Energized by Win, Flash Faces Back-To-Back on the Road
Published on June 15, 2012 under Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Western New York Flash News Release
Fueled by Wednesday's 3-0 win over previously undefeated Chicago, the Western New York Flash now faces back-to-back matches on the road this weekend. The reigning WPS champions could celebrate briefly but view the victory was a stepping stone toward an extended winning streak.
"Everyone was really happy in the locker room after the match, but today we came in for training and we're focused on the next game," Flash defender Alex Sahlen said. "This Chicago game means nothing if we don't take care of business this weekend.
Saturday :
The match: WNY Flash (3-2-1) vs. ASA Chesapeake (1-3-1)
The venue: Old Mill High School Stadium in South Gate, MD
The time: 2 p.m. EST
Last game: WNY beat Chicago 3-0; A
SA Chesapeake fell to Chicago 5-0.
Sunday:
The match: WNY Flash vs. Philadelphia Fever (0-4-1)
The venue: Washington High School in Sewell, NJ
The time: 7:30 p.m. EST
Last game: Philadelphia lost 1-0 to Boston
FLASHcards for this weekend's matches
In each installment of the weekly 'Flashcards,' we'll examine any roster moves for Western New York, take a gander at the weekend's opponents and absorb insight from Lines or a player.
1) Downing Chicago:
With the momentum from last weekend's win over the New England Mutiny, Western New York excelled in several facets of the match in Wednesday's toppling of Chicago. Katy Frierson scored for the second game in a row, Omolyn Davis broke out of a slump with a goal and an assist and the back four of Sahlen, Nikki Marshall, Kat Reynolds and Tori Huster helped goalie Alli Lipsher preserve a clean sheet.
The jelling of the defense, especially with the absences of U.S. U-23 stalwart Toni Pressley, steady veteran Kim Brandao and U.S. full international Meghan Klingenberg, has been a pleasant surprise.
"We've continually worked specifically on our shape separate from the rest of the team in training and looked at a lot of video to learn from our mistakes, so that has definitely aided in us coming together as a unit," explained Sahlen, who also assisted on Davis' goal. "Constant communication is also something that the coaching staff is always preaching to us as well."
2) Exhausting schedule:
The Flash's travel itinerary isn't for the faint of heart, as the team leaves Sahlen's Sports Park Friday morning on a six-hour bus ride to Maryland. Shortly after Saturday's match, the Flash will then bus another two hours to Sewell, NJ - home of the Fever - before slogging seven and a half hours back to Elma Sunday evening.
"The little things are going to be important this weekend - getting the right rest, nutrition, ice baths, [and drinking] protein shakes right after we get off the field," Sahlen, who played the full 90 against Chicago, explained. "It's all about recovering as quickly as we can, which is what our strength coach Demeris [Johnson] has really stressed."
3) The opposition:
The ASA Chesapeake Charge (1-3-1) is one of the youngest squads in WPSL Elite, consisting mostly of late high school or early collegiate players. The team's lone win was a 3-2 victory over Philadelphia, the Flash's Sunday opponent.
Five members of the Charge suit up for Towson University in Maryland, while two come directly from the University of the Maryland. Jess Hnatiuk and Erica Suter from Johns Hopkins University have been mainstays in the starting XI, while Towson's Erin Quinn usually splits time in net with George Mason's Lyndse Hokanson. The Charge is coached by Albert Oni, a former Baltimore Blast player who competed against the Buffalo Blizzard in the NPSL.
The Philadelphia Fever enters Sunday's clash after a fine result last weekend against Boston, losing only 1-0 to the top-of-the-table Breakers. With a lineup boasting mostly top-flight college players - plus former England international Leanne Champ - Philadelphia has managed to play quality opponents tightly but struggled to finish chances.
Women's Professional Soccer Stories from June 15, 2012
- Energized by Win, Flash Faces Back-To-Back on the Road - Western New York Flash
- Project Pink Night Set For July 14 - Boston Breakers
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