WPS Sky Blue FC

With Mid-Season Break Over, Sky Blue FC Sets Sights on Athletica

Published on June 25, 2009 under Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Sky Blue FC News Release


After an 11-day mid-season break, Sky Blue FC is recharged and ready to take aim on a spot in the playoffs as the team heads into the second half of the season. Sky Blue FC first sets it sights on Saint Louis Athletica, which makes its only visit to New Jersey this season.

Sky Blue FC meets Saint Louis on Sunday in a 6 p.m. clash at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J. (888-SBFC-TIX | www.skybluestore.com) The match will be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel as part of WPS Sunday on FSC.

Heading into the match, Sky Blue FC (3-5-3, 12 pts.) holds down fifth place in the standings, edging out sixth-place FC Gold Pride (3-6-3, 12 pts.) on goal differential. The New Jersey/New York team has a game in hand over both FC Gold Pride and the cellar-dwelling Chicago Red Stars (2-5-5, 11 pts.), who Sky Blue FC defeated 1-0 in their most recent game on June 17.

During the long break, Sky Blue FC embarked on a trip to Commerce City, Colo. to take on the Colorado Force of the W-League Wednesday night in an exhibition match as part of the 3rd Annual Women's Soccer Celebration at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The match ended in a 0-0 draw, but Lindsey saw a great deal of benefit from making the midweek trip.

"It will be mental battle for our team to come back from this trip and regroup and organize for Sunday's game," Lindsey admitted. "At the same time, the midweek trip was a great chance for us to get some of our players time in a live game. At the end of the year, we'll look back and be glad that we spent the time travelling to Colorado."

Athletica (4-5-2, 14 pts.) comes into the match in sole possession of fourth place and the final playoff position. After the results of this week's midweek matches, Saint Louis sits two points behind the third-place Washington Freedom (4-4-4, 16 pts.). The Los Angeles Sol (9-1-4, 31 pts.) remains alone atop the table, 13 points clear of the Boston Breakers (5-4-3, 18 pts.).

In the only prior meeting between Sky Blue FC and Athletica, Saint Louis came away the victors 1-0 in a closely-fought battle at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo. Andrea Cinalli's goal in the 15th minute proved to be the difference in a game where Sky Blue FC outshot the home team and controlled play for long stretches of time.

After Wednesday night's 2-1 loss to the Sol, Saint Louis has now dropped two in a row at home in a league where points are increasingly at a premium. Sky Blue FC Head Coach Kelly Lindsey believes that her team can take advantage of Saint Louis's recent poor form, but only if her charges approach the game with the right mentality.

"The most important thing for us this time is to show up for the full 90 minutes," Lindsey said. "I felt that last time, we only gave about 45 minutes of effort and at this level you're not going to win games if you don't play hard for the entire match. Saint Louis is going to be very motivated coming off of a pair of losses at home, but I think we have the quality to get the best of them come Sunday."

Against Saint Louis, all eyes will be on English international Eniola Aluko. The speedy forward from Birmingham leads the team in scoring, including the assist on the lone goal in the first meeting with Sky Blue FC. Despite the obvious threat that Aluko poses, Lindsey expressed confidence in her team's ability to handle her come game time.

"What makes Aluko so dangerous is that she's very unpredictable," Lindsey explained. "She always seems to find the right place at the right time and she's very active and athletic. Fortunately, we have a very organized backline with a lot of speed. If we play our game, keep her in front of us and prevent balls from getting to her we should be able to slow her down enough to come away with the victory."

For the first time all year, Sky Blue FC trotted out the same starting 11 in back-to-back games against Los Angeles and Chicago. When asked about the recent stability in the first team, Lindsey indicated that she had not settled on the starting lineup based on preference, but on performance during the week leading into each match.

"Every week, we have players openly competing for positions," Lindsey said. "The past few weeks we've seen many of the same players winning out at their position; there's been a pattern that has developed in that sense. That being said, starting positions are always available, and whoever has established their hold on the position by Saturday will start on Sunday."

Tickets are still available for Sunday evening's game against Athletica. Bring a blanket and check out our lawn seats for $8! More ticket information, call 888-SBFC-TIX or visit www.SkyBlueStore.com.

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