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Sky Blue FC Eyes Move Up Standings Against Athletica

June 5, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Sky Blue FC News Release


Don't be surprised that Sky Blue FC interim Head Coach believes that her team can make a successful march up the standings from last place. After all, the former professional has done it before.

In 2001, during the inaugural WUSA season, Lindsey was part of a Bay Area CyberRays team that accomplished the worst-to-first feat. With just four points separating Sky Blue FC from the Washington Freedom and second place, a run up the ladder isn't farfetched.

"When I was in the WUSA, we had the run from last to first so you're never out of the mix especially in a league like this where the teams are so close together in the standings and there's so much parity," Lindsey said. "It's a long season so we just have to do our work and come late July and early August, hopefully we can reap the benefits."

Sky Blue FC is faced with a great opportunity to move up the standings this weekend when it hits the road to take on Saint Louis Athletica on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET at the Anheuser Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo. Athletica (2-3-2) and Sky Blue FC (2-4-2) are tied in the standings with eight points with Saint Louis having played one less game.

Sky Blue FC fans can listen on-line to the local St. Louis audio broadcast by going to www.team1380.net and accessing the listen live stream. Broadcast starts at 4 pm ET with uninterrupted play-by-play action for each half. Sunday's game is part of Athletica's Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The game will be played with a specially designed pink PUMA ball and Saint Louis will dress in special white and pink uniforms. Game-used balls and team autographed balls will be auctioned and raffled off with proceeds going to the Komen Foundation.

If everything goes right, Sky Blue FC could be in a tie for third place by the end of the weekend. The Boston Breakers (3-3-2), who are in third place with 11 points, have a bye this weekend while FC Gold Pride (3-5-1, 10 pts.) and the Chicago Red Stars (2-3-3, 9 pts.) face off on Sunday.

"It's always important for us to get a good result especially with just four points between us and second place," Lindsey said. "Every point matters right now and every team is fighting for those three points. You want to make sure that you get the points and stay in the hunt as the season goes on. A victory this weekend could put us in third place so obviously three points is what we're looking for."

The meeting between Sky Blue FC and Saint Louis is the first of the season with Athletica the only team Sky Blue FC has not faced yet this season. Saint Louis started slow but had a four-game unbeaten streak before falling 2-0 to the Los Angeles Sol last Saturday.

Lindsey isn't concerned at all with the lack of familiarity with Athletica.

"I love playing teams for the first time because it's a fresh start and both teams have to feel each other out," Lindsey said. "I'm actually looking forward to the fact that we haven't played Saint Louis and there are no preconceived notions in our players' minds of who they're going up against."

In Saint Louis, Sky Blue FC will be facing a team that has survived an injury to leading scorer Daniela. English striker Eniola Aluko is tied with the Brazilian for the team lead with two goals. Much like Sky Blue FC, Athletica has had problems scoring this season. Saint Louis has just six goals in seven games while Sky Blue FC stands at six goals in eight games after the 2-1 victory over Boston last Sunday.

"They have the potential to be so dangerous in the attack - Aluko is so quick, Woznuk is a great playmaker, and Chalupny can fly all over the field," Lindsey said. "We really have to be concerned about transition. On the other side of that, I think there are holes that we can take advantage of if we're composed and we shift their defense. I think we'll be able to break them down if we really take care of the ball, pick and choose our moments, and play intelligently."

Following the trip to Saint Louis, Sky Blue FC returns to New Jersey for a four-game homestand. Sky Blue FC kicks off the run when it takes on the Los Angeles Sol for the third and final time on Saturday, June 13 at 7 p.m. ET at Yurcak Field. Have your picture taken with Marta! Limited packages available, buy now! (888-SBFC-TIX | www.skybluestore.com)



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from June 5, 2009


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