Author: RJ Allen

Child’s Play: 5 Reasons The NWSL Will Shape The Future Of Women’s Sports

Posted on by RJ Allen

I saw the future of women’s sports last week at the Washington Spirit/Chicago Red Stars match. It didn’t look like I thought it would.

Generally, we think about Title IX, Serena Williams winning more Grand Slams than any other tennis player in the open era, or a fair wages lawsuit for the US Women’s Hockey Team. It’s these big changes on the national level that draw our attention.

But those big changes take years, and they start in small moments: when athletes refuse to settle for less than their worth. When a girl gets her shin guards signed by her favorite player. With a youth team that gets the chance to play on a real pitch at halftime of a professional match. And sometimes it looks like a swarm of little girls jumping after a ball that is hit out of play as if they were mid-thirties single women at a bouquet toss. It’s moments like these that get girls excited about playing sports, and which help them find their confidence.

And the NWSL is full of these moments. Meaning this league will help form the future of women’s sports one little fan at a time. Here are the five reasons why:

Something To Aspire To

Every adult female sports fan can see the differences between men’s leagues and women’s. It’s right there in the coverage and availability. Our games are heavy on social media, and come streaming on your computer or phone through an app. Every once in awhile we get lucky and Sam Kerr does Sam Kerr-like things and makes it on ESPN’s Top Ten. We get super pumped for that. But when kids watch, all they see is sports giants doing amazing things. They see these women fight hard for 90 minutes and do things that no one thought were possible. They see a life that they want to work hard to achieve for themselves one day. To them, the stage is plenty big. It may look small to our eyes, but it’s ginormous in theirs. 

They Are Connected

Every kid wants to meet their hero, or to have a special moment at a professional game. These are opportunities that are easily achievable for the NWSL. That’s in part because the league focuses on producing a family atmosphere for the matches. They promote female youth soccer and they give these girls opportunities to be a part of all the excitement. They get to walk out onto the pitch before the match. They have the opportunity to play on the field at halftime. And they get to meet some of their idols after the game. And let me tell you, nothing is more heartwarming than seeing a kid struggle between having their favorite midfielder sign her shin guard or jersey. Not many other leagues allow the fans this experience on such a regular basis. No other league is this tangible to its fans. It can be life changing to a kid trying to find their passion in the world.

Role Models

In a world where most of the female representation in the media comes from pop stars and super models, it can be difficult for a girl to find a good model of what it looks like to be a strong woman. But for every Kylie, or Miley, or Taylor, there is a Tobin Heath, or a Marta, or a Casey Short. You can be a girl from anywhere, with any background, of any color, or race, or sexual orientation and still feel like you belong in this league. For virtually anyone growing up in America today, there is someone in this league that that you can identify with. And these players are setting good examples, too. They are active in the community, stand up for they care about, and fight for what they deserve. This league embraces its players for their talents, and in turn, the players embrace their individuality. And isn’t that what we want for the next generation – to feel completely comfortable to say and be exactly who they are? The NWSL, and its players, champion that notion.

Women Helping Women For The Common Goal

In order for women’s sports to keep growing, it’s going to have to be a team effort. A league and a sport is not built on the back on an individual – no one person can carry that weight. But when women band together big things happen. Like when the US Women’s National Team demanded their fair pay after winning their third World Cup. Or when 81 players from 13 different countries sued FIFA on the grounds of gender discrimination to play on grass. Even though they lost, it still sent a powerful message to every young female fan out there – women banding together are a force to be reckoned with. But that force doesn’t always have to look like lawsuits, especially when it comes to the NWSL. Sometimes the force is female players rooting on other female players. Sometimes it’s an underdog team coming together. Sometimes it is a rivalry between two sides that is intense, but also based on respect on respect for each other’s talents and the game. But no matter what form it takes, this kind of force is a great thing for the youth to see. It sets the example for the next generation of athletes. And the NWSL promotes it.

The League Is Attainable For Everyone

Along with the league being diverse demographically, the league is also attainable for just about anyone. Most of the games are streamed live for free on go90, and others are available on a channel accessible to anyone with even the most basic cable package. Ticket prices to go see the matches live are relatively cheap – generally costing about $20-25 for general admission. And the league is growing, which means that new teams will show up, lessening the geographic distance for a lot of new fans. Sure, the more the league grows, some of the advantages discussed here will grow a little more distant. But right now, the NWSL is in the sweet spot–widely available and easily accessible to anyone who wants to join the party. Its young fans have an opportunity to watch, and learn, and feel as though they are part of a sport regardless of where they grew up or how much money they have in their pockets. Young female athletes don’t get that luxury with the WNBA or Tennis or Hockey. But the NWSL helps to ensure that the beautiful game can be enjoyed by all. And for that, they will put a bigger stamp on the future of women’s sports than most – both in popularity and in acclaim.

 

The growth of women’s sports doesn’t just lie in the current players’ hands. It lies in the excitement of its young fans. It resides in the girl who is in awe of the Australian that seems to beat the odds and can always find the back of the net when her team is down. It lives in the hearts and the nerves of the young goalkeeper watching her idol stand on her line during PKs in a tournament final. It’s in the girl who wears her Lloyd jersey to a pickup game after school. The NWSL knows this. It can see the excitement on their faces and it knows that giving these young girls the opportunities to connect with this league on such an intimate level will not only help produce a stronger fan base, but also the future of the sport. So to the other leagues, I would encourage them to take note. The NWSL is doing it right. They are really caring about their youth fan base. And in turn, they are caring about their future.

The View from the Sideline: North Carolina vs Washington

Posted on by RJ Allen

[media-credit name=”Kelley Piper” align=”aligncenter” width=”300″][/media-credit]

Kelley Piper took in the North Carolina vs Washington game. Here are some of her best shots.

[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id=”16″ gal_title=”North Carolina vs Washington”]

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 19

Posted on by RJ Allen

[media-credit name=”Kelley Piper” align=”aligncenter” width=”300″][/media-credit]

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 19 Game Previews:

We are winding down in the 2017 NWSL season but the race for the playoffs is heating up. Let’s take a look at what the matches on deck have for us this weekend. 

Game 1: Portland Thorns vs. Washington Spirit

Portland Thorns record: 11-5-4
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 37

Washington Spirit record: 4-12-4
Position: 10th
Total Points: 16

Portland at home and Portland on a hot streak should make this a fairly easy match if the streak continues. Tobin Heath has also been added to the active roster but is not expected to play this weekend. The main focus for Portland this weekend will be to continue to add elements to their attack and keep the pressure moving forward. 

What can we say about Washington at this point? With more potential injuries to Estelle Johnson and Franny Ordega in the midweek game, the Spirit are hurting for healthy players. It is unknown if Steph Labbé will be available this weekend which I believe is another story in and of itself. Overall with the Spirit officially eliminated from the playoffs, this week, they just need to focus on keeping themselves in the game. I expect to see some sparks from their attack with Cheyna Williams leading the charge. But one of the biggest weaknesses is their defense, and if Johnson is unavailable to play, the already weak backline potentially without Labbé in-goal will have a heck of a time containing Portland at full strength. 

Game 2: Orlando Pride vs. Boston Breakers

Orlando Pride record: 9-6-5
Position: 4th
Total Points: 32

Boston Breakers record: 3-10-7
Position: 9th
Total Points: 16

The Pride did not play their prettiest soccer last week against FCKC but pulled out the last-minute win. This week they are looking to secure another three points against the Breakers as they push for their playoff spot. The team is playing like the roster on paper was expected to play for the majority of the season. This week they logically should not have a whole lot of trouble with Boston but if we have learned one thing from this season, it is that any team can win or any given day. Their last match against Boston was also not their best so they will need to focus on getting service through to their attack and shoring up the back-end in the defense. If Alex Morgan and Marta can link up early in this match it will be very hard for the Breakers to stop them both. The defense has also looked a lot better and more compact throughout August so they should make sure to keep that progress, and not let poor turnovers cost them points. 

Boston should have Rose Lavelle back this week and she may get some minutes. Since they are out of playoff contention, they do not have much more to lose, so playing spoiler will most likely be their game for the rest of the season. The Breakers have the ability to get behind but they are missing the creativity to close their games, something Lavelle was doing for them at the beginning of the season. This week, their biggest focus will be finding a way to shut down the Morgan/Marta duo and finding a way behind the newly compacted backline of Orlando. 

Game 3: FC Kansas City vs. Sky Blue FC

FC Kansas City record: 6-9-5
Position: 7th
Total Points: 23

Sky Blue FC record: 9-9-2
Position: 5th
Total Points: 29

FCKC’s winning streak came to an end last week but they still have the ability to keep the ship upright and continue their winning ways. They held Orlando most of the match and let a silly foul at the end cost them at least a point. This week they will need to work on keeping someone on Sam Kerr throughout the match. That task will most likely come down to either Becky Sauerbunn or Becca Moros. FCKC very much has the ability to win this match if they can get a goal or two early and then hold down the back-end of the game from there. 

Sky Blue is still in the hunt for a playoff spot on the back of the magical Sam Kerr. I say it every week but really, I think their season would be much different without her. They do not seem to have an identity outside of “Sam Kerr,” which I think will need to be solved, especially if they make the playoffs. She scored the game-winning goal last week but was otherwise quiet. This week expect to see a bit more from her, knowing what is on the line. Sky Blue will have their work cut out for them with FCKC’s attack of Sydney Leroux and Shea Groom. Sky Blue’s defense is already shaky so if FCKC can get in behind and put the pressure on, Sky Blue will have their work cut out for them.

Game 4: Chicago Red Stars vs. North Carolina Courage

Chicago Red Stars record: 9-6-5
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 32

North Carolina Courage record: 14-5-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 42

Chicago has some work to do to maintain their playoff spot in the last few weeks of the season. They pulled out the win last week but it was not pretty. The once strongest defense in the league is having a lot of trouble sustaining that title and keeping opposing players out of their final third. The Red Stars need to see more from Sofia Huerta in these last few weeks as she has seemingly not been as active on the field as she was with Christen Press for the majority of the season. Christen Press did her thing in the waning minutes to give Chicago the win last week but I would like to see more from her throughout this match against a strong Courage side. Chicago is going to need everything she has got to pull out the win here. Alyssa Naeher is another one to watch for in this match as she still seems to be struggling with the strain suffered at the Tournament of Nations, which has slowed down her game a bit.

The Courage have been pretty much dominating the entire season. They still are fighting for first place but are in the playoffs. With short rest, I think they key here will be who starts the match for them, knowing they still have an extra game to make up against the Dash and are in the playoffs. The Courage bench is quite deep so almost any formation they field will give Chicago good opposition. The Courage attack has not produced that many goals this season but that does not seem to matter much considering their positioning on the table. The focus this week will really just to pad the first place run more. Chicago has more to lose, so the Courage should expect a fight. 

Game 5: Houston Dash vs. Seattle Reign

Houston Dash record: 7-10-2
Position: 8th
Total Points: 23

Seattle Reign record: 7-7-6
Position: 6th
Total Points: 27

The Dash have not had much time to practice or get together as a team this week due to Hurricane Harvey so this match will be tough for them mentally and physically. At the beginning of the week, I picked Houston to pull out the win here against a bit of a declining Seattle side but with limited team practice and the loss of two big players in trades–Lydia Williams and Morgan Brian–I think this game is a bit harder to predict. Additionally, the Dash have added Kristie Mewis. I also do not think Carli Lloyd will be available to play either. All of this adds up to a very tough match up for the Dash. This week they really need to focus on finding their form in the attack; perhaps Mewis will be able to help in that department. But their main focus should be their backline. They needed defensive depth and recently added Meghan Cox, who may see some minutes. They have struggled to hold off high pressure from attacking teams and if they are not finding the goals, their backline has to salvage something. 

Seattle gained a world-class goal keeper in Lydia Williams this week so it will be interesting to see what comes of this. Will she stay? Is she a part of another trade?   Hayley Kopmeyer has had issues this season in her first full starting season out from under Hope Solo, but I do not think they are worth losing her starting spot. I would still not be surprised to see Lydia Williams get some minutes. The biggest thing Seattle needs to work on starting this week is their defense. The defense has struggled to hold off most of the teams in this league and without Megan Rapinoe adding goals at the other end, the defense has been under more pressure to do their job and keep the opposing team at bay. I expect to see some shift in Seattle this week as they fight for a playoff spot. 

The Scouting Report:

We took a hiatus from TSR this week but not to fret, we will be back next week, Monday at 8pm EST, with our recap from the weekend’s NWSL action.

Route Two Soccer – How Will Chicago Use Morgan Brian?

Posted on by RJ Allen

[media-credit name=”Kelley Piper” align=”aligncenter” width=”300″][/media-credit]

When news arrived that Houston had traded Morgan Brian to Chicago, it immediately inspired speculation about the motivations for the deal. Was Brian the rumored national teamer that might be headed to Lyon? Was this simply Houston’s effort to get something out of the player before she departed for foreign shores? If so, and given her lingering health issues, would she even play for Chicago? But we’ve now heard that Brian plans to stay in the States and that she’s ready to suit up this weekend.

So, while there is certainly some interesting reporting to be done about how this all went down, this is a tactics column, and we’re going to jump right over the ‘how did we get here’ part and take a look at how Brian might be used now that she’s joined the Red Stars.

The most likely scenario: a 4-4-2 diamond

Early in this season, there were some rumblings that Chicago wanted to work on their tactical flexibility. And in the first few games, we even saw glimpses of it. But as the season has progressed, they have settled quite firmly back into coach Rory Dames’ preferred approach: the 4-4-2 diamond. This setup looks to back the center of the pitch, relying mostly on fullbacks for depth. It’s generally very compact, and while Chicago has shown flashes of higher-level ball control, they often seem less concerned with holding possession and more interested in quick, direct attacks.

In its most successful iteration, the diamond has featured Ertz in the holding role, with Colaprico on the left, DiBernardo in the 10, and Huerta on the right. And the arrival of Yuki Nagasoto seemed like it could be the final piece of the puzzle—giving them another player with elite technical skills to pair with Press.

However, in recent weeks some of the luster has come off this basic setup. Despite a wealth of quality midfielders, they’ve had a difficult time producing much; generating tons of opportunities, but very few good ones. Meanwhile, the forwards have drifted further and further back, hoping to revitalize the attack, but taking themselves further out of scoring range in the process. It’s all been a bit stagnant.

It also hasn’t helped that the injury bug has bit a few times—forcing some reallocations between the backline and midfield, and some last minute substitutions.

So … if we assume that Dames is likely to stick with his preferred setup, the question is where Brian will fit into the mix. And it’s actually a difficult question to answer, given the impressive versatility of many of these players. If DiBernardo has to miss another week, Brian could easily replace her in the attacking midfield role. If Ertz is needed at center back, Brian could easily take over the holding role. And while no one would mistake Brian for a winger, the whole point of the diamond is to allow the ‘wide’ midfielders to pinch in. Just as Colaprico has thrived on the left this year, Brian could easily take over the right.

But, if we assume a full strength side in Chicago’s traditional diamond, this is probably the most likely deployment of resources. While Ertz has been excellent in the midfield, it was a luxury that depended on strong performances from Naughton and Johnson in the back. As they’ve begun to falter, the arrival of Brian might be the trigger to move Ertz back.

Ultimately, it’s a question of what Dames believes the team’s main problem to be. Because there are plenty of minor variants available here, all of which are slightly better or worse in small ways. Brian and Colaprico could swap, as could Huerta and Nagasoto. Alternatively, Brian could take over the attacking midfield role, pushing DiBernardo to the right (where she played much of last year), with Ertz staying at the bottom of the diamond.

The problem with all these approaches, however, is that they don’t really resolve the underlying problems. Now, that may not be necessary. After all, Chicago were flying high a month ago using this system, so maybe simply adding another elite player into the mix will be enough to achieve a reset. But if Dames sees the rot as going a bit deeper, Brian’s arrival opens up a broad new realm of tactical possibilities.

Pushing the attack higher with a back three

With Brian now joining the team, Chicago probably has the strongest midfield of any team in the league, with a wealth of top-level talent, who all excel on both sides of the ball. Dani Colaprico is one of the best holding midfielders in the US pool but is arguably only the third best of this group.

The ‘problem’ is that for all their depth here, Chicago simply doesn’t have much width. With a back four, that’s addressed by asking the fullbacks to run like crazy. But that’s been hit or miss and creates serious exposure risks at the back. A back three resolves this problem by pressing the fullbacks up to become wingbacks and allowing the central trio free reign to control play through the middle.

This is one possible setup, which deploys Huerta as a wingback. It’s a bit risky, but Huerta is potentially interesting in that role, and it gives Chicago a much firmer grip over the midfield. An alternative would be to swap Gilliland in for Huerta, which offers a bit more defensive solidity but a bit less attacking flair.

But the heart of this approach is the space it creates for Brian, Colaprico, and DiBernardo to operate freely in the central midfield. Bringing Brian into the mix, in particular, is a huge upgrade given her comfort and vision with the ball in tight spaces. She isn’t quite the wrecking ball defensively that Ertz has been—though she is shockingly good at occupying space and managing play—but she makes up for it with smoothness in possession and the ability to organize play through the middle.

Tactical fluidity

There are obviously pluses and minuses to every approach, and the back three is no different. But it offers a lot of advantages to a team overloaded with talented central players who need a bit more support from the wings. And it also offers a lot to a team with several world class attackers, which nevertheless has consistently struggled (for several years now) to actually find the back of the net.

So, there is a real case for making a change here. But, as with all tactical conversations, it’s important not to overstate the differences. While the back three might seem like a major shift, it’s actually not that far away from the 4-4-2 diamond discussed above. In effect, the back three pushes Ertz back from her holding role, while pushing two fullbacks up into the midfield. The result is a much wider attacking line, which prevents opponents from collapsing into the center to suffocate the passing game. It is an approach that can be exposed by speed on the wings, but the extra body in the backline does a lot to limit the damage here.

Indeed, one of the big advantages of exploring your tactical options is the ability it gives you to shift things mid-game to exploit opportunities as they arise. And here, the versatility of the Chicago players becomes absolutely deadly.

With the right players, a 3-4-1-2 can switch fairly seamlessly into an aggressive, attacking 4-3-3. All you have to do is drop Short into the backline and push Huerta forward into the front.

Alternatively, you can capitalize on the wealth of talent in the holding midfield role by loading up the central midfield and shifting to a 4-2-3-1.

The key point here is simply: Chicago has options. It remains to be seen how many of those options they employ, and some may work out better than others. But at a bare minimum, they ought to at least be exploring the possibilities.

How far can the diamond take them?

In the end, Dames doesn’t seem likely to make any major tactical moves, at least not in the short term. But he should seriously consider it. Chicago has been very good for three years now but has consistently stumbled once everything was on the line. That may be nerves, bad luck, or just happenstance. But it also likely has something to do with their stagnant style of play. The diamond is a solid setup and can be very successful on its day. But it’s very constrained and doesn’t give your star players many chances to seize the game by the reins and do something special.

With the additions of Brian and Nagasoto, Chicago is now bursting at the seams with top level attacking talent, and they have a rock solid support system to give those players a chance to impose themselves. The diamond has served them well, but it’s time to unfurl the sails a bit and see what else they can do.

Soccer Takes From Jake: The Final Four (Weeks)

Posted on by RJ Allen

First and foremost, nothing but love for everyone in Houston and surrounding towns/communities around them. I don’t have any stories from time spent in Houston, say for last year’s NWSL Championship, because I wasn’t able to make the trip down there. But the NWSL media colleagues I’ve talked to who were able to make it all said they enjoyed their time and met wonderful people. I am optimistic everyone there will recover as best as they can. The outpouring of support has been inspirational because it’s the right thing to do. Stay strong, Houston.

For the rest of the season and beyond, this series will be called Soccer Takes From Jake. Why the change? Well we’re simply honoring a request from a soccer podcast called The Unused Sub to avoid confusion. Easy enough right?

WEEK 19 PREDICTIONS
Four games left and the playoff picture still isn’t completely set in stone. Oy.

PORTLAND THORNS OVER WASHINGTON SPIRIT
Having witnessed how important it was – from player to supporter – to finally win at Memorial Stadium last weekend against their rivals, Seattle Reign FC, the Thorns keep it rolling and stay right on North Carolina’s heels for the NWSL Shield.

ORLANDO PRIDE OVER BOSTON BREAKERS
Speaking of another solidifying their position, Pride are looking safe-ish for that third playoff spot.

FC KANSAS CITY AND SKY BLUE FC PLAY TO A DRAW
A game that Sam Kerr & The Pips should handle just fine is going to frustrate them. FC Kansas City has virtually nothing left to play for (apart from making judgments about 2018), but if they can be a nuisance to a playoff hopeful, why not?

NORTH CAROLINA COURAGE OVER CHICAGO RED STARS
After the Courage went into Memorial Stadium and beat the Seattle Reign FC, head coach Paul Riley said in his post-match conference that they don’t pay attention to their position on the table. Just go about their business in the match in front of them; don’t give any thought to what happens everywhere else in the league. And it certainly is easy to see it from their point of view when they’ve been sitting at the top of the table for most of the season. That will continue against the Red Stars. Chicago may have stopped their skid, but North Carolina will kindly start up another one for them, making the race for the fourth and final spot between them, Sky Blue FC, and Seattle Reign FC incredibly dramatic. And frustrating.

SEATTLE REIGN FC OVER HOUSTON DASH
The Reign FC need to win out and get a little bit of help to make it to the playoffs, and will need to do some scoreboard watching to measure their chances. The Dash will certainly be inspired to play for their city and its people, even if the match itself has been relocated to Frisco, Texas. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a draw, but after losing back to back home matches for the first time since they moved to Memorial Stadium, this is gut-check for Seattle. Time to step up and show they still have it in them and haven’t raised the white flag.

And here is your music video break to get you started for Labor Day Weekend.

Song: “Houston Is Hot Tonite” | Artist: Iggy Pop

The Unknown International: Rachel Corsie

Posted on by RJ Allen

The NWSL may be the American soccer league, but many of its most talented players come from all over the world. This series looks at some of the league’s most talented internationals and looks at their careers in the NWSL, their roles within their national teams, and their overall style of play. This week, we will look at Scottish international and Seattle Reign defender Rachel Corsie.

Who Is She?

Rachel Corsie is a 28-year-old central defender for the Seattle Reign from Aberdeen, Scotland. She began her professional career in 2008 when she joined Glasgow City FC in the Scottish Women’s Premier League. During her time with Glasgow, she helped her team win a domestic treble and she competed in the UEFA Women’s Champions League. In 2014, she left Glasgow City and spent a year captaining the Notts County Women in England. Following her year in the FA WSL, she came to the NWSL and joined the Seattle Reign.

Corsie has also had a successful career with Scotland that includes a total of 91 appearances. This summer, she traveled with the national team to the UEFA Women’s European Championship. In her extensive career with the national team, it was the first time that the team had qualified for a major tournament.

 

Scottish National Team

Rachel Corsie made her debut for the senior national team in the 2009 Cyprus Women’s Cup against France. Corsie is a part of a core group of women that have contributed to the rise of Scotland on the international scene. They have been close for a long time, but never quite qualified for those major tournaments. Over the summer, Scotland made their debut in the UEFA Women’s Euro, playing in a group alongside England, Spain, and Portugal. While Scotland didn’t advance out of the group stage, they came close. They finished in 3rd place, losing that second place slot to Spain only on goal differential. Corsie played in all three matches for Scotland, playing the full 90 minutes in their matches against Spain and Portugal and totaling 256 minutes in the tournament. Corsie, who has had 91 appearances and 16 goals in her career with Scotland, hopes that this tournament is only the beginning.

Corsie has played an important role in critical moments in Scotland’s history. She captained the team in their 2011 Cyprus Women’s Cup win over England. This match marks the first time that Scotland had beat their English rivals in over 30 years. Corsie also scored three goals in the qualifying tournament for the 2011 Women’s World Cup. Ultimately, Scotland lost their group to Denmark by only one point.

 

Seattle Reign

Corsie joined the Seattle Reign in 2015. She became a key player in the defense early on, helping lead the Reign to an NWSL Shield in 2015 and creating one of the best defenses in the league. In 2016, her season was cut short when a knee injury left her out of the roster longer than expected. In the past two seasons, she has made 20 starts in 23 appearances for the Reign. In the past three years, it has become clear that when Corsie is on the backline, the team’s defensive performance is stronger. During this season, she missed some time while playing in the UEFA Women’s Euro. The team as a whole has struggled to find consistency, and they find themselves fighting for a playoff spot as we head into the final stretch of the season. They have earned only two clean sheets this season and often find themselves falling into high-scoring games. Currently, the Reign sit in 6th place, two points behind No. 5 Sky Blue and five points behind No. 4 Orlando Pride. But their playoff hopes are still within reach.

Breaking News: Chicago Red Stars Acquire Morgan Brian

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Chicago Red Stars have announced that they acquired US Women’s National Team midfielder Morgan Brian in a trade with the Houston Dash.

https://twitter.com/chicagoredstars/status/902931494322270208

In exchange for Brian, the Red Stars have sent Kristie Mewis and future considerations to Houston. Mewis was traded to the Red Stars from the Washington Spirit on August 21 and scored one goal in what would be her only appearance for Chicago on August 26.

Morgan Brian was drafted to the Dash as the first overall pick in 2015, and she made 33 appearances with the team. She has been dealing with injuries throughout the 2017 season and has not played since July 23. It is not known at this time when she will appear for the Red Stars.

Mewis will be available to play for the Dash’s game against Seattle Reign FC on September 3.

 

6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 18

Posted on by RJ Allen

Week 18 has come and gone. As we head into the final stretch of games, the mad dash for the NWSL playoffs continues in what aims to be a season for the record books. This week involved four games, three identical score lines, a team trying to stop a freefall, and a natural disaster that could have long-lasting, devastating implications moving forward.

Chicago Slows Down the Bleeding But Still Needs Stitches – Alyssa Zajac

If you are a Red Stars fan, you probably went into Saturday’s game hoping and wishing for a vital three points and a snapped losing streak. Wish granted! Chicago escaped the Spirit’s home turf with the win and their first three points since Aug. 5. And yes, I did use the word “escaped”- if Christen Press hadn’t done Christen Press things in the 87th minute after Cheyna Williams scored the equalizer in the 81st minute, the game would have ended in a draw and two points lost for Chicago. Which leads me to my take.

Chicago’s weakness is their inability to close out games.

Looking back at Chicago’s season, they have given up nine goals in the 80th minute or later of games. Out of the 24 goals Chicago has allowed, 37.5% of them came in the waning minutes of matches. Which … is not a great thing. I dove into the impact of  these goals, and this is how it broke down:

  • Houston (Daly 80’) – goal differential. Result: 2-0 Loss
  • North Carolina (Debinha 82’) – goal differential. Result: 3-2 Win
  • Seattle (Rapinoe 84’ [P]) – goal differential, one point. Result: 2-1 Loss
  • Sky Blue FC (Kerr 90’) – goal differential, two points. Result: 2-2 Draw
  • Orlando (Kennedy 93’) – goal differential, loss of clean sheet. Result: 2-1 Win
  • Seattle (Kawasumi 90’, Johnson 92’) – goal differential, three points, loss of clean sheet. Result: 1-2 Loss
  • FC Kansas City (Kelly 80’) – goal differential. Result: 1-3 Loss
  • Washington (Williams 81’) –  goal differential, loss of clean sheet. Result: 1-2 Win

Basing ‘what could have been’ results on what the scores were before the late goals were conceded, Chicago has directly given up at least six points in the last minutes of games. If the Red Stars had managed to close out these games, they would currently be at 38 points, just one point shy of first place. What also needs to be taken into consideration is goal differential. Should the final standings come to the goal differential tiebreaker, the Red Stars have made things very difficult on themselves.

There may be nothing that Chicago can do about the past, but the final four games of the season are going to be key. Losing games and conceding goals in the final minutes is no longer an option for the Red Stars, and they need to figure out how to close out games. In my eyes, it’s do or die time. I really hope they come out on the side of “do.”

An End of an Era Approaches FC Kansas City, and They May Not Be Prepared – Alyssa Zajac

Nicole Barnhart isn’t going to play forever.

Our hearts may not want it to be true, but our heads acknowledge reality. There will come a day when FC Kansas City exists without Barnhart in goal. But the team may not fully be prepared for that eventuality.

Let me explain. Throughout FCKC’s existence, Barnhart has been the go-to starting goalkeeper. However, the position of backup keeper has had a seemingly endless turnover. From Bianca Henninger in 2013,  Sara Keane and Cecilia Santiago in 2014, Katelyn Rowland in 2015, and Cat Parkhill in 2016 and 2017, there really hasn’t been a chance for a goalkeeper to extensively learn from and train with one of the best goalkeepers in the game.

In comparison, the Seattle Reign initially drafted Haley Kopmeyer in 2013, re-signed her in 2014, and had her train with and learn from Hope Solo – arguably the greatest goalkeeper to ever play the game – consistently over the next two years. When Solo took an indefinite leave of absence in 2016, Kopmeyer was well equipped and prepared to take over the starting role.

Kansas City doesn’t really have that luxury. That’s not to say Cat Parkhill isn’t capable of being the starting goalkeeper. I’m sure she could be, I’m just not sold on how well the team and defense are prepared to play without Barnhart in goal.

As the off season approaches, FCKC should be looking to potential goalkeepers to invest in – whether they be potential draftees or goalkeepers who are already in the playing pool. Just in case, because the future comes whether we’re ready for it or not.

Let’s Talk Six, Baby – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

With a scant few weeks left in the “historic fifth season,” it’s time to start thinking about the even more historic sixth season.

I’ve been thinking all week about this, and there are a few areas I think the NWSL needs to address as it moves into the second half of their first decade.

First, stop using the word “historic.”

Okay, that one’s a joke.

First, stop hiding behind artificially inflated “maximum NWSL salary” lies. RJ Allen wrote a great piece earlier this season about how despite the fact that the minimum and maximum were raised for the 2017 season, in actuality, if one player makes the maximum, the rest can earn only slightly more than the minimum. And this is because of the NWSL team salary cap. In reality, the league needs to expand salary caps as well as their minimums because almost all non-Federation players are hovering around the poverty line unless they have some other source of income. 

Second, the bar for refs needs to be raised.  This season has seen everything from referees choosing not to intervene after flagrant, card-worthy offenses to illogical cards for imaginary fouls. The refs need to be held to a higher standard, and their interventions need to be consistent. I’m a sports-fan, so of course, I’m going to scream at my television now and then, disagreeing with a call. But this season’s PRO performance has been appalling, and the complaints and concerns being raised are far more credible than the usual armchair quarterbacking that goes on in sports. Coaches, players, and fans are all concerned not only with the quality of the game but the safety of the players on the field. 

Third, the NWSL needs to make improvements to its streaming. 2017 has been an inconsistent (and sometimes downright ridiculous) mess. The deal with Go90 was thrown together and implemented with no coherent structure or support. Go90 is clunky–both in terms of watching and navigating. I don’t know anyone who really watches via that platform, most choose to use a VPN and watch on the NWSL site itself with the international viewers. It’s only sheer laziness that’s kept me from doing the same. When watching, and especially as someone who sometimes needs to watch a particular play over and over again in order to write about it, the ability to pause, rewind, fast-forward, etc., is frequently absent. Or maybe others have figured it out and I’m just dumb–that is always a possibility.

And last, advertising. Every Go90 game has that “in commercial” screen, except the event is not taking a commercial break. But what a great opportunity to sell some ads during the non-Lifetime games. You’ve got a few designated times of known length. You’re a young league that should always be looking for steady income streams. Get out there and find some sponsors to fill that blank space. Please. Because I’m tired of hearing the chatter as the announcers forget to turn their mics off during those designated break segments. 

#1, #1, #1 – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Watching the games this past weekend, all I can think about is the 2018 NWSL College Draft. Who will go #1? 

Last year was a no-brainer. Rose Lavelle was going first. This year, I’m a little less confident, but I know most people think it’ll be Andi Sullivan, and I can definitely see that. Right now Boston and Washington are both falling over themselves to see who can play worse, and I’m honestly pretty sure it’ll end up being Washington in the end. They might have Mallory Pugh, but their bench is just too thin these days, with Arielle Ship’s recent ACL injury the latest in a long line of Washington’s SEIs this year. Can you imagine an Andi Sullivan-Mallory Pugh connection? 

But then, if it’s Boston, they’d be crazy not to take Sullivan. Putting her in the midfield with Lavelle–listen, I’m drooling just as much at that possibility as any other. Either way, if Sullivan is the #1, and if either Boston or Washington draft her, they’ll have made the move that could see them finding the success next year that has eluded them this season. 

Tom Sermanni Makes a Case for Coach of the Year – Luis Hernandez

The start of the season was rough for the Pride, who were at the bottom of the league standings for the first month. In fact, even though Orlando had added Marta, the team was one of the bottom three teams until Week Nine. Coach Sermanni was adjusting and reevaluating every aspect of his roster. Making position changes with Ali Krieger and Alanna Kennedy while changing up the shape of the squad, he was able to orchestrate a five-match unbeaten streak for his squad, which actually included a four-game winning streak in the month of August.

This past weekend, Sermanni shifted his tactics on the road to give his side the full three points. He subbed in Rachel Hill for Kristen Edmonds in minute 69 and then just ten minutes later inserted Toni Pressley for Chioma Ubogagu. Of course, the players on the pitch have to execute, and Alex Morgan put away Marta’s service from a free kick which went through Nicole Barnhart’s hands. There is a lot to expect from Orlando with the talent on the roster, but Sermanni has kept the team loose and had had his adjustments work out. He could certainly see himself picking up coach of the year as well.

Houston (and All Areas Affected by Harvey) You’re in Our Thoughts – Luis Hernandez

Sometimes, there are things bigger than soccer. Friday the league announced the postponement of the Houston Dash match against the North Carolina Courage, just before Hurricane Harvey began its reign over Texas which caused catastrophic and life-threatening flooding. Our thoughts are with those people affected by Hurricane Harvey. The impact of this storm will be felt for a long time to come.

3 Things Sky Blue Needs to Address Before the End of the Season

Posted on by RJ Allen

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The door has not shut on Sky Blue making the playoffs in 2017. Even with 41 goals given up, the historic season Sam Kerr has put together has kept Sky Blue in the picture far longer than some predicted.

While it is not totally under their control–they would have to make up 4 points as they own neither the tiebreaker with Chicago or Orlando who both sit ahead of them–there are some factors they can control.

With both Christy Holly and Christie Pearce gone for this year the team here are three things Sky Blue needs to do if they want to not only make the playoffs but have a chance at winning a title.

Find an Identity

Figuring out who they are as a team is something Sky Blue must do if they want to find a way into the playoffs.

Are they the underdog? Are they the team that always comes up a dollar short and a minute late? Are they overachieving? Underachieving? Are they peaking at the right time? 

Depending on who you are, or who you ask, you might ask any of these questions, and get any number of answers.

Even with the awe inspiring season that Sky Blue has had, they have never really had a coherent identity other than “Sam Kerr is magic and will fix everything.” And while yes, Sam Kerr is 100% magic, that isn’t really an identity that a team can rally around.

Building a stronger defense and being the team that will stifle you like a North Carolina, who has given up only 14 goals all season, is an identity. If Sky Blue can find a solid identity it can go a long way toward them being able to build on their past success. 

 

Find Some Midfield Personality

The Sky Blue midfield is the white bread of the NWSL. Unoffensive but lacking a depth that you only realize you’ve been craving when you see midfields with more zest.

Raquel Rodriguez has been forced to give up her better position in the attack to play farther and farther back, plugging up this season’s defensive holes. Not only does it render her best qualities mute but she has struggled at times to be able to battle with more experienced players in this new role.

Sky Blue would do well to push Rodriguez higher into the attack so her natural nose for goal and playmaking skills can be work to their advantage in the forefront of the attack. She can be one of the truly great playmakers in the league if allowed to shed some of the defensive duties and moved into a more attacking role more often.

Corboz, Stanton, and Galton all have some flair built into their games, though they each have very different styles, but what they often lack are other players on the field with them who are on the same page at the same time. Sky Blue has frequently had to rely upon moving the ball up the field from the back, over the midfield to the feet of Sam Kerr. While this has worked for them so far, it becomes the type of predictable play that allows teams like Orlando to beat them 5-0, easily countering Kerr’s attack.

If Sky Blue can find a way to get the whole midfield not only on the same page but working in tandem, they have a shot at controlling more games and helping the forwards get better chances overall. We’ve seen what they can do when the midfield clicks, it’s a matter of having it click more often. 

 

Find Some Veteran Presence

Without Christie Pearce no longer active with the club it falls to the more senior players on the team to lead. Sky Blue does have a host of players who have spent four or five years with the club. Taylor Lytle has been at Sky Blue since 2013, Maya Hayes and Nikki Stanton have been there since 2014.

This core of players, along with newly minted dual captains Kelley O’Hara and Sam Kerr, is tasked with leading a team that has previously only ever known one player to take the title of Captain in the NWSL era. A team that features only three players not born in the 90s on the active roster and only eight players 24 or older.

It’s a tall order to expect relative rookies to step up, and taller still for the current leadership pairing to have to take the reins this late in the season, and with little prior experience at captaining a team, but if Sky Blue wants to find themselves in the post-season, they’re all going to need to out-perform themselves. The balancing of guiding the team while handling their own duties on the field is going to be a test as they head into the last handful of games of the season.