Seattle Reign FC Defeats Sky Blue FC in Final Match Before World Cup Break, 3-0
Sky Blue FC (1-4-4, 7 points) was unable to find success tonight on the Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium, falling to Seattle Reign FC (3-2-2, 11 points) by a score of 3-0. Leading the way for Seattle was midfielder Jessica Fishlock, who finished the match with a goal and an assist.
“We were really flat in the first 30 minutes of the game, and we paid for it,” said Jim Gabarra, Sky Blue FC Technical Director & Head Coach. “We did not generate enough on the attack tonight, which limited our chances. Players put forth a good effort overall, but it was just one of those games where too many players had off-days.”
Seattle opened the scoring in this match-up in the 8th minute, making good on a play that was created after Fishlock cut through the center of the Sky Blue FC defense. Overlapping her left shoulder was fellow midfielder Keelin Winters, and Fishlock quickly played her feet. Once it arrived, Winters pulled the ball to her right before striking a hard shot into the far side netting. With the tally, Seattle claimed an early 1-0 advantage.
Sky Blue FC nearly leveled this contest in the 15th minute, going the length of the field on a single pass. From her back line, defender Lindsi Cutshall collected in space before taking a couple touches and sending a perfectly struck long ball into the final third. Running under the feed just outside the penalty area was Meg Morris, who beat her defender and took a hard shot that hit the far post.
The count was eventually extended to 2-0 in the 27th minute of this pairing. Initially, Seattle forward Beverly Yanez was able to step around Sky Blue FC netminder Brittany Cameron with the ball at her feet. She soon found herself with space on the right side of the penalty area and struck a shot towards the open net. Before it was able to cross the end line, defender Maya Hayes ran onto the attempt and knocked it out for a corner kick. On the ensuing corner, defender Stephanie Cox put a well-placed ball on the head of Fishlock, who was able to immediately direct the ball into the back of the net.
After a long series of back-and-forth action, Seattle eventually turned it into a 3-0 game. In the 76th minute, midfielder Kim Little struck a free kick on top of the penalty area that first hit the Sky Blue FC wall before a handball infraction was called inside the box. Stepping over the penalty kick that followed in the 77th minute was Little, who quickly fired the ball into the left side netting to hang the final tally.
The National Women’s Soccer League will now take a break for the Group Stage of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Sky Blue FC will resume play when it returns home to Yurcak Field on Sunday, June 28th, hosting the Chicago Red Stars at 6:00 PM EST.
Individual game tickets for Sky Blue FC are on sale now. Make sure you catch all of the world class NWSL action this season at Yurcak Field by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849)!
Sky Blue FC vs. Seattle Reign FC
June 6, 2015 – Moda Pitch at Memorial Stadium
Seattle, Washington
Scoring Summary
SBFC: 0-0-0
SRFC: 2-1-3
SRFC 8 K.Winters (J.Fishlock)
SRFC 27 J.Fishlock (S.Cox)
SRFC 77 K.Little (Penalty Kick)
Lineups:
SBFC – Cameron, Grubka, Levin, Haagsma, Cutshall, Morris (LaBonta-68), Gordon (Killion-55), Lytle, Freels (Stanton-81), Hayes, DeCesare
Substitutes Not Used: Bledsoe, Nadim, Waldus
SRFC: Kopmeyer, Corsie, Fletcher, Barnes, Cox, Winters (Brooks-84), Fishlock, Little, Nogueira, Yanez (Reed-80), Mathias (Foxhoven-65)
Substitutes Not Used: Stanley, Cruz, Dallstream, Romine
Misconduct Summary:
None
