Anyone who reads Outsider Sports cannot help but know that hockey and soccer are my two favorite sports. Looking in my closet would indicate differently, but my heart knows the truth.
Like many hockey fans my age, I grew up watching games. My parents had a satellite by the time I turned 3, and NHL Center Ice was a key component of the package. Having that around helped me learn the league from a young age, so much so that it's ingrained so firmly in my mind. While I love sports as a whole, I have no other deep knowledge of a sport like I do with hockey. Not baseball, not football, and not even soccer.
I'm a Seattle area native, and getting the Sounders back in 2009 really turned a soccer city up to 11. At that point, the Mariners were bad as they've often been, and the Seahawks were between the Matt Hasselbeck and Russell Wilson eras. The Sonics were gone, and Seattle fans, while passionate, were frustrated. Enter the Sounders: an instant success story, one of the best starts over the course of years in expansion history. It took awhile to build the market, but by the time I got to my first game, they were already setting attendance records for MLS, helped greatly by playing at what is now CenturyLink Field. In terms of attendance, the Sounders keep up with big-name European teams regularly, and without even opening up the whole stadium. When the Timbers or Galaxy come to town, you can see over 50,000 people show up to support the Rave Green.
This leads to a crossroads for my sports fandom. My first love, hockey, will always be there. My new love, soccer, is thrilling and exciting every bit as much as hockey, and so much broader in scale. If you ask Colin Cowherd, soccer is now bigger than hockey in the United States. As Greg Wyshynski pointed out yesterday, defining the terms is critical. Soccer is more than just league play. Hockey, as we know it, is the NHL and the biannual tournaments, with the occasional attention paid for World Championships or World Juniors. To say that one is bigger than the other can be proven, but I don't see it that way. I consider the popularity of hockey and soccer to be on level terms, but with different approaches to getting there.
Consider hockey for a second. Every team plays 82 games a year at a minimum. The TV rights deal is well-established, so exposure is not an issue. The NHL has a number of marquee events, with the Winter Classic and a handful of other outdoor games. No matter how watered down the All-Star Game gets, it still grabs the attention of fans at least in the build-up to the actual game. The Stanley Cup Playoffs, which just finished for this year, last two months and feature some of the most dramatic moments in all sports. The on-ice intensity and off-ice anticipation make the Stanley Cup Playoffs must-watch hockey. Beyond that, the sport of hockey has very little foothold in the United States. We'll see what happens with the World Cup of Hockey, but with it on ESPN, don't expect too much from it.
Soccer, on the other hand, is accessible. Teams play only 34 league games per year, but they are pretty predictable. You get about one every week. On top of that, all the United States MLS teams compete in the US Open Cup. The Sounders have won four of those, giving fans something to point to when Galaxy fans point out a lack of MLS Cup titles. For the successful teams, a bid in the CONCACAF Champions League adds more games to the schedule. MLS unnecessarily adds playoffs, but those also draw far more attention. On top of league action, international play is big. The Copa America has routinely drawn massive crowds in each city, and with the US men playing at CenturyLink Field on June 16, you can expect another capacity effort from the fans. Twenty years ago, you don't see this kind of support for soccer, but with the growth of MLS, it's been possible for soccer to gain attention and exposure. The fan environment in soccer is unlike any other. Passionate supporters groups make every home game loud and fun, and many tend to travel well to bring a piece of home to their teams as they travel. Having been in the building for USA versus Panama in their 2013 World Cup qualifier, the national team can bring even more excitement than regular league games.
All this goes without saying how much more accessible soccer is to women. I've seen plenty of women show up to Sounders games with the Emerald City Supporters. Hockey can get the support of women (my mother really got me started with watching hockey), but the arena environment and itchy trigger finger to pin every female hockey fan as a "puck bunny" can be a massive turnoff for women. In soccer, there is less gender animosity. Helping that is the massive success of the multiple World Cup and Olympics champion US women. At the league level, the NWSL has inspired a new generation of fans, male and female, to embrace the sport of soccer. While hockey has two women's leagues in the NWHL and CWHL, neither has enough of a grip outside of the eastern half of the continent to be a true outlet for women. As time progresses, those leagues will likely grow, but catching up to the NWSL or WNBA will prove difficult.
The main reason why I view hockey and soccer on level terms is my equal amount of love for both sports. I spend much more time with soccer, but I also know so much less about it than I do with hockey. In hockey, the NHL is all you have to know to get by. Soccer is much broader than that, and Americans, myself included, have a tough time coming to grips with not being the best at something. Not having the best soccer league in the world necessarily makes us see players rise through us instead of to us. Hockey had a head start of eighty or more years over MLS in the United States. It was bound to be bigger. In many ways, it still is. The one key component is growth. The NHL has saturated its markets to virtually the full extent they can. They try to appeal to casual fans and bring in new ones, but that only works when teams go from bad to good. MLS is still expanding. Last year, they added two teams in New York and Orlando. Plans for a second Los Angeles team and Atlanta team are moving along. Other destinations, too many to mention specifically, are in the loop. The NWSL is going at a slower pace to protect growth, but they've already added two teams in four years of existence. Soccer has picked the right markets to grow into. Many are big cities, but tapping into Portland, San Jose, Salt Lake, and Columbus in MLS, areas where other leagues aren't as well-established, has helped soccer fill its niche well.
Soccer will continue to grow, and years down the line, this discussion looks far different. Five to ten years from now, MLS may be as big as the NHL on its own. International soccer will always bring attention. No matter how bad the men's team can be at times, people will still root for them. The women's team has taken great strides to appeal to everyone, and they're continually setting attendance records with friendlies. Hockey is more stagnant, but that's alright. Hockey knows its audience, and knows, generally, how to appeal to that audience. I'll leave with one final thought. I can guarantee that in my three years in college so far, I've seen well over 20 of the 30 NHL teams represented among the students. For soccer, I've seen more foreign league teams have support than I have MLS teams or NWSL teams. Hockey doesn't need to be insecure about its position. It's no worse than level with soccer in terms of popularity. Instead of thinking about a big four, it might be time to admit that it's really a big five, or a big three with a second tier for hockey and soccer. One thing's for certain, and that's neither sport is hurting in any significant way.
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Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Sunday, June 12, 2016
NWSL Week 8
After a pair of friendlies with Japan that produced mixed results, the NWSL is back with US national team players in action. We begin the week on Friday with a single game, as...
The Boston Breakers host the Washington Spirit. Kelsey Wys and Libby Stout are in goal. Watch the game here. Boston's Stephanie McCaffrey put in a cross in the second minute, knocked out by Washington's Megan Oyster for a corner kick. This was cleared by the Spirit's Tori Huster. Angela Salem's third minute offering toward McCaffrey was broken up by Oyster. The Breakers saw Mollie Pathman go long for Eunice Beckmann, but the play was offside. On the other side in the seventh minute, Joanna Lohman was fouled by McCall Zerboni just outside the penalty area. Washington's Christine Nairn curled the ball out wide to her left. In the ninth minute, Katie Stengel returned the ball to Crystal Dunn, and the Spirit star shot wide right. Ali Krieger and Dunn combined well, but the pass into Katie Stengel was offside, although it was good to get around Boston's Kassey Kallman. Washington earned a corner kick in the twelfth minute. Nairn's service found Huster, who passed into the center of the box, but the Breakers were able to clear. In the thirteenth minute, Washington opened the scoring with a Stengel goal, coming after service from Dunn found Cali Farquharson, who laid off to Lohman. Her shot was blocked, but Stengel was there for the rebound, making it 1-0. In the fourteenth minute, Brooke Elby got fouled in the box by Farquharson, earning a penalty kick. Louise Schillgard stepped up for the penalty kick, and she buried it in the fifteenth minute, sending Wys the wrong way to tie the game at 1. Beckmann tried a long shot in the seventeenth minute, going high and wide. Oyster dispossessed McCaffrey later on another Boston attack. Stengel got around a stumbling Kallman, but Stengel shot high in the eighteenth minute. Schillgard tried find McCaffrey on the counter attack for Boston, but Krieger intercepted the pass. Zerboni fouled Krieger in the twentieth minute as the Spirit pushed forward, drawing the ire of Washington coach Jim Gabarra. Nairn's free kick was blocked by Whitney Engen for Boston, and the second effort in went out of bounds. In the twenty-fourth minute, Schillgard had a dangerous cross into Zerboni, but Wys made the block to prevent a play. Nairn saw a shot blocked for Washington in the twenty-fifth minute, and Alyssa Kleiner bounced another off a Breaker for a corner kick. Nairn's service was punched by Stout, but Huster settled things to try to create more possession for Washington. Zerboni made a nice interception of a Farquharson pass in the twenty-seventh minute. Nairn found Lohman in the twenty-eighth minute off a corner kick, but her half-bicycle kick and Stout picked it up. In the thirtieth minute, Stengel got caught offside, although the whistle was a bit late and Washington thought she was onside. Mollie Pathman found Beckmann in the thirty-third minute, but the Boston forward was shut down by Oyster. In the thirty-fifth minute, Julie King took a yellow card for her foul on Nairn. Beckmann played a ball off of Shelina Zadorsky to earn a corner kick for the Breakers in the thirty-seventh minute. Schillgard had the service, but it was cleared out. Zerboni passed one into Beckmann in the thirty-eighth minute, and her shot was mostly blocked by Dunn, and then cleared by Zadorsky. On the other side, Krieger had a long cross grabbed out of the air by Stout. In the thirty-ninth minute, McCaffrey curled a shot wide left as Boston opens up a bit more. Engen had a free kick in the fortieth minute, shot extremely high by King, although she did well to get in position to shoot at all. Boston saw a string of passes end with Pathman finding Schillgard, who sent it back across goal toward McCaffrey, but she never got a shot off, and Krieger cleared it out for the Spirit. McCaffrey went straight on against Zadorsky and earned a Breakers corner kick. Schillgard served in the set piece toward Zerboni and Salem, but they couldn't put it on goal. Schillgard and Elby overlapped in the forty-fourth minute, and Beckman was taken down in the box cleanly by Oyster to prevent a shot. Nairn had a good corner kick in stoppage time, but Stout was better, snagging it out of the air before Lohman could take a header or shot. The game went into halftime tied at 1. Impressing for the Spirit are RB Krieger, CB Oyster, DCM Huster, LW Nairn, CF Stengel, and RF Dunn, while the Breakers have had their best efforts from CB Engen, DM Zerboni, RW Elby, LW Schillgard, and LF McCaffrey. Boston had an early surge in the second half, but offside on Schillgard and a foul by McCaffrey against Zadorsky shuttered the first two attacks. Salem had a header on to Schillgard, who couldn't get much on the attempt, and Wys grabbed it for Washington. The Spirit refocused, and Elby put a ball out for the Breakers to give the Spirit a corner kick. Nairn served in toward Lohman, and Zerboni stopped it, allowing Pathman to clear it. Elby had a bad cross cleared by Zadorsky, and Washington broke free. Stengel had one shot blocked and another attempt knocked out by Nairn in the fifty-second minute. McCaffrey played cleverly with her back to goal, forcing Washington's Oyster into a foul. Engen took the free kick, but Wys grabbed it and booted it out for the Spirit. Zadorsky crossed one in, cleared by Kallman out to Nairn, who shot wide in the fifty-fifth minute as Washington has taken a step back since their surge. Beckmann was called for the foul after knocking down Nairn in a dangerous area. Nairn took the free kick for the Spirit in the fifty-seventh minute, shooting a laser at Stout, who bobbled it but covered before the Spirit could take a second try. Dunn went up the left flank, working around Engen, Salem, and Elby before losing he ball out of bounds in the fifty-eighth minute. King's deep throw went off Zadorsky, and Wys had to catch it. In the sixty-second minute, a run by McCaffrey earned a corner kick off of Zadorsky. Schillgard's service was short, cleared out by Oyster. Washington had a corner kick in the sixty-fourth minute after passing from left to right around their formation. King headed this one away from Nairn, and the Spirit midfielder tried from the other side on another corner kick. This one bounced off of Huster and the left post of Stout's goal. Estefania Banini took a shot, saved by Stout to end the attack. Washington had another corner kick in the sixty-eighth minute. Nairn's service was blocked out by Zerboni out to Kyah Simon, who charged up the left win to find King, who laid off to Schillgard. The play ended when Schillgard couldn't find King with her return pass. Engen cleared a through ball from Nairn toward Dunn as Boston continues to weather a hefty Spirit attack. Oyster had to knock one out for a corner kick after McCaffrey nearly got around her. Schillgard's kick in the seventy-third minute went off a Spirit played and out for another corner kick. Schillgard's second try went to Kallman, but bounced out to Simon, who was turfed by Francisca Ordega as the Breakers come up empty handed. Dunn went around Elby again on the left wing, but Engen kicked it clear to prevent the Spirit striker a shot. Lohman had a shot blocked by King in the seventy-sixth minute as Washington swarms forward again. Banini had two crosses in the seventy-eighth minute with no shot coming from either one. Nairn fired a shot in the eightieth minute, blocked hard by Salem, and then offside was called on the next kick. Boston wants to hold on against Washington in the last ten minutes. In the eighty-first minute, Dunn got free on the left side and shot wide right on a beautiful pass by Ordega between Engen and Kallman. Simon, Elby, and Salem all tried shots in the eighty-second minute, but the Spirit defense held. On the other side, Kallman blocked a try from Ordega. Cheyna Williams worked against King to get a corner kick for Washington. Nairn's eighty-fourth minute effort was headed away by King. Schillgard tried to pass into Simon, who nearly got her pass on to Zerboni, but the Spirit held strong on a good Boston chance in the eighty-sixth minute. Christen Westphal had her effort blocked by Huster, and then Schillgard was stopped by Kleiner. Kallman broke up Dunn's pass toward Banini, keeping the ball in the Spirit's defensive half. In the ninetieth minute, Cheyna Williams took a yellow card for her foul on Zerboni. Engen took the free kick in stoppage time, going long for Zerboni and Schillgard, both of whom fell to the turf in the box. Nairn took a long shot after Ordega's pass into Dunn was blocked out. Banini couldn't get through Westphal and King as the Spirit make one more push. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the LW Schillgard named Outsider Sports Woman of the Match. The RB King of the Breakers and the CB Zadorsky of the Spirit looked more impressive in the second half.
On Saturday, the Western New York Flash welcome the Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Britt Eckerstrom play goal. Here's the game. Western New York had the first shot in the second minute with a Jessica McDonald pass to Lynn Williams, who shot from a wide angle across goal. Laura Alleway cut the angle down and Harris protected the Orlando net. In the third minute, Makenzy Doniak received a pass from McDonald in an even wider position, and she scored it off the post and in for a 1-0 lead for the Flash. McDonald beat Monica of the Pride to get the assist. Kristen Edmonds had a steal from a bad pass by Western New York's Alanna Kennedy, and Edmonds sent a pass to Jasmyne Spencer, who made a misplay and lost the ball in the sixth minute. Samantha Mewis took a ball from Meredith Speck after Doniak got it into a central location, shooting off target in the tenth minute. Elizabeth Eddy couldn't quite get around Steph Catley in the twelfth minute as the Western New York continue. Kennedy fouled Spencer in the thirteenth minute in a dangerous area, earning Orlando a free kick. Alleway took the kick, and Eckerstrom had to tip it over the bar for a Pride corner kick. Edmonds took a short corner, taking it out for another corner kick off a Flash player. On the second try, Spencer took a shot on goal caught by Eckerstrom. Orlando stayed in possession, with Catley crossing in and the ball got deflected out wide, relieving the pressure for Western New York. Abby Dahlkemper broke up a pass from Sam Witteman to Spencer in the sixteenth minute. The Flash's Williams had her cross blocked by Monica and cleared by Alleway in the eighteenth minute. Eddy found Doniak in the box in the nineteenth minute, but the goal-scorer for Western New York shot this one wide left. Catley had a free kick blocked by Hinkle in the twenty-first minute, and on the same sequence Alex Morgan had a shot blocked by Dahlkemper. On the next Orlando foray, Edmonds served in to Alleway, who crashed into Kennedy and the keeper Eckerstrom, allowing Spencer to put the ball in the net. However, Orlando lost this goal as the referee ruled the play illegal despite not whistling or signaling during the run of play. The Flash still have a 1-0 lead. Josee Belanger had a cross in blocked by Michaela Hahn as the Flash continue to absorb pressure. Maddy Evans tried a cross in for Orlando in the twenty-fifth minute. Morgan had one shot blocked in the twenty-sixth minute, with Dahlkemper doing the defensive work. Belanger fired a shot from distance over the bar to end the Pride attack. Spencer had a shot blocked by Kennedy, as the Flash show a strong defensive shell with the lead. McDonald made a fast break from a Mewis pass, getting around Alleway but bouncing it off Harris to earn a Western New York corner kick. Dahlkemper served in the thirty-second minute, but it flew high and back out of bounds harmlessly. Belanger and Catley both had clearances on a sequence where McDonald had a long throw and a cross for the Flash in the thirty-fourth minute. Hahn took a shot after a Jaelene Hinkle free kick, but it went wide, and Williams couldn't cross it back in. Dahlkemper fouled Edmonds in the thirty-sixth minute, and Toni Pressley passed to Witteman, who was fouled for another Pride free kick. Catley took this one, toward Morgan, but Hinkle got it clear for Western New York. Witteman tried two shots, one blocked by Dahlkemper and the other cleared by Dahlkemper. Eckerstrom had to make two saves in the thirty-eighth minute, on Evans and Spencer, and Kennedy cleared it off the line. Orlando is right on the doorstep late in the first half. Morgan crossed one in, caught by Eckerstrom in the thirty-ninth minute. The Flash defense has been excellent in keeping the ball out of the net. Pressley blocked a shot by McDonald in the forty-first minute as Western New York tries to tip the field the other way. Williams nearly had a chance, but she fouled Alleway, and the Pride earned a free kick. Morgan and Spencer combined after an Alleway pass. Spencer got around Hinkle, but Eckerstrom covered the shot after Eddy cut the angle down a bit. McDonald had to take a shot quickly in the forty-third minute with Pressley beaten in defense, but the shot went wide right. Mewis shot wide right on the followed Flash attack. Belanger's cross in the forty-fifth minute caused Dahlkemper to commit a handball, giving Orlando a free kick from a good position. Catley took the kick and Eckerstrom again made the save, allowing Hahn to clear it out. In stoppage time, Speck took a yellow card for a foul on Edmonds. Catley made nothing of the free kick. The score went 1-0 into the half. For the Pride, the impressive players have been LB Catley, CB Alleway, LW Edmonds, and RF Spencer, while the Flash have seen excellence from GK Eckerstrom, CBs Dahlkemper and Kennedy, DM Mewis, RW Doniak, and RF McDonald. Alleway fouled Mewis in the forty-seventh minute, earning a Flash free kick just outside the Orlando penalty area. Dahlkemper's free kick went just over the crossbar. Harris nearly lost the ball in her own six-yard box to McDonald, but managed to find a teammate just in time. Eddy had a low cross in the fiftieth minute, dummied by Doniak, and Edmonds put it out for a corner kick. Hinkle served it in, and McDonald put it over the bar. Hinkle crossed one in, cleared out by Catley and fired by Eddy straight at the keeper Harris. Edmonds ran centrally for Orlando in the fifty-fourth minute, but a pass was stolen and charged the other way by Western New York's Mewis. Hahn had a couple of weak shots in the fifty-fifth minute, blocked by Alleway. On the counter, Spencer crossed long, and Evans ended up with it, shooting and forcing Eckerstrom to make a big save. Williams had a low cross in the fifty-eighth minute, with Pressley sliding to get it away from McDonald. Morgan worked against Dahlkemper and Kennedy, but Dahlkemper made the block. Lianne Sanderson also got a shot in for Orlando, but Mewis made the block that time. McDonald charged forward for Western New York in the sixty-second minute, but when she passed, Doniak was offside. Pressley knocked a ball away from Abby Erceg at the top of the box, denying the Flash sub a shooting chance in the sixty-fifth minute. Western New York saw Mewis hammer a shot from distance, and Harris punched it away to Williams, who shot wide left in the sixty-sixth minute as the hosts miss a chance to double the lead. Morgan chipped over Eckerstrom and the goal in the sixty-seventh minute, with the game opening up end-to-end. For the Flash on the other end, Williams crossed into McDonald, who headed toward the far post, but Harris dove and stopped it. Williams had a cross in the seventy-third minute broken up by Pressley. Morgan took a long shot in the seventy-fourth minute, directly at the keeper Eckerstrom. In the seventy-sixth minute, Spencer fouled Hinkle and earned a yellow card on the play. In the seventy-seventh minute, Morgan fired wide left as the Pride swarm around looking for the equalizer. Another Orlando attack featured Evans getting the ball to Morgan, who couldn't get around Dahlkemper in the box. McDonald had a good shot against an even better Harris, who saved it in the eighty-second minute, with the rebound by Adriana Leon shot wide left. In the eighty-third minute, Sarah Hagen was fouled by Hahn, and the Flash midfielder took a yellow card for her challenge. The free kick saw Pressley shoot way over the goal. Mewis passed into Leon in the eighty-sixth minute, but Catley slid in to break it up. Leon had a second chance on the next Western New York attack, dancing over the ball and crossing out of bounds. Williams continued to attack the left flank, but Witteman, filling in as a right back, did well defensively to break it up. McDonald broke through Alleway and Pressley on a stoppage time charge, but Catley cleared it out for a corner kick. Western New York spent most of the rest of the game killing the clock. The game ended 1-0, with the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match being Eckerstrom. In addition to the first half mentions, CB Pressley and CF Morgan of the Pride and RB Eddy, LB Hinkle, and LF Williams all joined the impressive play club after a well-contested game.
Also on Saturday, Sky Blue FC hosts FC Kansas City. Nicole Barnhart and Caroline Stanley are the keepers. Find the game at this link. Kansas City had the first effort from Erika Tymrak, who passed to Heather O'Reilly for a shot on goal against Stanley, going against the left side of the Sky Blue defense. Sky Blue saw Taylor Lytle nearly keep a pass in bounds against Alex Arlitt after Kelly Conheeney battled Arlitt for it in the fifth minute. Sky Blue made a foray forward with Kelley O'Hara, but Becky Sauerbrunn shut her down in the seventh minute. Kim DeCesare tried a cross into the box toward Conheeney, but Yael Averbuch broke it up for the Blues. On the other side in tenth minute, Laddish had a shot for Kansas City that was blocked away. DeCesare had a high cross in the twelfth minute cleared partially by Desiree Scott, and then another effort from Erica Skroski that went out of bounds to defuse the Sky Blue attack. Arlitt tried a cross for the Blues in the thirteenth minute that was cleared by O'Hara, and then a shot from O'Reilly went straight to Stanley. Conheeney won a corner kick for Sky Blue off of Brittany Taylor. O'Hara had the cross cleared by Averbuch. Skroski had a cross into DeCesare who headed it onto the goal line, and arguably in, but it spun out and was punched away by Barnhart. Sky Blue continued to attack with Taylor Lytle nearly finding Conheeney in front of Barnhart in the seventeenth minute. Laddish made a big steal on Raquel Rodriguez in the nineteenth minute to take possession for the Blues. Taylor eventually had the cross for Kansas City, but it went long. In the twentieth minute, Conheeney and Sauerbrunn had a brutal collision in the Sky Blue attacking zone. Both players were ultimately okay. Taylor knocked a ball out for a Sky Blue corner kick by O'Hara. The service was cut short due to a collision involving the keeper Barnhart. DeCesare had a rip from distance for Sky Blue in the twenty-second minute, forcing Barnhart into a diving save. On the counter, the Blues saw Tymrak set up Shea Groom for a huge shot, but it went over the bar on the dangerous attempt. DeCesare earned a Sky Blue corner kick off of Arlitt in the twenty-fifth minute, and O'Hara's service went low and cleared by a Kansas City player as far as Lytle, who fired high on the long shot. Kansas City struck first on a goal by Groom, set up by Tymrak, who had received the ball from Groom in a give-and-go. The Blues lead 1-0 on the crafty play in the box. In the twenty-ninth minute, Sarah Killion had a free kick, and the ball bounced around, with O'Hara getting knocked down by a Kansas City player. This resulted in a penalty kick, which was scored by Killion in the thirtieth minute, tying the game at 1. Sauerbrunn kept the ball off of Conheeney's foot to create another Sky Blue corner kick in the thirty-fourth minute. Shawna Gordon directed it in front of net, and Sauerbrunn and O'Reilly combined to get it out of danger for Kansas City. O'Hara took a deep shot in the thirty-fifth minute, putting it just high as Sky Blue continues to dominate the attack, with Taylor shutting down the angle. O'Reilly set up Groom for a shot in the thirty-seventh minute that went over the bar. Groom had a pass into Tymrak, narrowly avoiding offside by Alexa Newfield, but the shot from Tymrak went wide left for the Blues. Tymrak and Skroski battled hard for the ball on the next Kansas City effort, allowing Stanley to cover the ball before another shot can be taken. O'Reilly was found by O'Hara in the fortieth minute just outside the box, giving Kansas City a dangerous free kick. Averbuch had the attempt, going low and right, but Stanley dove to make the save. Scott barely took the ball away on a cross into Gordon in the forty-first minute. Arlitt made a good stop on Conheeney in the forty-third minute. O'Hara's corner kick was picked up by Barnhart. DeCesare passed to Conheeney in the forty-fifth minute, taking a shot on goal caught by Barnhart. Newfield had a free kick in stoppage time, cleared by Skroski. The half ended tied at 1. Impressing for the visiting Kansas City side are CB Averbuch, RB Taylor, DM Laddish, LW Tymrak, ACM O'Reilly, and striker Groom, while Sky Blue has seen good play out of RB Skroski, LB O'Hara, DM Killion, and forwards Conheeney and DeCesare. In the forty-sixth minute, DeCesare tried to direct one on goal, but Averbuch knocked it away. O'Hara found Gordon in the forty-seventh minute, but Scott took it away, with Sky Blue pressing early in the second half. Groom had a steal for the Blues in the forty-ninth minute, but couldn't shake O'Hara as Sky Blue made the stop. O'Reilly's cross on the next try didn't work out either. O'Reilly continued to press well on the right side, but her cross was knocked down by Christie Rampone. Lytle had a cross in toward Conheeney in the fifty-second minute, but it went over her and her defender Taylor, after Rodriguez had set up Lytle. DeCesare had another good cross in the fifty-third minute, but Barnhart stopped it before Conheeney could strike. Kristin Grubka tried to find Conheeney with a long ball, with Taylor clearing again. In the fifty-fifth minute, Grubka fouled Groom, and the Blues striker was down for awhile but the play was clean. The Blues earned a corner kick after the play, and O'Reilly's service went short to Newfield and then Averbuch, but she couldn't reconnect with O'Reilly. Groom looked to get a breakaway against Grubka, but she fouled the Sky Blue defender. Arlitt went with a nutmeg against Lytle and nearly got around her, but poked the ball out of bounds to give Sky Blue possession back in the sixtieth minute. O'Reilly had a laser shot after getting around O'Hara, and her shot deflected hard off Rampone for a corner kick. O'Reilly's service was punched by Stanley and cleared by O'Hara in front of Averbuch. O'Reilly put another shot just a bit high in the sixty-third minute. Fran Silva saw her effort for Kansas City stopped by Rampone in the sixty-fourth minute. Arlitt had a cross to Silva on the next attempt, but Tymrak lost control centrally. Leah Galton had a cross in toward Conheeney for Sky Blue, but Sauerbrunn kept it away for the Blues. Rampone had a cross in the sixty-sixth minute, but Barnhart got to it before DeCesare. The Blues saw a good attack ruined by O'Reilly being offside in the seventieth minute. O'Reilly sent a long ball up to Groom, who was running behind the defense, and she crossed into Tymrak, who headed wide left to spare Stanley after the Sky Blue defensive breakdown. Kansas City had a pair of corner kicks in the seventy-fourth minute, with Tymrak serving and Grubka and Stanley doing the clearance work, with Rodriguez carrying it out. Sauerbrunn ended the Kansas City attack with a seventy-fifth minute cross that ended up on top of the net. Groom tried to go through Grubka on another Blues attack, but that was a foul, and Stanley took the free kick for Sky Blue. Sam Kerr had a long through ball too close to Barnhart as she tried to pick out Conheeney. Kerr had a chip shot as Sky Blue presses a bit in the eighty-second minute. Arlitt crossed to O'Reilly during a Kansas City counter, and O'Reilly headed it off of Skroski for a corner kick. O'Reilly served it in but Killion cleared it out, eventually earning another corner kick. O'Reilly earned another corner kick, but Tasha Kai cleared it out. Caroline Kastor had a good diagonal cross in the eighty-eighth minute, but it went through the Sky Blue box harmlessly. O'Reilly tried a cross for Kansas City in the ninetieth minute, deflected out by Skroski. The service went to Stanley. In stoppage time, Kerr got free on the right wing and shot high over Barnhart's net. The game ended in a 1-1 tie with not much urgency late in the game. The Outsider Sports Woman of the Match was the DM Killion. Impressing in the second half was Sky Blue's CB Grubka to join the first half mentions.
On Sunday, the Chicago Red Stars bring in the Portland Thorns FC. Adrianna Franch and Alyssa Naeher protect the nets. The game can be found at this link. Tobin Heath had a cross in the second minute, and Chicago keeper Naeher left it on the top of the net. Heath's corner kick went into Naeher's hands. Vanessa DiBernardo had a through ball find Christen Press just offside as she crashed toward Portland's Franch. The Thorns' Meghan Klingenberg crossed in during the seventh minute, with Sam Johnson heading it back out. Katherine Reynolds served one in for Portland and the clearance out from Danielle Colaprico allowed Heath a corner kick in the ninth minute. It went out off a Thorns player, relieving the pressure for the Red Stars. Casey Short tired a long ball toward Jen Hoy for Chicago in the eleventh minute, but Emily Menges broke it up and Portland took over again. Heath tried to serve one into Nadia Nadim, where Short intercepted it and then recovered the ball for Chicago in the fourteenth minute. The game has been a bit lacking in dangerous shots, and decidedly tilted in favor of the Thorns. Heath took a long shot that bounced off of Julie Johnston of the Red Stars in the fifteenth minute. Nadim crossed into the box in the sixteenth minute, finding Christine Sinclair, who poked it on goal, with Naeher and Johnston combining to send it clear and out of danger. Heath then challenged Johnston on the next Thorns attack, firing on the wrong side of the netting. Nadim fired another long shot off of DiBernardo in the eighteenth minute, as Portland has done everything but score and Chicago is just holding on for dear life. Sofia Huerta tried a cross in the twenty-third minute toward Press, but Franch made the grab. Press continued to pressure Franch as the Red Stars have finally had a decent look at a chance. Portland pressured the keeper Naeher, and Naeher's clearance bounced off of Sinclair and rolled into the net to give the Thorns a deserved 1-0 lead in the twenty-fourth minute. The Thorns didn't stop, with Allie Long making an effort against Colaprico that saw her miss getting full contact on the ball about three times. The play didn't result in anything beyond a bit of threatening danger. Short's through ball to Hoy was well-defended by Emily Sonnett of the Thorns in the twenty-eighth minute. Sonnett had a twenty-ninth minute free kick headed by Dagny Brynjarsdottir, harmlessly caught by Naeher. DiBernardo won a foul in the attacking third, committed by Nadim. The free kick from Colaprico was headed out for a corner kick by Portland's Lindsey Horan. DiBernardo did the corner kick in the thirty-second minute, which saw a bicycle attempt and a loose ball both saved by Franch, who was slow to get up. It was unclear who had the scoring chances on the play for the Red Stars. Dagny sent the ball across the box for Portland, cleared out by DiBernardo. Press saw a cross deflected by Klingenberg, and then Horan took it away from Huerta in the thirty-fifth minute. Heath got through a double-team by Arin Gilliland and Colaprico, crossing into Dagny, and she headed it just over the bar in the thirty-sixth minute. Heath ran around Johnston and passed behind Johnson, but Horan was caught offside in the thirty-eighth minute for the Thorns. After lulling a bit from their goal, the Thorns have refocused in attack. Press worked out of a double-team by Menges and Heath, finding Huerta on the right wing, and she crossed in to Hoy, but Franch knocked it away safely. Gilliland managed to steal the ball and clear it from Heath in the forty-first minute, but the Red Stars couldn't hold possession long. Short managed a cross in the forty-second minute, and Klingenberg had to put it out for a corner kick. DiBernardo took the corner kick, finding Short, who headed just wide left. The game went into halftime with the Thorns leading 1-0, and their best players have been GK Franch, CBs Menges and Sonnett, ACM Sinclair, and LW Heath, while the Red Stars have had good efforts from LB Short, DM DiBernardo, and LW Hoy. Chicago's Huerta made the first challenge in the forty-seventh minute, charging right at the Thorns back like after DiBernardo got her the ball, but her pass after getting around Sonnett went too long for Press. In the forty-ninth minute, Press made an effort to keep the ball in, but DiBernardo couldn't shoot. Press got the ball back and fed Gilliland, who crossed right at Franch. Klingenberg took a ball from Nadim, but couldn't get around Johnston and Gilliland in the fifty-first minute as the Thorns have been a bit more on defense to start this half. In the fifty-second minute, Heath had a free kick that Johnson headed out. Long put it back in, but Naeher grabbed it cleanly. The game started to get congested in the midfield for awhile. Press danced over the ball in the fifty-eighth minute, passing centrally to Alyssa Mautz, who shot just wide right. In the sixty-first minute, Short found Mautz, who knocked it down to Press, and Press shot hard off the bar with the right amount of spin to get it to bounce back in before Franch could swat it away, tying the game at 1 for the Red Stars. In the sixty-second minute, Colaprico fouled Heath in the Portland attacking zone, and Heath's free kick rolled wide left. Menges almost got her goalie in trouble with a back pass to Franch, with Huerta crashing close to the ball as Franch returned it. Press continued for the Red Stars in the sixty-fourth minute, shooting a bit long. Klingenberg went short on a sixty-sixth minute free kick to Heath, but Johnston stood her up and gave the Thorns a corner kick. Heath's service was punched out by Naeher. Johnston made another breakup on Klingenberg's through ball to Nadim. Sinclair mishit a shot attempt in the seventieth minute, and Nadim served it back in, caught by Naeher to give Chicago possession again. On the next attack, Klingenberg put a cross into Naeher's arms as the goalie has improved in this half. In the seventy-fourth minute, Red Stars forward Huerta took a yellow card for delaying the restart of play. In the seventy-fifth minute, Mautz jumped over Heath and fouled the Thorns star, earning a yellow card for the play. Heath's free kick found Nadim, who headed it down but right at Naeher as the Thorns had a really good try. Press fired in a cross on the counterattack, and Huerta got a head on it but sent it wide right in the seventy-seventh minute. In the seventy-eighth minute, Sinclair fouled DiBernardo as she tried to shoot in a dangerous spot outside the box for Chicago, and the free kick from Press went high. Mautz turned Klingenberg and Heath inside out before Gilliland played a ball off Klingenberg for a corner kick. DiBernardo's eightieth minute service went low to Taylor Comeau but was blocked by Meg Morris. Morris eventually cleared as far as Johnson, and then the Thorns took over possession. Heath tried a cross, with the effort going off of Johnson and then to Naeher. Gilliland took a yellow card in the eighty-third minute, with the reason not totally clear on the broadcast. Sonnett just held off Press in the eighty-fifth minute, as the Red Stars make a rare counter against the Thorns. Chicago appears happy to take the tie, while Portland has pressed on looking to break the tie. Short got away with stealing a corner kick in the eighty-sixth minute, and Colaprico's service went over Mautz's head. Johnston and Nadim collided in the eighty-eighth minute, and the Thorns' Nadim took the yellow card for a foul. Short fired off a shot wide right after the referee called for advantage to be played. Klingenberg passed to Hayley Raso, who crossed into Naeher all after Long was knocked over outside the box. Chicago got a free kick in stoppage time, taken by DiBernardo but knocked out by Horan. This made a corner kick from Colaprico, going toward Johnston but knocked to Press by Horan, who shot wide on the one-time shot. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match being ACM Press. Also impressing for the Red Stars were CBs Johnson and Johnston, and the RW Mautz. Nobody rose above for the Thorns as they played a weaker second half.
Finally, the Seattle Reign FC host the Houston Dash. Lydia Williams and Hope Solo are the gloved women. Find the game here. Elli Reed tried a cross for Seattle in the second minute, but Cari Roccaro shut it down for Houston. Roccaro broke up another play, a long ball from the Reign's Lauren Barnes toward Kim Little in the third minute. The Dash's Chioma Ubogagu tried a through ball, but Barnes was there where no other Houston player was. Havana Solaun had an iffy cross toward Jess Fishlock in the seventh minute, but Janine Beckie picked it off. A through ball from Beverly Yanez was grabbed by the keeper Williams to stem the danger away for Houston. Barnes tried a through ball toward Yanez, but Ellie Brush stopped it and gave Houston control in the ninth minute. Little went through to Fishlock, who was fouled by Brush, giving Seattle a dangerous free kick chance. Little went direct on the free kick, going high and a bit left. Amber Brooks gave one away and then took it back from Keelin Winters in the twelfth minute, as the former teammates battle closely. Soon after, the Dash's Andressa fired a shot on goal, saved by Solo. Poliana took one away from Kendall Fletcher, and Andressa's cross ran long. It eventually got in, but Barnes sent it far out. Houston continued to swarm, with Kealia Ohai going against Reed but losing out to the Reign defender. Little gave one away to Andressa with a no-look pass, which got along to Beckie, who missed the frame with her shot in the fourteenth minute. Little, Yanez, and Fishlock all combined for offense in the fifteenth minute, but Fishlock's shot was weak and wide right. Ohai took a shot on goal in the eighteenth minute. In the twentieth minute, Yanez had an errant cross that Brooks took over for Houston. Beckie went long for Ubogagu in the twenty-second minute, broken up by Corsie. On the other side, Fishlock bounced a shot off Brooks, and then Merritt Mathias got taken off the ball by Allysha Chapman. Beckie took a pass from Ohai and then laid off to Andressa in the twenty-third minute, fired straight at Solo by the Dash midfielder. Fishlock nutmegged Andressa in the twenty-fourth minute, and then Yanez won a corner kick off of Houston's Chapman. The Seattle corner kick came from Barnes, who served in to Fletcher, who got it on goal and saved by Williams, and then Corsie tried and failed as Williams saved it again on a near-brilliant sequence for the Reign. Corsie made a huge run, trying to get to Mathias, but Chapman broke up the pass in the twenty-sixth minute. Winters stole the ball from Ohai in the twenty-eighth minute, with Corsie and Reed helping shut down the Dash forward's run. Poliana had a cross nearly find Ohai, but Barnes swept it out for Seattle. Reed took a pass from Fishlock, crossing hard and ending up out of bounds wide of the goal. Little had a free kick for Seattle in the thirty-third minute, with Williams punching it over Fletcher. Ohai tried to find Morgan Brian in the thirty-fourth minute, but Corsie took it away for the Reign. Fishlock made a stunning slide tackle against Brian to steal the ball back for Seattle after Brooks took it off Yanez's foot. Ubogagu had a shot in the thirty-sixth minute, snagged up by Solo. On the next Houston effort, Ohai's cross was blocked by Fletcher. Fishlock and Little nearly combined for magic on the counterattack, but Williams fell on the ball to stop it. Barnes had a long-running cross in the fortieth minute, forcing Williams into a save as it got near the goal, earning Seattle a corner kick. Barnes took the service to Fletcher, and she sent it back across goal wide right. Poliana took care of a Fishlock cross in the forty-second minute, and Poliana did it again when Reed crossed toward Yanez. The Reign's corner kick was taken by Little, getting it near Fletcher yet again. The game went into the half scoreless. Impressing for the Dash are GK Williams, CB Roccaro, RB Poliana, RW Andressa, and RF Beckie, while the Reign's best play has come from GK Solo, CBs Corsie and Fletcher, LB Barnes, LW Fishlock, RW Little, and CF Mathias. In the forty-seventh minute, Beckie had a cross toward Ubogagu that the Reign put out for a Houston corner kick by Brian, who served into the middle of the box, cleared by Fishlock, and then again by Solaun. Little made a big run up the middle in the forty-ninth minute, broken up by Brooks for the Dash's defensive stop. Winters found Little for another series of moves, with Little battling Roccaro and her Houston teammates, and then Little just shot wide right. Little found Fishlock in the box, but the header dropped weakly to Williams. Mathias had a long cross over Solaun in the fifty-third minute, and Winters served it the other way straight to Williams, as the Reign are pushing back a bit now. Ohai made a run into the box in the fifty-fourth minute, but Fletcher defended well and earned a goal kick for Seattle. Fishlock's ball into the box was cleared by Brush, but Winters hammered a shot on the second try that went wide and high. Brooks fouled Yanez in a dangerous spot in the fifty-eighth minute, giving Seattle a good free kick chance. Ubogagu broke up the passing play instead of a shot. Fishlock had a try to wide left in the fifty-ninth minute. Mathias had a shot for the Reign in the sixty-first minute, but Williams made the catch cleanly. Barnes intercepted a Brian through ball, and then Little and Solaun had touches before winning a corner kick. Seattle's set piece went from Barnes to Winters, who headed right near the bar, and Williams had to palm it over, crashing into her own post as she fell. Another corner kick came from Barnes toward Corsie, but it wasn't directed on goal. Yanez's cross went to Chapman in the sixty-fifth minute as Seattle continues a plethora of offensive chances. Seattle finally cashed in on a Solaun goal in the sixty-seventh minute, with passes coming from Yanez, Little, and Fishlock to get the set up on a perfect set-up for the distance strike. The Reign lead 1-0. Fishlock, Little, and Mathias strung some passes together in the sixty-ninth minute, but Mathias was offside. Barnes dispossessed Ohai later on as Houston want to find an equalizer with more pressure now. Mathias had a low cross in the seventieth minute, but Fishlock missed it and Poliana cleared it away. Brian took a shot on target in the seventy-second minute after getting the ball on a Fishlock giveaway. Solo stopped it at the left post from the offensive view. Mathias ripped a long shot just high in the seventy-fourth minute, with the Reign looking solid in holding some possession to eat up the clock. Solaun found Little in the box, and Roccaro knocked her down as she shot, but Williams saved it and there was no call on the play. The Dash had a corner kick in the seventy-seventh minute, with Brian's service cleared by Yanez. The Reign had a corner kick in the seventy-ninth minute, and Barnes went short to Yanez. Barnes and Little combined a bit before Solaun shot wide right. Seattle has done well to limit Houston's efforts into the box. Ubogagu had a shot in the eighty-sixth minute, but Corsie blocked it and Solo settled it to chew up some more time. Ohai's cross after a spell of Dash possession was knocked out for a corner kick by Brian, which got close to the net but Solo watched it out in stoppage time. Seattle saw it out for a 2-0 win. The Outsider Sports Woman of the Match was the RF Solaun, and joining her in second half mentions is the LF Yanez. For Houston, the LW Brian got better in the second half.
Outsider Sports NWSL Best XI - Week 8
It was an interesting week, with no team scoring more than one goal, but also only two shutouts. With most of the internationals back in play, reserves get less of the spotlight.
GK Britt Eckerstrom
RB Brittany Taylor
CB Megan Oyster
CB Abby Dahlkemper
LB Casey Short
DM Sarah Killion
RW Makenzy Doniak
LW Louise Schillgard
RF Havana Solaun
CF Christen Press
LF Lynn Williams
The Boston Breakers host the Washington Spirit. Kelsey Wys and Libby Stout are in goal. Watch the game here. Boston's Stephanie McCaffrey put in a cross in the second minute, knocked out by Washington's Megan Oyster for a corner kick. This was cleared by the Spirit's Tori Huster. Angela Salem's third minute offering toward McCaffrey was broken up by Oyster. The Breakers saw Mollie Pathman go long for Eunice Beckmann, but the play was offside. On the other side in the seventh minute, Joanna Lohman was fouled by McCall Zerboni just outside the penalty area. Washington's Christine Nairn curled the ball out wide to her left. In the ninth minute, Katie Stengel returned the ball to Crystal Dunn, and the Spirit star shot wide right. Ali Krieger and Dunn combined well, but the pass into Katie Stengel was offside, although it was good to get around Boston's Kassey Kallman. Washington earned a corner kick in the twelfth minute. Nairn's service found Huster, who passed into the center of the box, but the Breakers were able to clear. In the thirteenth minute, Washington opened the scoring with a Stengel goal, coming after service from Dunn found Cali Farquharson, who laid off to Lohman. Her shot was blocked, but Stengel was there for the rebound, making it 1-0. In the fourteenth minute, Brooke Elby got fouled in the box by Farquharson, earning a penalty kick. Louise Schillgard stepped up for the penalty kick, and she buried it in the fifteenth minute, sending Wys the wrong way to tie the game at 1. Beckmann tried a long shot in the seventeenth minute, going high and wide. Oyster dispossessed McCaffrey later on another Boston attack. Stengel got around a stumbling Kallman, but Stengel shot high in the eighteenth minute. Schillgard tried find McCaffrey on the counter attack for Boston, but Krieger intercepted the pass. Zerboni fouled Krieger in the twentieth minute as the Spirit pushed forward, drawing the ire of Washington coach Jim Gabarra. Nairn's free kick was blocked by Whitney Engen for Boston, and the second effort in went out of bounds. In the twenty-fourth minute, Schillgard had a dangerous cross into Zerboni, but Wys made the block to prevent a play. Nairn saw a shot blocked for Washington in the twenty-fifth minute, and Alyssa Kleiner bounced another off a Breaker for a corner kick. Nairn's service was punched by Stout, but Huster settled things to try to create more possession for Washington. Zerboni made a nice interception of a Farquharson pass in the twenty-seventh minute. Nairn found Lohman in the twenty-eighth minute off a corner kick, but her half-bicycle kick and Stout picked it up. In the thirtieth minute, Stengel got caught offside, although the whistle was a bit late and Washington thought she was onside. Mollie Pathman found Beckmann in the thirty-third minute, but the Boston forward was shut down by Oyster. In the thirty-fifth minute, Julie King took a yellow card for her foul on Nairn. Beckmann played a ball off of Shelina Zadorsky to earn a corner kick for the Breakers in the thirty-seventh minute. Schillgard had the service, but it was cleared out. Zerboni passed one into Beckmann in the thirty-eighth minute, and her shot was mostly blocked by Dunn, and then cleared by Zadorsky. On the other side, Krieger had a long cross grabbed out of the air by Stout. In the thirty-ninth minute, McCaffrey curled a shot wide left as Boston opens up a bit more. Engen had a free kick in the fortieth minute, shot extremely high by King, although she did well to get in position to shoot at all. Boston saw a string of passes end with Pathman finding Schillgard, who sent it back across goal toward McCaffrey, but she never got a shot off, and Krieger cleared it out for the Spirit. McCaffrey went straight on against Zadorsky and earned a Breakers corner kick. Schillgard served in the set piece toward Zerboni and Salem, but they couldn't put it on goal. Schillgard and Elby overlapped in the forty-fourth minute, and Beckman was taken down in the box cleanly by Oyster to prevent a shot. Nairn had a good corner kick in stoppage time, but Stout was better, snagging it out of the air before Lohman could take a header or shot. The game went into halftime tied at 1. Impressing for the Spirit are RB Krieger, CB Oyster, DCM Huster, LW Nairn, CF Stengel, and RF Dunn, while the Breakers have had their best efforts from CB Engen, DM Zerboni, RW Elby, LW Schillgard, and LF McCaffrey. Boston had an early surge in the second half, but offside on Schillgard and a foul by McCaffrey against Zadorsky shuttered the first two attacks. Salem had a header on to Schillgard, who couldn't get much on the attempt, and Wys grabbed it for Washington. The Spirit refocused, and Elby put a ball out for the Breakers to give the Spirit a corner kick. Nairn served in toward Lohman, and Zerboni stopped it, allowing Pathman to clear it. Elby had a bad cross cleared by Zadorsky, and Washington broke free. Stengel had one shot blocked and another attempt knocked out by Nairn in the fifty-second minute. McCaffrey played cleverly with her back to goal, forcing Washington's Oyster into a foul. Engen took the free kick, but Wys grabbed it and booted it out for the Spirit. Zadorsky crossed one in, cleared by Kallman out to Nairn, who shot wide in the fifty-fifth minute as Washington has taken a step back since their surge. Beckmann was called for the foul after knocking down Nairn in a dangerous area. Nairn took the free kick for the Spirit in the fifty-seventh minute, shooting a laser at Stout, who bobbled it but covered before the Spirit could take a second try. Dunn went up the left flank, working around Engen, Salem, and Elby before losing he ball out of bounds in the fifty-eighth minute. King's deep throw went off Zadorsky, and Wys had to catch it. In the sixty-second minute, a run by McCaffrey earned a corner kick off of Zadorsky. Schillgard's service was short, cleared out by Oyster. Washington had a corner kick in the sixty-fourth minute after passing from left to right around their formation. King headed this one away from Nairn, and the Spirit midfielder tried from the other side on another corner kick. This one bounced off of Huster and the left post of Stout's goal. Estefania Banini took a shot, saved by Stout to end the attack. Washington had another corner kick in the sixty-eighth minute. Nairn's service was blocked out by Zerboni out to Kyah Simon, who charged up the left win to find King, who laid off to Schillgard. The play ended when Schillgard couldn't find King with her return pass. Engen cleared a through ball from Nairn toward Dunn as Boston continues to weather a hefty Spirit attack. Oyster had to knock one out for a corner kick after McCaffrey nearly got around her. Schillgard's kick in the seventy-third minute went off a Spirit played and out for another corner kick. Schillgard's second try went to Kallman, but bounced out to Simon, who was turfed by Francisca Ordega as the Breakers come up empty handed. Dunn went around Elby again on the left wing, but Engen kicked it clear to prevent the Spirit striker a shot. Lohman had a shot blocked by King in the seventy-sixth minute as Washington swarms forward again. Banini had two crosses in the seventy-eighth minute with no shot coming from either one. Nairn fired a shot in the eightieth minute, blocked hard by Salem, and then offside was called on the next kick. Boston wants to hold on against Washington in the last ten minutes. In the eighty-first minute, Dunn got free on the left side and shot wide right on a beautiful pass by Ordega between Engen and Kallman. Simon, Elby, and Salem all tried shots in the eighty-second minute, but the Spirit defense held. On the other side, Kallman blocked a try from Ordega. Cheyna Williams worked against King to get a corner kick for Washington. Nairn's eighty-fourth minute effort was headed away by King. Schillgard tried to pass into Simon, who nearly got her pass on to Zerboni, but the Spirit held strong on a good Boston chance in the eighty-sixth minute. Christen Westphal had her effort blocked by Huster, and then Schillgard was stopped by Kleiner. Kallman broke up Dunn's pass toward Banini, keeping the ball in the Spirit's defensive half. In the ninetieth minute, Cheyna Williams took a yellow card for her foul on Zerboni. Engen took the free kick in stoppage time, going long for Zerboni and Schillgard, both of whom fell to the turf in the box. Nairn took a long shot after Ordega's pass into Dunn was blocked out. Banini couldn't get through Westphal and King as the Spirit make one more push. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the LW Schillgard named Outsider Sports Woman of the Match. The RB King of the Breakers and the CB Zadorsky of the Spirit looked more impressive in the second half.
On Saturday, the Western New York Flash welcome the Orlando Pride. Ashlyn Harris and Britt Eckerstrom play goal. Here's the game. Western New York had the first shot in the second minute with a Jessica McDonald pass to Lynn Williams, who shot from a wide angle across goal. Laura Alleway cut the angle down and Harris protected the Orlando net. In the third minute, Makenzy Doniak received a pass from McDonald in an even wider position, and she scored it off the post and in for a 1-0 lead for the Flash. McDonald beat Monica of the Pride to get the assist. Kristen Edmonds had a steal from a bad pass by Western New York's Alanna Kennedy, and Edmonds sent a pass to Jasmyne Spencer, who made a misplay and lost the ball in the sixth minute. Samantha Mewis took a ball from Meredith Speck after Doniak got it into a central location, shooting off target in the tenth minute. Elizabeth Eddy couldn't quite get around Steph Catley in the twelfth minute as the Western New York continue. Kennedy fouled Spencer in the thirteenth minute in a dangerous area, earning Orlando a free kick. Alleway took the kick, and Eckerstrom had to tip it over the bar for a Pride corner kick. Edmonds took a short corner, taking it out for another corner kick off a Flash player. On the second try, Spencer took a shot on goal caught by Eckerstrom. Orlando stayed in possession, with Catley crossing in and the ball got deflected out wide, relieving the pressure for Western New York. Abby Dahlkemper broke up a pass from Sam Witteman to Spencer in the sixteenth minute. The Flash's Williams had her cross blocked by Monica and cleared by Alleway in the eighteenth minute. Eddy found Doniak in the box in the nineteenth minute, but the goal-scorer for Western New York shot this one wide left. Catley had a free kick blocked by Hinkle in the twenty-first minute, and on the same sequence Alex Morgan had a shot blocked by Dahlkemper. On the next Orlando foray, Edmonds served in to Alleway, who crashed into Kennedy and the keeper Eckerstrom, allowing Spencer to put the ball in the net. However, Orlando lost this goal as the referee ruled the play illegal despite not whistling or signaling during the run of play. The Flash still have a 1-0 lead. Josee Belanger had a cross in blocked by Michaela Hahn as the Flash continue to absorb pressure. Maddy Evans tried a cross in for Orlando in the twenty-fifth minute. Morgan had one shot blocked in the twenty-sixth minute, with Dahlkemper doing the defensive work. Belanger fired a shot from distance over the bar to end the Pride attack. Spencer had a shot blocked by Kennedy, as the Flash show a strong defensive shell with the lead. McDonald made a fast break from a Mewis pass, getting around Alleway but bouncing it off Harris to earn a Western New York corner kick. Dahlkemper served in the thirty-second minute, but it flew high and back out of bounds harmlessly. Belanger and Catley both had clearances on a sequence where McDonald had a long throw and a cross for the Flash in the thirty-fourth minute. Hahn took a shot after a Jaelene Hinkle free kick, but it went wide, and Williams couldn't cross it back in. Dahlkemper fouled Edmonds in the thirty-sixth minute, and Toni Pressley passed to Witteman, who was fouled for another Pride free kick. Catley took this one, toward Morgan, but Hinkle got it clear for Western New York. Witteman tried two shots, one blocked by Dahlkemper and the other cleared by Dahlkemper. Eckerstrom had to make two saves in the thirty-eighth minute, on Evans and Spencer, and Kennedy cleared it off the line. Orlando is right on the doorstep late in the first half. Morgan crossed one in, caught by Eckerstrom in the thirty-ninth minute. The Flash defense has been excellent in keeping the ball out of the net. Pressley blocked a shot by McDonald in the forty-first minute as Western New York tries to tip the field the other way. Williams nearly had a chance, but she fouled Alleway, and the Pride earned a free kick. Morgan and Spencer combined after an Alleway pass. Spencer got around Hinkle, but Eckerstrom covered the shot after Eddy cut the angle down a bit. McDonald had to take a shot quickly in the forty-third minute with Pressley beaten in defense, but the shot went wide right. Mewis shot wide right on the followed Flash attack. Belanger's cross in the forty-fifth minute caused Dahlkemper to commit a handball, giving Orlando a free kick from a good position. Catley took the kick and Eckerstrom again made the save, allowing Hahn to clear it out. In stoppage time, Speck took a yellow card for a foul on Edmonds. Catley made nothing of the free kick. The score went 1-0 into the half. For the Pride, the impressive players have been LB Catley, CB Alleway, LW Edmonds, and RF Spencer, while the Flash have seen excellence from GK Eckerstrom, CBs Dahlkemper and Kennedy, DM Mewis, RW Doniak, and RF McDonald. Alleway fouled Mewis in the forty-seventh minute, earning a Flash free kick just outside the Orlando penalty area. Dahlkemper's free kick went just over the crossbar. Harris nearly lost the ball in her own six-yard box to McDonald, but managed to find a teammate just in time. Eddy had a low cross in the fiftieth minute, dummied by Doniak, and Edmonds put it out for a corner kick. Hinkle served it in, and McDonald put it over the bar. Hinkle crossed one in, cleared out by Catley and fired by Eddy straight at the keeper Harris. Edmonds ran centrally for Orlando in the fifty-fourth minute, but a pass was stolen and charged the other way by Western New York's Mewis. Hahn had a couple of weak shots in the fifty-fifth minute, blocked by Alleway. On the counter, Spencer crossed long, and Evans ended up with it, shooting and forcing Eckerstrom to make a big save. Williams had a low cross in the fifty-eighth minute, with Pressley sliding to get it away from McDonald. Morgan worked against Dahlkemper and Kennedy, but Dahlkemper made the block. Lianne Sanderson also got a shot in for Orlando, but Mewis made the block that time. McDonald charged forward for Western New York in the sixty-second minute, but when she passed, Doniak was offside. Pressley knocked a ball away from Abby Erceg at the top of the box, denying the Flash sub a shooting chance in the sixty-fifth minute. Western New York saw Mewis hammer a shot from distance, and Harris punched it away to Williams, who shot wide left in the sixty-sixth minute as the hosts miss a chance to double the lead. Morgan chipped over Eckerstrom and the goal in the sixty-seventh minute, with the game opening up end-to-end. For the Flash on the other end, Williams crossed into McDonald, who headed toward the far post, but Harris dove and stopped it. Williams had a cross in the seventy-third minute broken up by Pressley. Morgan took a long shot in the seventy-fourth minute, directly at the keeper Eckerstrom. In the seventy-sixth minute, Spencer fouled Hinkle and earned a yellow card on the play. In the seventy-seventh minute, Morgan fired wide left as the Pride swarm around looking for the equalizer. Another Orlando attack featured Evans getting the ball to Morgan, who couldn't get around Dahlkemper in the box. McDonald had a good shot against an even better Harris, who saved it in the eighty-second minute, with the rebound by Adriana Leon shot wide left. In the eighty-third minute, Sarah Hagen was fouled by Hahn, and the Flash midfielder took a yellow card for her challenge. The free kick saw Pressley shoot way over the goal. Mewis passed into Leon in the eighty-sixth minute, but Catley slid in to break it up. Leon had a second chance on the next Western New York attack, dancing over the ball and crossing out of bounds. Williams continued to attack the left flank, but Witteman, filling in as a right back, did well defensively to break it up. McDonald broke through Alleway and Pressley on a stoppage time charge, but Catley cleared it out for a corner kick. Western New York spent most of the rest of the game killing the clock. The game ended 1-0, with the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match being Eckerstrom. In addition to the first half mentions, CB Pressley and CF Morgan of the Pride and RB Eddy, LB Hinkle, and LF Williams all joined the impressive play club after a well-contested game.
Also on Saturday, Sky Blue FC hosts FC Kansas City. Nicole Barnhart and Caroline Stanley are the keepers. Find the game at this link. Kansas City had the first effort from Erika Tymrak, who passed to Heather O'Reilly for a shot on goal against Stanley, going against the left side of the Sky Blue defense. Sky Blue saw Taylor Lytle nearly keep a pass in bounds against Alex Arlitt after Kelly Conheeney battled Arlitt for it in the fifth minute. Sky Blue made a foray forward with Kelley O'Hara, but Becky Sauerbrunn shut her down in the seventh minute. Kim DeCesare tried a cross into the box toward Conheeney, but Yael Averbuch broke it up for the Blues. On the other side in tenth minute, Laddish had a shot for Kansas City that was blocked away. DeCesare had a high cross in the twelfth minute cleared partially by Desiree Scott, and then another effort from Erica Skroski that went out of bounds to defuse the Sky Blue attack. Arlitt tried a cross for the Blues in the thirteenth minute that was cleared by O'Hara, and then a shot from O'Reilly went straight to Stanley. Conheeney won a corner kick for Sky Blue off of Brittany Taylor. O'Hara had the cross cleared by Averbuch. Skroski had a cross into DeCesare who headed it onto the goal line, and arguably in, but it spun out and was punched away by Barnhart. Sky Blue continued to attack with Taylor Lytle nearly finding Conheeney in front of Barnhart in the seventeenth minute. Laddish made a big steal on Raquel Rodriguez in the nineteenth minute to take possession for the Blues. Taylor eventually had the cross for Kansas City, but it went long. In the twentieth minute, Conheeney and Sauerbrunn had a brutal collision in the Sky Blue attacking zone. Both players were ultimately okay. Taylor knocked a ball out for a Sky Blue corner kick by O'Hara. The service was cut short due to a collision involving the keeper Barnhart. DeCesare had a rip from distance for Sky Blue in the twenty-second minute, forcing Barnhart into a diving save. On the counter, the Blues saw Tymrak set up Shea Groom for a huge shot, but it went over the bar on the dangerous attempt. DeCesare earned a Sky Blue corner kick off of Arlitt in the twenty-fifth minute, and O'Hara's service went low and cleared by a Kansas City player as far as Lytle, who fired high on the long shot. Kansas City struck first on a goal by Groom, set up by Tymrak, who had received the ball from Groom in a give-and-go. The Blues lead 1-0 on the crafty play in the box. In the twenty-ninth minute, Sarah Killion had a free kick, and the ball bounced around, with O'Hara getting knocked down by a Kansas City player. This resulted in a penalty kick, which was scored by Killion in the thirtieth minute, tying the game at 1. Sauerbrunn kept the ball off of Conheeney's foot to create another Sky Blue corner kick in the thirty-fourth minute. Shawna Gordon directed it in front of net, and Sauerbrunn and O'Reilly combined to get it out of danger for Kansas City. O'Hara took a deep shot in the thirty-fifth minute, putting it just high as Sky Blue continues to dominate the attack, with Taylor shutting down the angle. O'Reilly set up Groom for a shot in the thirty-seventh minute that went over the bar. Groom had a pass into Tymrak, narrowly avoiding offside by Alexa Newfield, but the shot from Tymrak went wide left for the Blues. Tymrak and Skroski battled hard for the ball on the next Kansas City effort, allowing Stanley to cover the ball before another shot can be taken. O'Reilly was found by O'Hara in the fortieth minute just outside the box, giving Kansas City a dangerous free kick. Averbuch had the attempt, going low and right, but Stanley dove to make the save. Scott barely took the ball away on a cross into Gordon in the forty-first minute. Arlitt made a good stop on Conheeney in the forty-third minute. O'Hara's corner kick was picked up by Barnhart. DeCesare passed to Conheeney in the forty-fifth minute, taking a shot on goal caught by Barnhart. Newfield had a free kick in stoppage time, cleared by Skroski. The half ended tied at 1. Impressing for the visiting Kansas City side are CB Averbuch, RB Taylor, DM Laddish, LW Tymrak, ACM O'Reilly, and striker Groom, while Sky Blue has seen good play out of RB Skroski, LB O'Hara, DM Killion, and forwards Conheeney and DeCesare. In the forty-sixth minute, DeCesare tried to direct one on goal, but Averbuch knocked it away. O'Hara found Gordon in the forty-seventh minute, but Scott took it away, with Sky Blue pressing early in the second half. Groom had a steal for the Blues in the forty-ninth minute, but couldn't shake O'Hara as Sky Blue made the stop. O'Reilly's cross on the next try didn't work out either. O'Reilly continued to press well on the right side, but her cross was knocked down by Christie Rampone. Lytle had a cross in toward Conheeney in the fifty-second minute, but it went over her and her defender Taylor, after Rodriguez had set up Lytle. DeCesare had another good cross in the fifty-third minute, but Barnhart stopped it before Conheeney could strike. Kristin Grubka tried to find Conheeney with a long ball, with Taylor clearing again. In the fifty-fifth minute, Grubka fouled Groom, and the Blues striker was down for awhile but the play was clean. The Blues earned a corner kick after the play, and O'Reilly's service went short to Newfield and then Averbuch, but she couldn't reconnect with O'Reilly. Groom looked to get a breakaway against Grubka, but she fouled the Sky Blue defender. Arlitt went with a nutmeg against Lytle and nearly got around her, but poked the ball out of bounds to give Sky Blue possession back in the sixtieth minute. O'Reilly had a laser shot after getting around O'Hara, and her shot deflected hard off Rampone for a corner kick. O'Reilly's service was punched by Stanley and cleared by O'Hara in front of Averbuch. O'Reilly put another shot just a bit high in the sixty-third minute. Fran Silva saw her effort for Kansas City stopped by Rampone in the sixty-fourth minute. Arlitt had a cross to Silva on the next attempt, but Tymrak lost control centrally. Leah Galton had a cross in toward Conheeney for Sky Blue, but Sauerbrunn kept it away for the Blues. Rampone had a cross in the sixty-sixth minute, but Barnhart got to it before DeCesare. The Blues saw a good attack ruined by O'Reilly being offside in the seventieth minute. O'Reilly sent a long ball up to Groom, who was running behind the defense, and she crossed into Tymrak, who headed wide left to spare Stanley after the Sky Blue defensive breakdown. Kansas City had a pair of corner kicks in the seventy-fourth minute, with Tymrak serving and Grubka and Stanley doing the clearance work, with Rodriguez carrying it out. Sauerbrunn ended the Kansas City attack with a seventy-fifth minute cross that ended up on top of the net. Groom tried to go through Grubka on another Blues attack, but that was a foul, and Stanley took the free kick for Sky Blue. Sam Kerr had a long through ball too close to Barnhart as she tried to pick out Conheeney. Kerr had a chip shot as Sky Blue presses a bit in the eighty-second minute. Arlitt crossed to O'Reilly during a Kansas City counter, and O'Reilly headed it off of Skroski for a corner kick. O'Reilly served it in but Killion cleared it out, eventually earning another corner kick. O'Reilly earned another corner kick, but Tasha Kai cleared it out. Caroline Kastor had a good diagonal cross in the eighty-eighth minute, but it went through the Sky Blue box harmlessly. O'Reilly tried a cross for Kansas City in the ninetieth minute, deflected out by Skroski. The service went to Stanley. In stoppage time, Kerr got free on the right wing and shot high over Barnhart's net. The game ended in a 1-1 tie with not much urgency late in the game. The Outsider Sports Woman of the Match was the DM Killion. Impressing in the second half was Sky Blue's CB Grubka to join the first half mentions.
On Sunday, the Chicago Red Stars bring in the Portland Thorns FC. Adrianna Franch and Alyssa Naeher protect the nets. The game can be found at this link. Tobin Heath had a cross in the second minute, and Chicago keeper Naeher left it on the top of the net. Heath's corner kick went into Naeher's hands. Vanessa DiBernardo had a through ball find Christen Press just offside as she crashed toward Portland's Franch. The Thorns' Meghan Klingenberg crossed in during the seventh minute, with Sam Johnson heading it back out. Katherine Reynolds served one in for Portland and the clearance out from Danielle Colaprico allowed Heath a corner kick in the ninth minute. It went out off a Thorns player, relieving the pressure for the Red Stars. Casey Short tired a long ball toward Jen Hoy for Chicago in the eleventh minute, but Emily Menges broke it up and Portland took over again. Heath tried to serve one into Nadia Nadim, where Short intercepted it and then recovered the ball for Chicago in the fourteenth minute. The game has been a bit lacking in dangerous shots, and decidedly tilted in favor of the Thorns. Heath took a long shot that bounced off of Julie Johnston of the Red Stars in the fifteenth minute. Nadim crossed into the box in the sixteenth minute, finding Christine Sinclair, who poked it on goal, with Naeher and Johnston combining to send it clear and out of danger. Heath then challenged Johnston on the next Thorns attack, firing on the wrong side of the netting. Nadim fired another long shot off of DiBernardo in the eighteenth minute, as Portland has done everything but score and Chicago is just holding on for dear life. Sofia Huerta tried a cross in the twenty-third minute toward Press, but Franch made the grab. Press continued to pressure Franch as the Red Stars have finally had a decent look at a chance. Portland pressured the keeper Naeher, and Naeher's clearance bounced off of Sinclair and rolled into the net to give the Thorns a deserved 1-0 lead in the twenty-fourth minute. The Thorns didn't stop, with Allie Long making an effort against Colaprico that saw her miss getting full contact on the ball about three times. The play didn't result in anything beyond a bit of threatening danger. Short's through ball to Hoy was well-defended by Emily Sonnett of the Thorns in the twenty-eighth minute. Sonnett had a twenty-ninth minute free kick headed by Dagny Brynjarsdottir, harmlessly caught by Naeher. DiBernardo won a foul in the attacking third, committed by Nadim. The free kick from Colaprico was headed out for a corner kick by Portland's Lindsey Horan. DiBernardo did the corner kick in the thirty-second minute, which saw a bicycle attempt and a loose ball both saved by Franch, who was slow to get up. It was unclear who had the scoring chances on the play for the Red Stars. Dagny sent the ball across the box for Portland, cleared out by DiBernardo. Press saw a cross deflected by Klingenberg, and then Horan took it away from Huerta in the thirty-fifth minute. Heath got through a double-team by Arin Gilliland and Colaprico, crossing into Dagny, and she headed it just over the bar in the thirty-sixth minute. Heath ran around Johnston and passed behind Johnson, but Horan was caught offside in the thirty-eighth minute for the Thorns. After lulling a bit from their goal, the Thorns have refocused in attack. Press worked out of a double-team by Menges and Heath, finding Huerta on the right wing, and she crossed in to Hoy, but Franch knocked it away safely. Gilliland managed to steal the ball and clear it from Heath in the forty-first minute, but the Red Stars couldn't hold possession long. Short managed a cross in the forty-second minute, and Klingenberg had to put it out for a corner kick. DiBernardo took the corner kick, finding Short, who headed just wide left. The game went into halftime with the Thorns leading 1-0, and their best players have been GK Franch, CBs Menges and Sonnett, ACM Sinclair, and LW Heath, while the Red Stars have had good efforts from LB Short, DM DiBernardo, and LW Hoy. Chicago's Huerta made the first challenge in the forty-seventh minute, charging right at the Thorns back like after DiBernardo got her the ball, but her pass after getting around Sonnett went too long for Press. In the forty-ninth minute, Press made an effort to keep the ball in, but DiBernardo couldn't shoot. Press got the ball back and fed Gilliland, who crossed right at Franch. Klingenberg took a ball from Nadim, but couldn't get around Johnston and Gilliland in the fifty-first minute as the Thorns have been a bit more on defense to start this half. In the fifty-second minute, Heath had a free kick that Johnson headed out. Long put it back in, but Naeher grabbed it cleanly. The game started to get congested in the midfield for awhile. Press danced over the ball in the fifty-eighth minute, passing centrally to Alyssa Mautz, who shot just wide right. In the sixty-first minute, Short found Mautz, who knocked it down to Press, and Press shot hard off the bar with the right amount of spin to get it to bounce back in before Franch could swat it away, tying the game at 1 for the Red Stars. In the sixty-second minute, Colaprico fouled Heath in the Portland attacking zone, and Heath's free kick rolled wide left. Menges almost got her goalie in trouble with a back pass to Franch, with Huerta crashing close to the ball as Franch returned it. Press continued for the Red Stars in the sixty-fourth minute, shooting a bit long. Klingenberg went short on a sixty-sixth minute free kick to Heath, but Johnston stood her up and gave the Thorns a corner kick. Heath's service was punched out by Naeher. Johnston made another breakup on Klingenberg's through ball to Nadim. Sinclair mishit a shot attempt in the seventieth minute, and Nadim served it back in, caught by Naeher to give Chicago possession again. On the next attack, Klingenberg put a cross into Naeher's arms as the goalie has improved in this half. In the seventy-fourth minute, Red Stars forward Huerta took a yellow card for delaying the restart of play. In the seventy-fifth minute, Mautz jumped over Heath and fouled the Thorns star, earning a yellow card for the play. Heath's free kick found Nadim, who headed it down but right at Naeher as the Thorns had a really good try. Press fired in a cross on the counterattack, and Huerta got a head on it but sent it wide right in the seventy-seventh minute. In the seventy-eighth minute, Sinclair fouled DiBernardo as she tried to shoot in a dangerous spot outside the box for Chicago, and the free kick from Press went high. Mautz turned Klingenberg and Heath inside out before Gilliland played a ball off Klingenberg for a corner kick. DiBernardo's eightieth minute service went low to Taylor Comeau but was blocked by Meg Morris. Morris eventually cleared as far as Johnson, and then the Thorns took over possession. Heath tried a cross, with the effort going off of Johnson and then to Naeher. Gilliland took a yellow card in the eighty-third minute, with the reason not totally clear on the broadcast. Sonnett just held off Press in the eighty-fifth minute, as the Red Stars make a rare counter against the Thorns. Chicago appears happy to take the tie, while Portland has pressed on looking to break the tie. Short got away with stealing a corner kick in the eighty-sixth minute, and Colaprico's service went over Mautz's head. Johnston and Nadim collided in the eighty-eighth minute, and the Thorns' Nadim took the yellow card for a foul. Short fired off a shot wide right after the referee called for advantage to be played. Klingenberg passed to Hayley Raso, who crossed into Naeher all after Long was knocked over outside the box. Chicago got a free kick in stoppage time, taken by DiBernardo but knocked out by Horan. This made a corner kick from Colaprico, going toward Johnston but knocked to Press by Horan, who shot wide on the one-time shot. The game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the Outsider Sports Woman of the Match being ACM Press. Also impressing for the Red Stars were CBs Johnson and Johnston, and the RW Mautz. Nobody rose above for the Thorns as they played a weaker second half.
Finally, the Seattle Reign FC host the Houston Dash. Lydia Williams and Hope Solo are the gloved women. Find the game here. Elli Reed tried a cross for Seattle in the second minute, but Cari Roccaro shut it down for Houston. Roccaro broke up another play, a long ball from the Reign's Lauren Barnes toward Kim Little in the third minute. The Dash's Chioma Ubogagu tried a through ball, but Barnes was there where no other Houston player was. Havana Solaun had an iffy cross toward Jess Fishlock in the seventh minute, but Janine Beckie picked it off. A through ball from Beverly Yanez was grabbed by the keeper Williams to stem the danger away for Houston. Barnes tried a through ball toward Yanez, but Ellie Brush stopped it and gave Houston control in the ninth minute. Little went through to Fishlock, who was fouled by Brush, giving Seattle a dangerous free kick chance. Little went direct on the free kick, going high and a bit left. Amber Brooks gave one away and then took it back from Keelin Winters in the twelfth minute, as the former teammates battle closely. Soon after, the Dash's Andressa fired a shot on goal, saved by Solo. Poliana took one away from Kendall Fletcher, and Andressa's cross ran long. It eventually got in, but Barnes sent it far out. Houston continued to swarm, with Kealia Ohai going against Reed but losing out to the Reign defender. Little gave one away to Andressa with a no-look pass, which got along to Beckie, who missed the frame with her shot in the fourteenth minute. Little, Yanez, and Fishlock all combined for offense in the fifteenth minute, but Fishlock's shot was weak and wide right. Ohai took a shot on goal in the eighteenth minute. In the twentieth minute, Yanez had an errant cross that Brooks took over for Houston. Beckie went long for Ubogagu in the twenty-second minute, broken up by Corsie. On the other side, Fishlock bounced a shot off Brooks, and then Merritt Mathias got taken off the ball by Allysha Chapman. Beckie took a pass from Ohai and then laid off to Andressa in the twenty-third minute, fired straight at Solo by the Dash midfielder. Fishlock nutmegged Andressa in the twenty-fourth minute, and then Yanez won a corner kick off of Houston's Chapman. The Seattle corner kick came from Barnes, who served in to Fletcher, who got it on goal and saved by Williams, and then Corsie tried and failed as Williams saved it again on a near-brilliant sequence for the Reign. Corsie made a huge run, trying to get to Mathias, but Chapman broke up the pass in the twenty-sixth minute. Winters stole the ball from Ohai in the twenty-eighth minute, with Corsie and Reed helping shut down the Dash forward's run. Poliana had a cross nearly find Ohai, but Barnes swept it out for Seattle. Reed took a pass from Fishlock, crossing hard and ending up out of bounds wide of the goal. Little had a free kick for Seattle in the thirty-third minute, with Williams punching it over Fletcher. Ohai tried to find Morgan Brian in the thirty-fourth minute, but Corsie took it away for the Reign. Fishlock made a stunning slide tackle against Brian to steal the ball back for Seattle after Brooks took it off Yanez's foot. Ubogagu had a shot in the thirty-sixth minute, snagged up by Solo. On the next Houston effort, Ohai's cross was blocked by Fletcher. Fishlock and Little nearly combined for magic on the counterattack, but Williams fell on the ball to stop it. Barnes had a long-running cross in the fortieth minute, forcing Williams into a save as it got near the goal, earning Seattle a corner kick. Barnes took the service to Fletcher, and she sent it back across goal wide right. Poliana took care of a Fishlock cross in the forty-second minute, and Poliana did it again when Reed crossed toward Yanez. The Reign's corner kick was taken by Little, getting it near Fletcher yet again. The game went into the half scoreless. Impressing for the Dash are GK Williams, CB Roccaro, RB Poliana, RW Andressa, and RF Beckie, while the Reign's best play has come from GK Solo, CBs Corsie and Fletcher, LB Barnes, LW Fishlock, RW Little, and CF Mathias. In the forty-seventh minute, Beckie had a cross toward Ubogagu that the Reign put out for a Houston corner kick by Brian, who served into the middle of the box, cleared by Fishlock, and then again by Solaun. Little made a big run up the middle in the forty-ninth minute, broken up by Brooks for the Dash's defensive stop. Winters found Little for another series of moves, with Little battling Roccaro and her Houston teammates, and then Little just shot wide right. Little found Fishlock in the box, but the header dropped weakly to Williams. Mathias had a long cross over Solaun in the fifty-third minute, and Winters served it the other way straight to Williams, as the Reign are pushing back a bit now. Ohai made a run into the box in the fifty-fourth minute, but Fletcher defended well and earned a goal kick for Seattle. Fishlock's ball into the box was cleared by Brush, but Winters hammered a shot on the second try that went wide and high. Brooks fouled Yanez in a dangerous spot in the fifty-eighth minute, giving Seattle a good free kick chance. Ubogagu broke up the passing play instead of a shot. Fishlock had a try to wide left in the fifty-ninth minute. Mathias had a shot for the Reign in the sixty-first minute, but Williams made the catch cleanly. Barnes intercepted a Brian through ball, and then Little and Solaun had touches before winning a corner kick. Seattle's set piece went from Barnes to Winters, who headed right near the bar, and Williams had to palm it over, crashing into her own post as she fell. Another corner kick came from Barnes toward Corsie, but it wasn't directed on goal. Yanez's cross went to Chapman in the sixty-fifth minute as Seattle continues a plethora of offensive chances. Seattle finally cashed in on a Solaun goal in the sixty-seventh minute, with passes coming from Yanez, Little, and Fishlock to get the set up on a perfect set-up for the distance strike. The Reign lead 1-0. Fishlock, Little, and Mathias strung some passes together in the sixty-ninth minute, but Mathias was offside. Barnes dispossessed Ohai later on as Houston want to find an equalizer with more pressure now. Mathias had a low cross in the seventieth minute, but Fishlock missed it and Poliana cleared it away. Brian took a shot on target in the seventy-second minute after getting the ball on a Fishlock giveaway. Solo stopped it at the left post from the offensive view. Mathias ripped a long shot just high in the seventy-fourth minute, with the Reign looking solid in holding some possession to eat up the clock. Solaun found Little in the box, and Roccaro knocked her down as she shot, but Williams saved it and there was no call on the play. The Dash had a corner kick in the seventy-seventh minute, with Brian's service cleared by Yanez. The Reign had a corner kick in the seventy-ninth minute, and Barnes went short to Yanez. Barnes and Little combined a bit before Solaun shot wide right. Seattle has done well to limit Houston's efforts into the box. Ubogagu had a shot in the eighty-sixth minute, but Corsie blocked it and Solo settled it to chew up some more time. Ohai's cross after a spell of Dash possession was knocked out for a corner kick by Brian, which got close to the net but Solo watched it out in stoppage time. Seattle saw it out for a 2-0 win. The Outsider Sports Woman of the Match was the RF Solaun, and joining her in second half mentions is the LF Yanez. For Houston, the LW Brian got better in the second half.
Outsider Sports NWSL Best XI - Week 8
It was an interesting week, with no team scoring more than one goal, but also only two shutouts. With most of the internationals back in play, reserves get less of the spotlight.
GK Britt Eckerstrom
RB Brittany Taylor
CB Megan Oyster
CB Abby Dahlkemper
LB Casey Short
DM Sarah Killion
RW Makenzy Doniak
LW Louise Schillgard
RF Havana Solaun
CF Christen Press
LF Lynn Williams
Stanley Cup Final 2016: 2) Pittsburgh Penguins VS. 3) San Jose Sharks
Here we are again, at the end of yet another NHL season. This season has seen me make a foray forward as a writer, adding content to my site to go along with the stalwart game recaps. This post has the final four to seven recaps of this season, and you can expect at least some pondering about offseason moves in this space as well during the summer. I'll be back with game recaps in the fall and I'll be looking to expand my content even more as well. Enjoy the series.
Game 1: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Matt Murray for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh started in the first period with a Bryan Rust goal, his sixth of the postseason, coming off of Justin Schultz and Chris Kunitz. The Penguins added on with a Conor Sheary goal, his third of the playoffs, via Sidney Crosby and Olli Maatta. San Jose got on the board in the second period with a Tomas Hertl power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, powered by Joonas Donskoi and Brent Burns. The Sharks tied it with a Patrick Marleau goal, his fifth of the playoffs, guided in by Burns and Logan Couture. Pittsburgh regained the lead in the third period with a Nick Bonino goal, his fourth of the postseason, helped along by Kris Letang and Carl Hagelin. The final held at 3-2, with the three stars going to Bonino, Burns, and Murray (24 for 26 in saves). The Penguins have a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Matt Murray for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh got going in the second period with a Phil Kessel goal, his tenth of the postseason, via Nick Bonino and Carl Hagelin. San Jose tied it in the third period with a Justin Braun goal, made possible by Logan Couture and Joel Ward. The Penguins won 2-1 in overtime with a Conor Sheary goal, his fourth of the playoffs, assisted by Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby. The Penguins head west with a comfortable 2-0 series lead.
Game 3: SAP Center, San Jose, California. In goal: Matt Murray for Pittsburgh and Martin Jones for San Jose. Pittsburgh opened in the first period with a Ben Lovejoy goal, his second of the postseason, going in unassisted. San Jose tied it on a Justin Braun goal, his second of the playoffs, coming off of Joe Thornton and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The Penguins took the lead back in the second period with a Patric Hornqvist goal, his eighth of the postseason, via Lovejoy and Olli Maatta. The Sharks tied it again in the third period as Joel Ward scored his seventh of the playoffs, thanks to Joonas Donskoi and Thornton. San Jose won 3-2 in overtime with a Donskoi goal, his sixth of the postseason, assisted by Chris Tierney. The three stars went to Donskoi, Lovejoy, and Thornton. Pittsburgh still leads the series 2-1.
Game 4: SAP Center, San Jose, California. In goal: Matt Murray for Pittsburgh and Martin Jones for San Jose. Pittsburgh led off in the first period with an Ian Cole goal, via Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins added on with a Malkin power play goal in the second period, his fifth of the postseason, powered by Kessel and Kris Letang. San Jose got on the board in the third period with a Melker Karlsson goal, his fourth of the playoffs, guided in by Chris Tierney and Brenden Dillon. Pittsburgh replied with an Eric Fehr goal, his third of the postseason, fueled by Carl Hagelin and Olli Maatta. The three stars of the 3-1 game were Murray (23 for 24 in saves), Malkin, and Kessel. The Penguins have a chance to lift the cup on home ice as they head home leading 3-1 in the series.
Game 5: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Matt Murray for Pittsburgh. San Jose began in the first period with a Brent Burns goal, his seventh of the postseason, helped along by Melker Karlsson and Logan Couture. The Sharks added on with a Couture goal, his ninth of the playoffs, via Justin Braun. Pittsburgh got on the board with an Evgeni Malkin power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, powered by Phil Kessel and Kris Letang. The Penguins tied it as Carl Hagelin scored his sixth of the playoffs, thanks to Nick Bonino. San Jose took the lead with Karlsson's fifth of the postseason, passed from Couture and Brenden Dillon. The Sharks iced it at 4-2 with a Joe Pavelski empty net goal, his fourteenth of the playoffs, set up by Joe Thornton. The three stars went to Couture, Karlsson, and Jones (44 for 46 in saves). The series is now 3-2 for the Penguins, and headed back for California's last hockey game of the season.
Game 6: SAP Center, San Jose, California. In goal: Matt Murray for Pittsburgh and Martin Jones for San Jose. Pittsburgh struck first in the first period with a Brian Dumoulin power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Justin Schultz and Chris Kunitz. San Jose got on the board in the second period with a Logan Couture goal, his tenth of the playoffs, via Melker Karlsson and Brent Burns. The Penguins took the lead back with a Kris Letang goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary. Pittsburgh iced it at 3-1 with a Patric Hornqvist empty net goal, his ninth of the playoffs, set up by Crosby. The three stars were Crosby, Letang, and Kunitz. Crosby won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP, and the Penguins took the Stanley Cup with a 4-2 series win.
Game 1: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Matt Murray for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh started in the first period with a Bryan Rust goal, his sixth of the postseason, coming off of Justin Schultz and Chris Kunitz. The Penguins added on with a Conor Sheary goal, his third of the playoffs, via Sidney Crosby and Olli Maatta. San Jose got on the board in the second period with a Tomas Hertl power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, powered by Joonas Donskoi and Brent Burns. The Sharks tied it with a Patrick Marleau goal, his fifth of the playoffs, guided in by Burns and Logan Couture. Pittsburgh regained the lead in the third period with a Nick Bonino goal, his fourth of the postseason, helped along by Kris Letang and Carl Hagelin. The final held at 3-2, with the three stars going to Bonino, Burns, and Murray (24 for 26 in saves). The Penguins have a 1-0 series lead.
Game 2: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Matt Murray for Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh got going in the second period with a Phil Kessel goal, his tenth of the postseason, via Nick Bonino and Carl Hagelin. San Jose tied it in the third period with a Justin Braun goal, made possible by Logan Couture and Joel Ward. The Penguins won 2-1 in overtime with a Conor Sheary goal, his fourth of the playoffs, assisted by Kris Letang and Sidney Crosby. The Penguins head west with a comfortable 2-0 series lead.
Game 3: SAP Center, San Jose, California. In goal: Matt Murray for Pittsburgh and Martin Jones for San Jose. Pittsburgh opened in the first period with a Ben Lovejoy goal, his second of the postseason, going in unassisted. San Jose tied it on a Justin Braun goal, his second of the playoffs, coming off of Joe Thornton and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. The Penguins took the lead back in the second period with a Patric Hornqvist goal, his eighth of the postseason, via Lovejoy and Olli Maatta. The Sharks tied it again in the third period as Joel Ward scored his seventh of the playoffs, thanks to Joonas Donskoi and Thornton. San Jose won 3-2 in overtime with a Donskoi goal, his sixth of the postseason, assisted by Chris Tierney. The three stars went to Donskoi, Lovejoy, and Thornton. Pittsburgh still leads the series 2-1.
Game 4: SAP Center, San Jose, California. In goal: Matt Murray for Pittsburgh and Martin Jones for San Jose. Pittsburgh led off in the first period with an Ian Cole goal, via Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin. The Penguins added on with a Malkin power play goal in the second period, his fifth of the postseason, powered by Kessel and Kris Letang. San Jose got on the board in the third period with a Melker Karlsson goal, his fourth of the playoffs, guided in by Chris Tierney and Brenden Dillon. Pittsburgh replied with an Eric Fehr goal, his third of the postseason, fueled by Carl Hagelin and Olli Maatta. The three stars of the 3-1 game were Murray (23 for 24 in saves), Malkin, and Kessel. The Penguins have a chance to lift the cup on home ice as they head home leading 3-1 in the series.
Game 5: CONSOL Energy Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In goal: Martin Jones for San Jose and Matt Murray for Pittsburgh. San Jose began in the first period with a Brent Burns goal, his seventh of the postseason, helped along by Melker Karlsson and Logan Couture. The Sharks added on with a Couture goal, his ninth of the playoffs, via Justin Braun. Pittsburgh got on the board with an Evgeni Malkin power play goal, his sixth of the postseason, powered by Phil Kessel and Kris Letang. The Penguins tied it as Carl Hagelin scored his sixth of the playoffs, thanks to Nick Bonino. San Jose took the lead with Karlsson's fifth of the postseason, passed from Couture and Brenden Dillon. The Sharks iced it at 4-2 with a Joe Pavelski empty net goal, his fourteenth of the playoffs, set up by Joe Thornton. The three stars went to Couture, Karlsson, and Jones (44 for 46 in saves). The series is now 3-2 for the Penguins, and headed back for California's last hockey game of the season.
Game 6: SAP Center, San Jose, California. In goal: Matt Murray for Pittsburgh and Martin Jones for San Jose. Pittsburgh struck first in the first period with a Brian Dumoulin power play goal, his second of the postseason, powered by Justin Schultz and Chris Kunitz. San Jose got on the board in the second period with a Logan Couture goal, his tenth of the playoffs, via Melker Karlsson and Brent Burns. The Penguins took the lead back with a Kris Letang goal, his third of the postseason, assisted by Sidney Crosby and Conor Sheary. Pittsburgh iced it at 3-1 with a Patric Hornqvist empty net goal, his ninth of the playoffs, set up by Crosby. The three stars were Crosby, Letang, and Kunitz. Crosby won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoffs MVP, and the Penguins took the Stanley Cup with a 4-2 series win.
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