Flash Head to Chicago with Playoff Implications on the Line
August 21, 2015 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Western New York Flash News Release
ELMA, N.Y. (Friday, August 21, 2015) - The Western New York Flash will wrap up its road season on Sunday evening, when it travels to face the Chicago Red Stars at 5 p.m. ET at the Village of Lisle-Benedictine University Sports Complex. The match will also close a four-game road trip, the longest of the season for the Flash.
Sunday's match will be streamed live on YouTube and can be watched by clicking the link here. Fans can also follow live play-by-play at the Flash's official Twitter page, @WNYFlash, and can join the conversation by using the hashtag #CRSvWNYF.
The Flash will need a win on Sunday in order to keep playoff hopes alive, however they will also need some assistance from another NWSL team. If FC Kansas City finishes with a win or draw at Boston on Saturday night, the Flash will be eliminated from postseason contention.
The two teams have met once already this season, when the Flash were able to come away with a 3-1 win at Sahlen's Stadium behind goals from Samantha Mewis, Elizabeth Eddy and Jamia Fields. That win also ended Chicago's seven-game unbeaten streak that started the 2015 season.
Western New York enters the match on an 11-day break, last playing to an exciting 1-1 draw at Washington on August 12. The Spirit took a 1-0 lead in the first half, but rookie Lynn Williams added her team-leading fourth goal of the season in the 90th minute to earn a point for the visiting Flash. Goalkeeper Chantel Jones also made a number of big saves in the second half, keep it just a one-goal game and allowing the Flash the opportunity to rally.
Chicago, on the other hand, will be looking to secure their spot in the postseason on Sunday and can do so by earning more points than the Portland Thorns this weekend. The home team will be coming off a tough 2-1 loss last Sunday when Crystal Dunn scored in stoppage time to steal three points for the Washington Spirit. Canadian international Melissa Tancredi scored in the 82nd minute to level the game for Chicago, but Dunn was able to answer minutes later.
Both teams should benefit from the return of their U.S. internationals, who were away with the U.S. Women's National Team as they played their first two games of the post-World Cup Victory Tour over the last week.
Sunday's game begins the first leg of a back-to-back series with the Red Stars as the Flash will see the team again just six days later in Rochester. That game on Saturday, August 29, will begin at 7 p.m. ET and is the Flash's annual Pink game. The team will wear limited-edition pink jerseys that will be autographed and raffled off postgame to benefit Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
The Flash players, as well as local businesses and organizations, will also be donating baskets to be raffled off to benefit Roswell.
Tickets for remaining Flash home games can be purchased at wnyflash.com or by calling the Flash at (716) 655-PLAY or the Sahlen's Stadium Box Office at (585) 454-KICK.
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National Women's Soccer League Stories from August 21, 2015
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- Preview: FC Kansas City Puts Three-Game Unbeaten Streak on the Line against the Boston Breakers - FC Kansas City
- Flash Head to Chicago with Playoff Implications on the Line - Western New York Flash
- Red Stars "Excited" for Sunday Meeting with Flash - Chicago Stars FC
- Thorns FC Announce Sellout for August 30 Match against Washington Spirit - Portland Thorns FC
- Boston Breakers Return to Action Saturday, Visiting FC Kansas City - Boston Breakers
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