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WPS Sky Blue FC

Substitutes Kai, Francielle Connect as Sky Blue FC Advances

August 15, 2009 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Sky Blue FC News Release


BOYDS, MD. (August 15, 2009) - Despite being just three games into her coaching career, Christie Rampone seems to be catching on fast. The Sky Blue FC Interim Player/Coach, as well as captain and central defender, made some interesting moves against the Washington Freedom in the first round of the WPS Playoffs and they played out perfectly.

Natasha Kai and Francielle both came off the bench to score goals as Sky Blue FC claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over the Freedom at the Maryland SoccerPlex. Francielle's game-winning goal came in the 84th minute as Sky Blue FC advanced to face Saint Louis Athletica in the WPS Super Semifinal on Wednesday night.

Among the changes Rampone made to the lineup, the key moves were bringing Kai off the bench and giving the seldom-used Francielle a shot to play. Sky Blue FC's leading scorer, Kai came into the game in the 54th minute and immediately made Rampone look like a genius by hitting the back of the net about 45 seconds after coming into the game to open the scoring.

Francielle - acquired from Saint Louis in a midseason trade - had only appeared in just one game with Sky Blue FC since joining the team. Besides scoring the winning goal, the Brazilian midfielder came off the bench against the Freedom and helped change the game by becoming a settling presence in the center of the Sky Blue FC formation.

"Tash has been struggling with her shoulders and I thought a good 45 from her would be better than a soft 90 especially with the heat and the 4 o'clock game," Rampone said. "Fran has been doing an exceptional job at practice. She defends well and I thought that she could sit in front of us and change the point with simple passes. She was a key player for us tonight."

With a 4 p.m. kickoff, the game was played in stifling 92-degree heat and that slowed the pace of the game noticeably. Washington scored nine goals in the three regular-season matches with Sky Blue FC but only managed one in the playoff game - a 78th minute finish off a rebound by Lisa De Vanna after Sky Blue FC keeper Jenni Branam had collided with Abby Wambach on a through ball in the box.

Sky Blue FC held the upper hand in the first half with a 14-5 advantage in shots. Rosana had a great chance in the seventh minute but volleyed right at Freedom keeper Erin McLeod. In the 21st minute, McLeod charged out the block a chance by Kerri Hanks, who started in place of Kai up front.

In the second half, Washington started well as Ali Krieger hit a great chance over from close range less than two minutes in.

Kai's opening goal in the 55th minute started with a serve into the box for Kacey White, who popped the ball into the air over a defender. Kai snuck in behind and took a touch before finishing a left-footed shot from inside the six.

The Freedom started to turn things around after Sky Blue FC took the lead. Wambach shot right at Branam in the 61st minute and then Branam made a key save seven minutes later tipping a blast by Krieger off the crossbar.

The Freedom goal came in the 78th minute off a long ball played forward into the box. Branam charged off her line to box the ball and collided into Wambach in the process. The ball went right to De Vanna and the Australian striker nailed a shot just under the crossbar to tie the score at 1-1.

The game-winner was the product of some individual brilliance for Francielle, who received a pass from Yael Averbuch to the left side. She froze a defender with a move off the dribble and then unleashed a low shot from 20 yards that nicked off the fingertips of McLeod and into the lower right corner.

Sky Blue FC will travel directly to St. Louis to prepare for the WPS Super Semifinal at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo. The matchup with Athletica will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. ET. The WPS Championship presented by MedImmune will be hosted by the Los Angeles Sol on Saturday, August 22 at 4 p.m. ET at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from August 15, 2009


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