
Sky Blue FC Edged out by Orlando Pride
June 22, 2019 - National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)
Sky Blue FC News Release
Piscataway, N.J. - Sky Blue FC (0-7-2, 2 points) came out pressing hard and firing off shots at Orlando but a late goal sealed the game in favor of the Pride for a 1-2 loss at Yurcak Field.
Sky Blue came out pressing hard and on the front foot of the attack early in the game. The first chance on goal in the 4th minute of play came from a cross in by Imani Dorsey that was miss-hit by the Orlando backline and fell to the feet of Raquel Rodriguez at the top of the box. Rodriguez fired off a shot that was deflected just wide of the right post.
Dorsey was active on the left flank, using her speed and control to beat the Orlando defense multiple times. In the 9th minute Dorsey received a throw in and beat two defenders down the line to send a cross over to Sarah Killion. As Orlando defender Carson Pickett stepped to Killion, she sent a slip ball into Jen Hoy who ripped off a shot, but Orlando goalkeeper Haley Kopmeyer was able to make the save.
The first chance for Orlando came in the 14th minute as forward Chioma Ubogagu made a run down the left line and tested the Sky Blue backline with her speed. Ubogagu was able to send in a cross near the 6-yard box that deflected off of Erica Skroski heading towards the Sky Blue goal. Didi Haracic was able to track the ball to make a diving save from the deflection.
A handball in the box called on Elizabeth Eddy gave Orlando a penalty kick and their first goal of the night in the 32nd minute. Ubogagu stepped up the line for Orlando and sent the shot to the low right corner, just under the hand of Haracic.
Sky Blue continued to push the attack as a few chances to level the game were just off the mark. In the 35th minute, a ball sent in by Hoy, found the head of Dorsey, who put it wide of the right post. A free kick in the 45th minute was the final chance for Sky Blue before halftime as Killion stood over the ball on the right side of the field and sent the kick towards Gina Lewandowski who was running at the left post. Lewandowski connected with the cross, sending the header off the crossbar.
In the second half, Rodriguez found herself wide open at the top of the box after receiving a pass by Hoy in the 60th minute. The low shot sent in on frame was kick-saved by Kopmeyer to keep Orlando in the lead.
Captain Killion leveled the game in the 67th minute after being awarded a penalty kick. The penalty kick came from a handball by defender Morgan Reid. Killion stepped up to the line and sent Kopmeyer the wrong way, as the ball hit the back of the net in low right-hand corner to tie it up at 1-1.
As the game came to the final minutes, Orlando went back on top, 1-2, after an own goal in the 81st minute. Midfielder Marisa Viggiano sent in a ball that looked to have crossed over the end line, but the ball deflected off of Lewandowski and into the net.
Sky Blue FC heads to the Midwest to face the Chicago Red Stars at SeatGeek Stadium on July 6 at 8 p.m. ET. The following weekend Sky Blue will be back at home on July 12 against Utah Royals FC at 7:30 p.m. ET for Health & Wellness Night presented by RWJBarnabas.
Saker ShopRite Woman of the Match: Sarah Killion
NWSL Match Report
Match: Sky Blue vs. Orlando Pride
Date: June 22, 2019
Venue: Yurcak Field, Piscataway, N.J.
Attendance: 1,644
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Weather: Sunny, 82 degrees
Scoring Summary:
1 2 F
NJ 0 1 1
ORL 1 1 2
ORL - Chioma Ubogagu (PK) - 32'
NJ - Sarah Killion (PK) - 67'
ORL - Gina Lewandowski (Own Goal) - 81'
Lineups:
SBFC: 13-Didi Haracic, 3-Caprice Dydasco, 8-Erica Skroski, 12-Gina Lewandowski, 18-Sabrina Flores, 9-Naho Kawasumi (5-Julie James, 60'), 11-Raquel Rodriguez, 16-Sarah Killion (C), 7- Jen Hoy, 19-Elizabeth Eddy (4-Pagie Monaghan, 69'), 28-Imani Dorsey
Subs not used: 15-Kaylan Marckese, 14-Kenie Wright, 29-Amandine Pierre-Louis
Head Coach: Denise Reddy
ORL: 28-Haley Kopmeyer, 19-Erin Greening, 27-Morgan Reid, 3-Toni Pressley, 16-Carson Pickett, 25-Joanna Boyles, 17-Dani Weatherhold (c) (22-Bridget Callahan, 25'), 23-Marisa Viggiano, 15-Rachel Hill, 8-Danica Evans (20-Abby Elinsky, 68'), 6-Chioma Ubogagu
Subs not used: 18-Lainey Burdett, 26-Caitlin Farrell, 31-Taylor Porter, 32-Hana Kerner, 29-Alika Keene
Head Coach: Marc Skinner
Stats Summary: NJ / ORL
Possession: 55.6% / 44.4%
Shots: 22 / 6
Shots on Goal: 5 / 3
Saves: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 4 / 2
Fouls: 15 / 10
Offside: 0 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
NJ: Caprice Dydasco (caution, 90+4')
Officials:
Referee: Rebecca Pagan
Assistant Referee 1: Meghan Mullen
Assistant Referee 2: Ben Pilgrim
Fourth Official: Jared Simons
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