

42' - Barnhart was a little bit slow off her line, but she is there. Good effort by Christie Rampone.

43' - That air horn seems to be a distraction—I wonder how they allowed that into the stadium?

44' - Looks like we will see Tasha Kai in the second half, and a return to the ol' bread-and-butter formation. The formation changes have resulted in a scoreless draw.

45' - No stoppage time here this half. We head to the break.

46' - And the second half is underway. I have nothing but rave reviews for the defense on both sides today.

Substitution FC Gold Pride
IN 13 Kristen Graczyk
OUT 9 Kandace Wilson

47' - Goal kick for Barnhart. The Pride are firing out early.

48' - This is Daphne Koster. Now it's Laura Kalmari, setting up the next stanza for Sky Blue FC. Rosana is offsides.

49' - Back come FC Gold Pride. This is Rachel Buehler.

50' - Shannon Boxx seems to be having an off game today.

51' - Kiki Bosio couldn't keep that in bounds. Bardsley grabs the shot by O'Hara.

52' - Tasha Kai warms up. And that flip throw by Bosio goes into the hands of Bardsley for a goal kick. Bleh. So much for that.

53' - A set piece for Rosana. Sky Blue FC go on the attack.

54' - That run by Sinclair is off for O'Hara. Goal kick for Bardsley.

55' - There is a free kick for the Pride. Daphne Koster marked Shannon Boxx inside the box. Well done. Becky Edwards is shaken up.

56' - Sinclair is double-marked and Bardsley should have grabbed the ball. The Canadian international almost disposed her for the first goal of the game.

57' - We are 57 in, and it's scoreless.

58' - GOAL! Sky Blue FC 11 Rosana
Great header from the Brazilian, escaping Kristen Graczyk, who missed her marker. Excellent set piece from Heather O'Reilly.

59' - Substitution Sky Blue FC
IN 6 Natasha Kai
OUT 11 Rosana

60' - Rosana has gone on a tear today; she is on a hot streak.

61' - Montoya's crew needs to play with a sense of urgency.

62' - Substitution FC Gold Pride
IN 15 Tiffeny Milbrett
OUT 77 Shannon Boxx

Substitution FC Gold Pride
IN 20 Camille Abily
OUT 11 Kiki Bosio

63' - We are 63 minutes into the match, and it is 1-0, Sky Blue FC. This will open up the match a little bit.

64' - The timing of that cross by O'Hara was abysmal. Goal kick Bardsley.

65' - This is Meghan Schnur. She is dispossessed. Sky Blue FC will be wise not to give an inch.

66' - Unfortunate shot dings off the woodwork for Milbrett.

67' - Substitution Sky Blue FC
IN 12 Jessica Landstrom
OUT 20 India Trotter

68' - Christine Sinclair put too little mustard on that hot dog. Did like the chaleira by Marta, though.

69' - A local high school drumline is providing some rhythm.
But back to that Rosana goal. There is no excuse to miss your marker. Kristen Graczyk will need to submit her mea culpa. Bardsley pushes that over for a corner.

70' - And Sky Blue FC continues to frustrate FC Gold Pride with their defending.

71' - Offsides, and for the first time, the boo birds are calling out the referee's assistants.

72' - Bardsley collects. The Pride have not lost in nearly a month, and right now, they are 18 and stoppage away from being dealt some heavy blushes from the Ladies of the Raritan.

73' - Oh Marta. How the hell do you not finish that one. Ugly, ugly shot.
Now Christine Sinclair is doing a little bit more than necessary. What is up with this side?

74' - Traffic, traffic, traffic. Miettinen's ladies park the bus on that one. This is a field day for Sky Blue FC.

75' - Free kick for FC Gold Pride. O'Reilly is lucky to not be carded.

76' - This is what disgusts me, and I am an at-large writer here for the WPS team on Bleacher Report: the inability of a number of teams to finish. FC Gold Pride is not making the most of their stadium debut here on national television. That deserves a major-league "YO."

78' - Tiffany Milbrett butchers the shot. Yep, it seems to me that she has seen better days. I'm sorry, but she has.

79' - When you can't finish your way out a wet paper bag, you will lose 10 times out of 10 at the minimum. FC Gold Pride are realizing that right now.

80' - If I'm Pauliina Miettinen, I'm asking the ladies to cool the engines and set the tempo for the rest of the game.

81' - Substitution Sky Blue FC
IN 5 Kendall Fletcher
OUT 13 Yael Averbuch

82' - Here is a corner for FC Gold Pride. Horrid corner.

83' - This Sky Blue FC side can just play bunkerball—it really won't make much of a difference.

84' - Schnur with the throw-in. Good clearance by Koster.

86' - Here is Tasha Kai. Sky Blue FC are just playing on the defensive for the rest of the match. A sage tactic.

87' - A breakaway run by Kai...and this is trouble.

88' - GOAL! Sky Blue FC 6 Natasha Kai Assist 12 Jessica Landstrom
This is what you call a howler. Great run from Tasha Kai, and a well-placed tap. The fans are now filing for the exits in disgust. A few who made the trip across country elect to applaud.

89' - Dos a cero. This is all academic here.

90' - Two minutes of stoppage time. They should go rather quickly. Kai hurdles off camera. She is back into form, the tattooed wonder from Hawaii.

90' + 1' - Yellow Card 10 Marta
FC Gold Pride

As if things haven't been bad enough...dissent. Well-deserved card.

90' + 2' - We are done here...and a wasteful debut of their home stadium for the Lionesses of the East Bay, who slink down in defeat.

Stay tuned for this week's WPS Power Rankings on Bleacher Report and on the View.

Sky Blue FC (3-3-2, 11 points) hit the road on Sunday as they met their regional rival, the Philadelphia Independence, for the first time this season.  The  match saw the return of a familiar face for the visiting side, as defender and captain Christie Rampone made her first appearance of 2010.

Philadelphia didn’t waste any time in getting the scoring started as Amy Rodriguez found Lori Lindsey on the right side of the field in only the third minute of the match.  Lindsey was able to find the space to unleash a blast from 20 yards out that found the upper 90 and gave the Independence an early lead.

The lead did not last long as Sky Blue FC was able to fight their way back onto the scoreboard in just the 11th minute.  Brazilian midfielder Rosana played a volley into the box that found Laura Kalmari, who brought the ball down and split her defenders in one deft touch.

Independence goalkeeper Val Henderson was unable to take away the space before Kalmari blasted a shot past her.  Kalmari now leads the team in scoring with four goals on the year.

The Independence were able to regain the lead in the 28th minute.  Lianne Sanderson slotted a pass to Rodriguez on the left side of the goal.  She was able to turn and chip a shot just past Bardsley to give the Independence a 2-1 advantage going into the locker room.

The second half began with the same energy, although neither team was able to repeat the quick scoring from the first half.

But perhaps one of the biggest moments came in the 56th minute when Sky Blue FC made its second substitution of the game.  Christie Rampone replaced Kacey White for her first minutes of the 2010 season.  In a classy move by White, she immediately gave Rampone the captain’s band before she had even come off the field.

“The first thing Kacey did was come straight to me with the captain’s band, and it is a truly special feeling to be treated in such a manner by your teammate,” Rampone stated. “As far as the game was concerned, everything on the ground felt good today. The next step will be to get more minutes so I can really begin to feel more comfortable. Overall, it’s just exciting to be back!”

Sky Blue FC had several opportunities to capitalize and get the equalizer, but the Philadelphia backline, led by Val Henderson, were able to keep the reigning champions scoreless in the second half.  Rodriguez’s first half tally proved to be the difference as the final score was 2-1.

“We created chances on the goal line, but we just weren’t able to put them away,” Sky Blue FC head coach Pauliina Miettinen said after the game. “We just need to do a little bit more work on moving faster off the ball, and we will be able to capitalize on those opportunities.”

Sky Blue FC’s next match will be this Sunday, June 13 when they take on the Boston Breakers for the second time this season.

The team will return to New Jersey on Saturday, June 19th, to host Philadelphia, and tickets for that game are available now by clicking here or calling 1-888-SBFC-TIX.

 

Despite the offensive firepower from both sides, neither team was able to find the back of the net as the two teams finished scoreless before a crowd of 3,418 at Yurcak Field.

Sky Blue FC did see two familiar faces return to the field tonight, as defender Meghan Schnur made her first start since the second match of the season and forward Tasha Kai came on as a second half substitute to earn her first minutes since April 25.

Defender Christie Rampone was dressed for the match but did not play as she continues to work her way back after giving birth to her second daughter Reece on March 6, 2010.

Sky Blue FC didn’t take long to start their offensive onslaught as Meghan Schnur made her presence felt immediately from the opening whistle. Schnur’s cross found Kiersten Dallstream in only the second minute of the match, but the young forward’s shot went just wide of the target.

Four minutes later, midfielder Kacey White brought down a misplayed goal kick before slotting it through to Heather O’Reilly. O’Reilly took the ball around Boston goalkeeper Ashley Phillips, but hit her shot into the side netting.

In the 11th minute, Brazilian midfielder Rosana found herself with some space outside the area and unleashed a blast that seemed to surprise Phillips as she just barely was able to punch it out.

The Breakers began to even out the chances as the dangerous combination of English striker Kelly Smith and rookie Lauren Cheney combined with Kristine Lilly for a chance, but Cheney’s shot was went wide left in the 14th minute.

O’Reilly had another golden opportunity to put the home side on top after she split her defenders on the right side before firing a shot that went wide left in the 35th minute.

Sky Blue FC’s final opportunity of the half again came off of O’Reilly’s foot. Her shot from just outside the area went just above the bar.

The two teams went into the half scoreless, despite the opportunities that both teams had throughout the first 45 minutes.

Boston’s best chance of the match up to that point came just seconds into the second half as Cheney took a ball down the right flank before beating Bardsley one on one. Similar to O’Reilly in the first half, she was unable to convert the chance with such a tight angle.

Minutes later, Sky Blue FC had a big chance to take the lead as Tasha Kai fed O’Reilly on the right side but Phillips made a diving stop on the play. Kai and O’Reilly connected several other times at the beginning of the second half in an effort to gain the lead, but were unsuccessful.

Boston turned their own offense up a notch, causing several scary moments in the box for the home team but Sky Blue was able to clear time and time again to protect the clean sheet, led by the stellar play of goalkeeper Karen Bardsley.

It was Bardsley’s league leading fourth shut-out of the season.

“She’s the backbone of this team,” Miettinen said of Bardsley. “Even when we have something dangerous going on, I’m not too concerned because I have so much confidence in her. She’s definitely someone we know we can rely on, and I have no doubt that she will be there to make the saves.”

With the tie, Sky Blue FC continues to sit in third place at 3-2-2 with 11 points.

They will take on the Philadelphia Independence on the road next Sunday, June 6 before taking on the Breakers in a rematch in Boston on June 13.

Sky Blue FC’s next home match will be on Saturday, June 19 when they take on Philadelphia.  For tickets, please visit www.womensprosoccer.com/ny or call 1-888-SBFC-TIX. 

Photo courtsey of Howard C. Smith - ISI Photos.

Sky Blue FC nearly garnered their second straight road victory versus the St. Louis Athletica, but a late strike from the Athletica’s Eniola Aluko prevented the reigning champions from escaping with a victory.

Shannon Boxx got St. Louis on the board in just the 8th minute, putting her penalty kick past Sky Blue ‘keeper Karen Bardsley. The penalty kick was the result of Yael Averbuch taking Brazilian midfielder Elaine down.

Instead of allowing the penalty kick to open the floodgates, Sky Blue immediately began fighting for the equalizer.

Kiersten Dallstream, in her first start, began harassing the Athletica backline with her speed and creating opportunities for Sky Blue FC. Yael Averbuch also was dangerous, particularly on corner kicks, as several balls played in almost found the back of the net.

However, St. Louis’s backline, led by goalkeeper Hope Solo, was able to keep the Athletica’s one goal lead as the first half came to a close.

The second half saw Sky Blue FC still searching for the equalizer and it was the speedy Dallstream who started the play. She beat the Athletica defense before sending a cross that found the head of Finnish forward Laura Kalmari to tie the game in the 57th minute.

Sky Blue was back on the attack just four minutes later.

This time it was Heather O’Reilly who took off down the field, playing a cross in from the right flank that found Kalmari for her second goal of the evening. From there, Sky Blue FC turned on the defense, trying to hold onto their one goal lead.

It looked like they were on their way to getting a road victory and three points until Shannon Boxx got free and played a ball through for Eniola Aluko. Aluko slotted the ball past Bardsley to tie the game in the 85 th minute.

With the tie Sky Blue FC sits in second place (3-2-1, 10 points) and will look to pick up a win when they take on the Boston Breakers Saturday, May 29^th at 7pm ET.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.womensprosoccer.com/ny or by calling 1-888-SBFC-TIX. 

Meet the Jersey Girls package:  for an additional $10, upgrade any ticket to include the Jersey girl package which includes a FREE Jersey  Girls t-shirt and a post-game photo taken with the Jersey girls of Sky Blue FC – Christie Rampone, Carli Lloyd, Heather O’Reilly and Yael Averbuch.

Photo courtsey of Michael Pimentel | ISI Photos

Kennesaw, Ga. (Sunday, May 9, 2010) – Sky Blue FC spoiled the Atlanta Beat’s home opener as the visiting side was able to hang on afteran Atlanta own goal in the 50th minute put them on top 1-0. 

The visitors got some stellar goalkeeping from Karen Bardsley, who made 13 saves in the win.

The home side had the first opportunity to take an early lead as Ramona Bachmann took a through ball in on Bardsley, but her first touch bounced a little bit ahead of her and her shot sailed high. 

That opportunity began the onslaught of chances the Beat had during the first half.  Bardsley was forced to make several stops, including a diving save on a long range blast from Beat midfielder Mami Yamaguchi.

Sky Blue FC found their offensive rhythm ten minutes later and had their first opportunity to take the lead in the 24th minute. 

Heather O’Reilly beat her defender one-on-one on the end line and sent a cross back for Kiersten Dallstream. Dallstream settled the ball before taking a shot but it was deflected out for a corner kick. 

The ensuing corner kick, taken by midfielder Yael Averbuch, almost snuck in on the near post, but Atlanta goalkeeper Brett Maron was able to get a hand on it to punch it out of danger.

Three minutes later, Jessica Landstrom found O’Reilly on the back post, but Maron came out and deflected it for another corner kick. 

Averbuch’s kick almost found the back of the net for a second time, but clanged off the crossbar.  O’Reilly found Dallstream minutes later and slipped a ball through the Beat defense, but Dallstream wasn’t able to get a foot on it before Maron came out and grabbed the ball.

Atlanta had a great chance to take the lead just before halftime as Ramona Bachmann again found herself in on Bardsley but she hooked her shot just wide of the goal in the 38 th minute.

Atlanta continued right where they left off as the second half began. Midfielder McCall Zerboni unleashed a shot from 18 yards out that Bardsley managed to punch wide of the goal.

"Karen was absolutely unbelievable tonight," Sky Blue FC head coach Pauliina Miettinen said. "She made so many amazing saves and really kept us in the match. As a team, it gives you a huge confidence boost when you know that you will get such a high level of play by your goalkeeper."

A miscommunication in the Atlanta area cost them the game-winning goal only a minute later.

Laura Kalmari played a cross into the center of the box from the right flank and Robinson headed it back, in an attempt to pass it back to her keeper.  Maron was already off her line though as she came up to challenge a potential shot and the ball looped past her.

Atlanta continued to press in their efforts to get the equalizer but Bardsley stood firm between the posts, continuously frustrating the home side.  Ramona Bachmann had several outstanding chances on her own in the 62nd and 82nd minutes but in both cases, Bardsley was there to preserve the one goal lead.

The Beat had one final opportunity to tie the game in the latter stages of stoppage time as Bachmann had once again gotten free but her shot was punched over the bar by Bardsley.

“One of my biggest goals is to stay focused for 90 minutes,” Bardsley stated. “Atlanta was really coming at us in the second half, and I knew that I would have to keep the switch turned on. Road wins are critical, and it’s huge for you as a team when you can pick up three points on the road.”

Sky Blue FC will look to continue winning on the road as they take on the St. Louis Athletica on Sunday, May 16 at 4PM ET in St. Louis.  They will return to Yurcak Field on Saturday, May 29 when they take on the Boston Breakers at 7PM ET.  Please visit www.womensprosoccer.com/ny or call 1-888-SBFC-TIX to purchase tickets.

Photo by Michael Pimentel - ISI Photos