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O'Reilly's Effort Earns Draw for Sky Blue FC

April 11, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Sky Blue FC News Release


BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - It took a while but Sky Blue FC finally found the back of the net for the franchise's first goal ever. Local girl Heather O'Reilly did the honors connecting in the later stages of the second half to help Sky Blue FC salvage a 1-1 tie with FC Gold Pride in a Women's Professional Soccer match at TD Bank Ballpark.

After suffering a shutout loss to the Los Angeles Sol in its first-ever match last weekend, Sky Blue FC came from behind to earn the tie with the California Bay Area team. O'Reilly scored in the 76th minute to erase the lead that Carrie Dew had given FC Gold Pride in the 33rd minute on the team's only shot on goal of the game.

(Robyn McNeil) Sky Blue FC's Heather O'Reilly (left) celebrates her goal with Kelly Parker.

With the tie, Sky Blue FC's record is now 0-1-1 while FC Gold Pride stands at 1-0-1. Sky Blue FC returns to action on April 19 when it travels to face the Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill.

Sky Blue FC didn't lack quality chances in the match with the first coming in the 17th minute. Collette McCallum drove in a short corner kick that was met by the head of Keeley Dowling but her attempt bounded off the top of the bar and over the goal.

FC Gold Pride's goal came thanks a couple of fortunate deflections. A short corner kick from Tiff Weimer deflected back to Dew, who hit a shot from the top of the box that took a deflection into the lower left corner of the goal past Sky Blue FC keeper Karen Bardsley.

Four minutes after the opening goal, the visitors threatened again but Bardsley did well to kick away a shot from Christine Sinclair as the Canadian international broke into the box. Sky Blue FC had the better of the play in the second half culminating with O'Reilly's goal. Natasha Kai and FC Gold Pride keeper Nicole Barnhart were involved in a big collision in the box but the loose ball was cleared out. One minute later, Kai laced a shot from outside the box that just deflected wide right.

In the 62nd minute, Sarah Walsh laid off a nice pass for O'Reilly but Barnhart was on point with a diving save at the near post.

O'Reilly, an East Brunswick, N.J. native, thrilled the home crowd that contained many fans from her hometown East Brunswick Soccer Club. Sarah Walsh set up the play for O'Reilly, who as serving as the team captain in the absence of injured defender Christie Rampone. O'Reilly burst into the box and rolled a right-footed shot into the lower left of the goal from 10 yards out.

FC Gold Pride's best chance of the second half came in the 86th minute when Eriko Arakawa hooked a shot just over the bar from outside the top of the box.



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from April 11, 2009


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