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WPS Sky Blue FC

Sky Blue FC Coaches Hoping to Highlight Reunion With a Win

April 10, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Sky Blue FC News Release


SOMERSET, N.J. (April 10, 2009) - When the two coaching staffs meet on the field before Saturday night's Women's Professional Soccer game between Sky Blue FC and FC Gold Pride, you can't blame them if it feels like a reunion of sorts. That's because between the two staffs, five of the coaches were involved with the Bay Area CyberRays of the WUSA.

In the three-year existence of the first American women's pro league from 2001 to 2003, Ian Sawyers - now the Sky Blue FC General Manager and Head Coach - served as the Head Coach of the CyberRays. Gold Pride Head Coach Albertin Montoya worked as an assistant in 2003 and his current Goalkeeper Coach, Jay Cooney, served in the same position all three years with the CyberRays.

In addition, former CyberRays players Kelly Lindsey and Sissi are now assistant coaches for Sky Blue FC and FC Gold Pride, respectively. Add to all of that the presence of icon Brandi Chastain in an FC Gold Pride uniform and there will surely be plenty of stories about the good old days to go around.

"All of their coaching staff was working for us with the Bay Area team," Sawyers said. "It's going to be great to see those guys and to see a former player like Sissi, who's one of our favorites. And then having Brandi on the field, hopefully it will be a rewarding experience for all of us."

The old friends will become adversaries on Saturday night when Sky Blue FC hosts FC Gold Pride at 7:45 p.m. at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, N.J. Sky Blue FC will be seeking its first victory of the season while FC Gold Pride is coming off a 2-1 last minute victory over the Boston Breakers.

Sky Blue FC made its franchise debut last weekend in front of a capacity crowd of 6,053 but the score line wasn't as successful. Brazilian star Marta struck for two goals in two minutes late in the first half as the Los Angeles Sol handed the home team a 2-0 setback.

In addition to trying to claim bragging rights among friends Saturday night, Sawyers will be seeking to raise his team's level of play.

"We looked at the tape (of the LA game) and we felt there are definitely some areas of the game we need to clean up," he said. "We need to play at a higher pace and we need to play with a little more defensive pressure. We've prioritized those things as well as obviously scoring goals - we didn't create enough chances the last game."

The status of Christie Rampone is a question for Sky Blue FC. The team captain and defensive leader was forced off the field with a strained hamstring 27 minutes into the opener and is listed as questionable for this weekend's match. Keeley Dowling stepped in alongside Anita Asante to replace Rampone in a back four that limited the Sol's offense for most of the game with the exception of Marta's spurt just before halftime.

On the attacking end, Sky Blue FC will seek to be quicker and more decisive and if possible, more entertaining. The team created a few good opportunities in its opener but not enough to beat Los Angeles keeper Karina LeBlanc.

"How we play is going to be very important," Sawyers said. "We've got to get the fans behind us a little more and play a more exciting game. We were a little stagnant in the first game - maybe the pressure of the event sat on us a bit. I really want to see if we can open up and play better."

FC Gold Pride's opener was a successful one thanks to a 90th minute strike from veteran Tiffeny Milbrett, who combined with Chastain gives the Gold Pride a total of 398 caps with the United States Women's National Team. Chastain entered the game against Boston with 25 minutes left and Milbrett followed four minutes later to help set up the victory.

"It was a pretty smart substitution," Sawyers said. "They put them in with about 15 or 20 minutes to go so they weren't taxing them with a 90 minute game. Tiffany has always scored goals at every level and Brandi set up the goal with the first pass so they're still quality players, there's no question about that."

In addition to the two 'old-timers,' FC Gold Pride also features a familiar face in Brazilian Formiga. The dynamic midfielder played the 2007 season with Sky Blue Soccer's former W-League team, Jersey Sky Blue.

Along with Formiga, FC Gold Pride has Canadian scoring threat Christine Sinclair, USWNT midfielder Leslie Osborne, and the highly-recognizable Eriko Arakawa, who used her "afro" styled hairdo to nod in the first goal of the game against the Breakers.

Tickets are still available for Saturday night's game in all seating sections at TD Bank Ballpark. For the latest special offers, call 888-SBFC-TIX or visit www.SkyBlueStore.com. Get a Family 4-Pack for general admission seating for just $40.

GAME NOTES

- WPS announced final game times for three Sky Blue FC games, two of which were delayed due to the Fox Soccer Channel schedule. These kickoff times are:

July 12 | Boston Breakers vs. Sky Blue FC | Harvard Stadium | 6 pm | FSC

July 19 | Sky Blue FC vs. Chicago Red Stars | Yurcak Field | 4:30 pm | FSC

Aug. 8 | Washington Freedom vs. Sky Blue FC | Maryland SoccerPlex | 7 pm

- FC Gold Pride defender Erika will miss the match due to injury after playing the whole game last weekend. The Brazilian suffered a slight fracture to her nose in a head-to-head collision against Boston.

- Sky Blue FC has added an exhibition match to its schedule against FC Indiana of the W-League. The two teams will meet on Tuesday, April 21st in Indianapolis. Sky Blue FC plays on the road against the Chicago Red Stars two days earlier in a Fox Soccer Channel broadcasted game.



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from April 10, 2009


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