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WPS Sky Blue FC

Sky Blue FC Continues Homestand against Red Stars

June 16, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Sky Blue FC News Release


With a win necessary to keep pace in the playoff race, Sky Blue FC will face the Chicago Red Stars - a team it has found success against so far this season - in a mid-week matchup. Sky Blue FC has a win and a draw against the Red Stars in two previous meetings this season, both played at Chicago's Toyota Park.

The two teams played to a 0-0 tie in their first matchup before Sky Blue FC emerged victorious by a 2-0 score in the second with goals from Natasha Kai and Sarah Walsh.

Sky Blue FC will take on the Red Stars at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. (888-SBFC-TIX | www.skybluestore.com)

The Red Stars (2-3-5, 11 pts.) enter the match only two points above Sky Blue FC (2-5-3, 9 pts.), and are tied with the Boston Breakers (3-4-2, 11 pts.) and FC Gold Pride (3-5-2, 11 pts.) for the fourth and final playoff position.

With Chicago riding a six-game winless streak into New Jersey, it seems that the Red Stars are just the team Sky Blue FC would want to face at this point in the season. However, Sky Blue FC interim Head Coach Kelly Lindsey refuses to accept the notion that her team's past success indicates they will not have to work for a victory this weekend.

"In this league, you can never assume that you've solved anybody's puzzle," explained Lindsey, whose team is playing for the second time in four days after tying league-leading Los Angeles 0-0 on Saturday. "Simply put, from week to week you can never completely know how a team is going to gameplan for you. In particular, Chicago is not an opponent to be taken lightly. They attack well and will be dangerous all game long."

Lindsey picked out the matchup between two United States Women's National Team members - Sky Blue FC's Heather O'Reilly and Chicago's Megan Rapinoe - that are integral to their WPS teams as being the one of the key battles in the upcoming match. The coach expressed her confidence in O'Reilly's ability to get the better of her peer.

"Rapinoe's always dangerous," Lindsey said. "Chicago has been playing her in a flank midfield position. As a result she can create from deeper in the field and has more space to run at you. It'll be a good matchup between Megan and Heather out on the flank; they've played against each other enough in recent times that Heather will hopefully be able to stall Rapinoe's attack."

Sky Blue FC heads into the weekday tilt within striking distance of a playoff berth. After last weekend's matches, the Los Angeles Sol (7-1-4, 25 pts.) still heads the table, 11 points clear of second-place Saint Louis Athletica (4-3-2, 14 pts.). The Washington Freedom (3-3-4, 13 pts.) holds down the third spot in the standings, two points clear of the three teams that are tied for fourth place.

Lindsey recognizes the opportunity the Chicago game represents for her team to climb back into the thick of the playoff chase. She continues to underline the necessity for the team to keep accumulating points.

However, the Sky Blue FC skipper does not feel like the game is a must-win with two more games left in the current four-game homestand, especially with Boston and FC Gold Pride battling one another at the same time Sky Blue FC takes the field Wednesday night.

Perhaps what Lindsey looks forward to the most is the promising weather forecast for Wednesday night after having to play in driving rain on Saturday against Los Angeles. While Sky Blue FC created a number of scoring chances during both halves, the wet conditions contributed to the team's inability to score despite controlling the run of play.

"Admittedly in early June in New Jersey, you never know what the weather is going to bring," said Lindsey. "We created a lot of chances against the Sol and we saw the kind of attacking effort that we were looking for. We've been getting the ball where we want it and hopefully with a dry field we'll have better footing and be able to find the back of the net."

Tickets are available by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849) or by visiting www.skybluestore.com. Come to the game early and participate in a Coach's Chalk Talk with Lindsey at 6:15 p.m.



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from June 16, 2009


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