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NWSL Sky Blue FC

Sky Blue FC Come up Short against Portland Thorns

May 25, 2019 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Sky Blue FC News Release


Piscataway, NJ - Sky Blue FC (0-5-2, 2 points) held the Thorns in the first half of the match before allowing a 69th minute goal from Midge Purce to give Portland Thorns the 0-1 win at Yurcak.

Sky Blue came out composed in the first half, holding back the Thorns attack to only six shots on goal and two shots on target. Playing a large role as the shot stopper, Didi Haracic did well in net to stop opportunities from Portland, saving 2 shots in the first half.

In the 14th minute, Sky Blue had their first chance on goal when Imani Dorsey played in a high cross to the head of Amandine Pierre-Louis, sending it wide of the right post into the hands of Thorns goalkeeper Britt Eckerstrom.

The first half saw possession bounce back and forth between the two teams and ended with a 0-0 scoreline. Sky Blue held 48.6% percent of the possession, with most of the first half being played out of the back and in the midfield.

Sky Blue came out aggressive in the second half with a chance to lead in the 48th minute with a buildup play starting with Dorsey at midfield. Dorsey sent the ball through a seam to Jen Hoy who quickly slipped it up to Savannah McCaskill on the left flank, cutting back to take a shot that was blocked by Katherine Reynolds.

Portland scored the lone goal in the 69th minute after a shot deflection landed at the feet of Midge Purce and she slipped the ball to the back the net for her first of the season.

In the 89th minute Haracic kept the game at a one goal difference, making an incredible save in a one-on-one situation against Purce.

Gina Lewandowski made her debut in a Sky Blue uniform in her first start of the season, playing a full 90 minutes at right back. Rookie Kenie Wright made her first appearance of her NWSL career, entering the match during stoppage time.

"Everyone's been super welcoming, the whole club, the organization, and the girls have been very welcoming and friendly, so it was kind of an easy transition," stated Lewandowski. "I think we had a good performance, certain phases of the game we got dangerous going forward a couple times but we just need to get more consistency going forward ... there were phases where we actually were the better team we just need to do that over a longer period of time."

Sky Blue FC have some time off before they are back to face Utah Royals FC away in Sandy, Utah at the Rio Tinto Stadium on June 15 at 10 p.m. ET. Sky Blue will return home to face the Orlando Pride on June 22, at 7 p.m. when the club will have their Pride Night Celebration.

Saker ShopRite Woman of the Match: Didi Haracic

NWSL Match Report

Match: Sky Blue vs. Portland Thorns

Date: May 25, 2019

Venue: Yurcak Field

Attendance: 1,472

Kickoff: 6:00 p.m. ET

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary:

1 2 F

NJ 0 0 0

POR 0 1 1

POR - Midge Purce - 69'

Lineups:

SBFC: 13-Didi Haracic, 4-Paige Monaghan, 8-Erica Skroski, 12-Gina Lewandowski, 17-Domi Richardson (14-Kenie Wright, 90 +3), 9-Naho Kawasumi (20-Gabi, 78), 11-Raquel Rodriguez, 16-Sarah Killion (C), 28-Imani Dorsey, 29-Amandine Pierre-Louis (7-Jen Hoy, 45), 21-Savannah McCaskill

Subs not used: 15-Kaylan Marckese, 2-McKenzie Meehan, 18-Sabrina Flores

Head Coach: Denise Reddy

POR: 33-Britt Eckerstrom, 25-Meghan Klingenberg, 4-Emily Menges (C), 2-Katherine Reynolds, 27-Elizabeth Ball, 34-Tyler Lussi (23-Midge Purce, 59), 11-Dagny Bringjardottir, 35-Gabby Seiler, 36-Angela Salem (41-Madison Pogarch, 74), 7-Ana Crnogorcevic, 38-Simone Charley (40-Marissa Everett, 79)

Subs not used: 30-Celeste Boureille, 37-Emily Ogle, 31-Bella Bixby, 20-Kelli Hubly,

Head Coach: Mark Parsons

Stats Summary: NJ / POR

Shots: 8 / 17

Shots on Goal: 1 / 7

Saves: 6 / 1

Corner Kicks: 3 / 9

Fouls: 12 / 9

Offside: 2 / 3

Misconduct Summary:

POR: - Dagny Brynjarsdottir (caution, 87')

Officials:

Referee: Jasmine Peralta

Assistant Referee 1: Katarzyna Wasiak

Assistant Referee 2: Kristin Sundberg

Fourth Official: Bardhyl Pashaj

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National Women's Soccer League Stories from May 25, 2019


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