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Washington Pulls Out Draw with Sky Blue FC in Wild Affair

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


PISCATAWAY, N.J. (July 15, 2009) - In an ending that befitted the wild back-and-forth match that preceded, the Washington Freedom escaped from defeat with a stoppage time goal to earn a 4-4 tie with Sky Blue FC in front of 3,746 fans at Yurcak Field. Cat Whitehill knocked in the late goal just minutes after Natasha Kai had put the home side ahead.

In an evenly-played match with end-to-end action, the two teams traded goals back-to-back in the early minutes of each half to keep the fans on the edge of their seats. Both Kai and Kacey White finished with two goals each for Sky Blue FC while Lisa De Vanna connected twice for the Freedom to go along with single scores by Whitehill and Sonia Bompastor.

"It was a really bizarre game - it went back and forth," said White, who now has three goals for the season. "We showed a lot of character coming back after giving up an early goal, but of course we wanted to come up with three points, especially after having the lead that late in the game. We're never happy with just one point, but at this point in the season, with three games in a week, it's still a good result for us to come out with a point."

The goal-filled affair was uncharacteristic for Sky Blue FC, which set franchise records for most goals scored in a game as well as for most goals allowed in a game. In the 14 previous games heading into the match, Sky Blue FC had only scored 11 goals while allowing just 12 goals. The combined eight goals set a Women's Professional Soccer record for most goals scored in one match.

"One point is better than no points," said Sky Blue FC head coach Kelly Lindsey. "I don't know that it was a bad tie. It was a really good chance for us to test our character and our heart and I thought that was positive. We haven't scored 4 goals [in one game] all season so that was positive. Although a tie is a tie, I thought a lot of good things came out of [today's game]."

The action started quickly as the Freedom connected just 3:41 into the match. Alli Krieger carried the ball up the right side before crossing into the middle for Sonia Bompastor, who flicked a header inside the far post for the 1-0 lead. Just 1:14 later, Sky Blue FC tied the game at 1-1 when Heather O'Reilly sent a cross in from the left side and a wide open Kai easily touched the ball in from five yards out.

The teams traded chances again midway through the opening half with Rebecca Moros sending in a cross that deflected off the crossbar in the 21st minute. Less than two minutes later, Keeley Dowling struck a shot from distance that eluded Freedom keeper Erin McLeod but bounded off the left post.

Sky Blue FC struck for its second goal in the 27th minute following a scramble in the box after a corner kick. Dowling sent the ball toward the goal and White finished in acrobatic fashion, lifting her leg high to flick the ball into the upper left corner with the outside of her foot.

The Freedom had two chances before halftime as Abby Wambach's shot from an angle gave Sky Blue FC keeper Jenni Branam a bit of trouble in the 39th minute and then Whitehill blasted a freekick right at Branam in stoppage time.

The second half started off with a bang as White scored an accidental goal just 27 seconds in. The Sky Blue FC forward's cross from the left side went over the head of McLeod and deflected off the inside of the far, right post into the goal.

Just 58 seconds later, the Freedom responded to cut the lead to 3-2 on a goal by De Vanna. Bompastor crossed the ball in from the left and the Australian striker buried a header from five yards out.

Washington kept up the pressure and three minutes later, Wambach banged a first-time shot from eight yards out off the right post. In the 54th minute, the Freedom tied the match when Wambach chipped forward to De Vanna, who beat the offside trap and carried into the box before cutting past Branam and rolling a shot into the open goal.

Branam kept the score tied with two strong saves. In the 68th minute, the Sky Blue FC keeper dove to stop Bompastor, who attempted to sneak a free kick in at the near post from an angle. In the 76th minute, Branam made a diving stop off a header from Wambach.

Sky Blue FC seemed to have come up with the game-winner when Rosana fed Kai into the box for the first-time finish past a charging McLeod, but in a game as wild as this one that wasn't the case. Two minutes into stoppage time, the ball took a surprising deflection off a Sky Blue FC player toward the goal and Branam did well to touch the ball off the crossbar to keep it out. However, Whitehill flew in to bury the rebound to tie the score at 4-4.

Sky Blue FC returns to action on Sunday when it hosts Faith Day at Yurcak Field. Kickoff is set at 4:30 p.m. as Sky Blue FC seeks to stake its claim for a playoff spot with a match against the Chicago Red Stars. For ticket information, call 888-SBFC-TIX or visit www.SkyBlueStore.com



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from July 15, 2009


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