Backline Soccer would like to apologize for the Twitter account incident that occurred this morning. Told that the Off the Post account would be changed into a personal account by one of our joint members, we asked the individual to consider letting us take over the account to continue to provide in-the-moment soccer coverage to followers and fans. We saw it as a way to both continue the legacy of what Off the Post (OTP) had started, as well as to broaden our own existing base.
We were mislead by this individual, who assured us that she had received permission to transfer the account to us, and were excited to expand our coverage. However, we were quickly made aware that what we had been told was not true, and that OTP had neither been informed nor given their permission.
In a panic, we attempted to remedy the situation, but a subsequent misjudgment resulted in the account being deleted.
We know that there are some who believe it was deleted deliberately out of spite. And we understand why. We can only assure you that it was not, that it was an accident. And we would like to extend our deepest apologies to the wonderful staff of OTP. First for the misinformation that led us to take the account, and second for destroying your work as we panicked over what had happened and how to make it right.
We have turned the account back over to the members of OTP that brought the transgression to our attention.
We hope that you can forgive our mistakes. And we would like to rectify them in whatever ways we can.
First, we have let the individual whose actions led to this situation go. There is no place for lies and deception here.
Second, we would like to begin a series of promotional tweets urging our followers and listeners to check out OTP if they are not already fans.
Third, after some time to heal has happened we’d be more than happy to have a member of OTP work with Backline on a podcast, written work or another project.
Again we are deeply sorry for the actions we took today.
Backline Soccer is committed to lifting the voices of those in the LGBT community, people of color and those who have thoughts on the beautiful game.
The majority of the Backline Soccer staff is made up of those in the LGBT community and the issues that effect that community are important to everyone here.
The LGBT community is a diverse and complex community that houses within it a plethora of diverse and complex opinions. We endeavor to try and bring a thoughtful perspective to the table.
We want to make it clear that in no uncertain terms we do not support homophobia, transphobia, biphobia, or any other ideology of hate connected to the LGBT community or toward people of color, those with disabilities or any other targeted group.
Before anyone misinterprets who I am or what I’m about to say, know that.
Earlier this year, a member of Backline Soccer’s staff wrote an opinion piece about Jaelene Hinkle. The article was neither supportive of Hinkle’s views nor homophobic. It was immediately received as such, though, and knowing what a light trigger some communities of US women’s soccer fans have about Hinkle, some members of staff and I did express hesitation about publishing it.
But we value our writers’ opinions, and we value their work. Our writer had something she wanted to say, and we support her. We continue to support her.
The backlash has been interesting, coming and going in waves. Now, every time someone doesn’t like what a member of staff says in an article or on one of our social media accounts, they’ll throw “homophobic” at us, or re-share that piece, reigniting the conflict they see in it.
But what was actually in that piece?
What was actually expressed?
One of our writers explained thathaving been raised in a conservative Christian household herself, she could understand how Hinkle had come to believe what has been inferred from her social media posts. She could put herself in Hinkle’s shoes because she had once been in them herself. She knows the growth and the journey it takes to become an open-minded person who accepts and celebrates people of all identities into her life. Because she has taken that journey herself.
Our writer then said she didn’t support Hinkle’s beliefs but believed that in certain ways, with certain criteria, she could respect Hinkle: her skill as a football player, her dedication to her sport, and the part that most of you seem to have misunderstood, her loyalty to her convictions. Not her convictions, but how strongly she believes in them. To our writer, that is admirable.
This, from what I can tell, is what people have objected to and misinterpreted. I get that. When Hinkle was mysteriously absent in Europe, I ugly-laughed (the ugly-side of me did, anyway, the side that is small and bitter and petty; the side I’m never proud of). Because as an out and proud queer woman, I’m pretty much not a fan of those who don’t believe I should be able to live as I live and love as I love. And the thing is, we would never ask anyone to respect someone or something that goes against their own convictions.
The sad fact of life is that there are people in the nation who believe that LGBTQIA+ folk don’t deserve equal rights or respect or even human decency. They exist, and would that I could, I’d wave my magic wand and change that, make the world a better place for all of us. But it seems that I was probably daydreaming when the announcement for wand distribution went outbecause I still don’t have one.
What I have, and what our writer was trying to get at, is a love of soccer. An international sport that transcends boundaries, languages, political ideologies, and all of the things that get in the way of human beings loving and celebrating each other.
Soccer is a common ground where people come together. We’ve all seen the pictures–the young boys comforting a grown man after their team won against his, the child in Afghanistan whose homemade Messi jersey made us all “awww” a little (or a lot) on the inside. Soccer, football, our love for it, it makes the world smaller. It makes friends of strangers.
And this was our writer’s purpose, to remind us of the power of soccer.
We live in a time unimaginable once. When there are men and women who are willing and able to come out as LGBTQIA+ publiclyand live openly. They are role models and inspirational and heroes, all of them. Every time an athlete takes that brave step (every time anyone takes that brave step) a big gay rainbow sparkles inside my heart. And though the world is becoming more and more open, more and more accepting, there is still work to be done. Our world isn’t finished yet.
And neither is our work.
I could tell you the percentage of Backline Soccer members who identify as LGBTQIA+, but for those who have already made up their minds that we’re homophobic, that we believe in injustice and inequality, I don’t think it would matter.
I could tell you that the writer of the article, the editor, haven’t a homophobic bone in their bodies, but those who have already made up their minds wouldn’t care.
What I can tell you is this.
We love soccer. We love soccer fans. We love what we do.
We don’t ask that anyone agree with us. We encourage debate–with our articles, with our opinions.
Because we want Women’s Soccer to grow. And we know it’s a platform for change, for progress.
Because we love the beautiful game.
Which is why we need to talk about this:
This was sent to a member of our staff today, on her personal account.
I don’t care what you believe. I don’t care what you think.
This is unacceptable.
The kind of person who does this doesn’t get to call themselves a fan of the beautiful game. Bullying isn’t a strong enough word for what this is, but whatever you call it, whoever sent it should take a step back and think long and hard about what kind of person they want to be in this world.
Take it from me, this kind of negativity, this kind of hatred? It’s a poison.
In the end, I can’t change your mind, no more than I could change Hinkle’s. But I wish I could.
But if you’re going to spread that kind of hatred around? If there’s something that dark inside of you?
Backline Soccer is aggrieved to know that members of our staff are being bullied and threatened on social media for their affiliation with our site.
We condemn, in the strongest of terms, bullying, bigotry, and threats. There is never a call to tell someone to kill themselves. Ever.
We will continue to put out quality articles, interviews, galleries, podcasts, and, yes, opinion pieces. Because we value discourse in the world of Women’s Soccer, and we know that bonds and communities are formed through civil, respectful discourse.
Passion breeds both unity and division, but we are not afraid to take on topics that not everyone may be willing to hear with an open mind. And we will not bow down to the intimidation of our wonderful writers, editors, and staff-at-large by those who would see us cower, anonymous or not.
This is the beautiful game, and we will not let the negativity of a few soil what we love so much.
While the NWSL is the American soccer league, many of its best players come from all around the world. This series looks at some of those players who have come from outside of the U.S. and looks at their style of play and how they have featured for their club and country.
This article will look at North Carolina Courage and New Zealand defender Abby Erceg.
Who Is She?
Abby Erceg is a central defender who plays for the North Carolina Courage. She is the former captain of the New Zealand national team, having retired from international football earlier this year as a form of protest, claiming that the national federation undervalues New Zealand’s women’s team. She is an experienced professional, playing for the Football Ferns since 2006. Odds are you have heard her name–after all, she captained the NWSL champions last season and has been in the league for about three years. While I recognize that Erceg is not an unknown player, this article will seek to highlight the details of her career that fans may be less familiar with.
The Football Ferns
Erceg made her debut with the New Zealand National Team in 2006, in a match against China. In her 11 year career with the Ferns, she competed in two Olympics and three World Cups. Her 130 appearances are the most of any New Zealand National Team player, male or female. Early in her career, she played a record 37 consecutive matches for her national team, setting her on the path towards a record-breaking career. Beyond her skill with the ball, she is also a consistently strong and vocal leader that helps lHer decision to retire came from disagreements with the New Zealand Football Federation, which Erceg claims did not value and support the women’s side. Specifically, Erceg took issue with the fact that the federation decided to reduce funding to the women’s side after they failed to make it past the group stage at the 2016 Olympics. She said in a post on Instagram that one of her main goals with the Ferns was to create a livable working environment and that New Zealand had shown a lack of willingness to make that goal a reality. Many in the football community deemed her a “legend” in New Zealand football and credited her with being a massive contributor to the growth of the women’s game. She served as their captain starting in 2014 and played her final matches with the team at the Cyprus Cup earlier this year.
North Carolina Courage
Erceg got her first taste of the NWSL in 2014 when she was loaned out to the Chicago Red Stars by Jena, her team in the Frauen-Bundesliga. She signed with the Chicago after leaving Jena in May 2014 but was then traded to the Western New York Flash in 2015. Last season, she made 18 starts in 19 total appearances and captained the Western New York Flash to an NWSL Championship. During the offseason, the Western New York Flash were rebranded as the North Carolina Courage, and Erceg became captain of the new team in Cary. She has made 15 starts in 15 appearances so far this season. She is often credited as being the anchor of the Courage defense. Erceg mainly plays alongside Abby Dahlkemper, who has received a few call-ups by the U.S Women’s National Team after drawing some attention during the Flash’s run to the NWSL Championship. They have become one of the best center back tandems in the league, and their strength has helped lead to North Carolina’s 10 shutouts in 18 matches this season. To say that Erceg plays a critical role on her club team is putting it lightly–and considering they are in first place in the NWSL, I’d say she’s doing a pretty good job. Erceg rarely misses a chance to make an impact for her club and will do whatever it takes to help get her team back to the NWSL Championship.
Chances are if you follow the Chicago Red Stars and are reading this after watching the last home loss against Kansas City, you’re about FourFive seconds from wildin’. Or if you’re ever the optimist, you’re possibly looking forward to the playoff positioning race.
Whichever, here are some words to either help lift you up about of the abyss of a 3-game losing streak you didn’t think was possible, or to help you look ahead to possible brighter days for Summertime Chi.
Why You Should Be Freaking Out
Let’s be real. You are. At least a little bit. The team with the shaky slow start this season went on a tear and made you feel invincible, and now? They’re having a pretty rough August. Some injuries have come up, along with a 3-game losing streak. All losses coming at home in Toyota Park. The Red Stars are 1-3-1 in their last five games, with five games remaining in the season. While their last three losses might have some positives, it was the fashion in which they lost that probably have you most concerned.
“Down 2 goals in the first 10 minutes against Portland?!”
“Colaprico got her hair pulled?!”
“Blow the lead by 2 goals in the last 2 minutes against Seattle?!”
“What is defense?!”
“KANSAS CITY?!”
I get it. But so does Christen Press. The season is winding down and this is the time where you want to build on your games down the stretch. No one knows that better than the Red Stars captain, and she spoke briefly about the disappointing stretch of games and the importance of having a playoff mentality into the playoffs and potentially beyond:
“That was really disappointing, obviously. We’ve dropped three games at home. I think that as a team, emotionally, we’ve been through a lot trying to pick ourselves back up and understand what’s going on. It just keeps seeming to slip through the cracks and that’s disappointing. But as an athlete and a soccer player you kind of just have to grind through these hard times and it’s so important to just stay present and not think about the past and not think about the fact that it’s three games or if we’re down, and just keep doing what we’re doing because we have a great team. I think that we have a really good chance at winning the championship. It’s hard to see in moments like this but I think we’ll continue to believe in ourselves and will our way there.”
This season the Red Stars have put together an impressive run of undefeated games at home in Toyota Park. While many thought a 3-match homestead would go in favor of Chicago, the Red Stars find themselves having to try to pick their game up on the road against Washington Spirit. With one regular season home game left, Press understands the importance of a home field advantage and its significance to fans. When asked about what the team could do to get back on track she says:
“Just a little more pride in playing here. We only have one game left so we’re going to have to take a lot of pride in winning away as well. I think the fans have been fantastic. They always have our back through thick and thin. So, thanks to them. And we promise we’re going to defend our house to the best of our abilities, and [through] every game.”
Julie Ertz echoed similar sentiments when she expressed the importance of playing for points and for pride down the stretch, saying:
“To drop 9 points at home, it’s where we need to take more pride in home games. We only have one more home game, so it’s super frustrating, but I think it’s really one thing [finishing] we need to focus on fixing.”
Why You Shouldn’t Be Freaking Out
It’s going to be hard to feel any kind of Jedi Force type of Zen after these three games. But here is some perspective.
No matter what happened over the course of the last three games, Chicago is still in third place. Even if they stay in a close race with Orlando for the third and fourth seed, they hold a tie-breaker over Orlando in their head-to-head series this season with two wins over the Pride. 3 points currently separate the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th seeds, where Seattle (5th) and Sky Blue (6th) currently sit. Chicago holds series head-to-head tie-breakers over both Orlando and Sky Blue.
There are worse situations to be in, like not being in contention at all. Don’t get it twisted, down the stretch Chicago can either be its own worst enemy, or its best homegirl. Truth is, their fate is entirely in their hands.
Julie Ertz expressed as much discussing the importance of the final five games of the season saying: “We’re not far off, we’re still in our playoff hunt, which is excellent. But you know what? It kind of comes down to us. These are big games to lose.” Ertz also knows the team is capable of pushing through, simply saying: “At this point, it’s kind of do or die … At the end of the day we need a win, and we need three points. So that’s got to be our main focus.”
Christen Press elaborated on the importance of not losing focus on the ultimate goal at hand, bringing a championship back to Chicago. Press is preaching the importance of entering their potential playoff destiny with a winning mindset, period. When asked about the narrative of playoff seeding versus just getting into the semi-finals, she says:
“I don’t think either. So, in past years I’ve felt like our team around this time starts worrying about getting into the playoffs. And at this point my concern as a leader on the team is more just about the feeling going into the playoffs. We have five games left and if we play five great games then that will be a great way to go into a semifinal. So, it’s not really about taking points, we obviously need the points, but for me, it’s about preparing ourselves for that semifinal. Because if we can’t get a cushion enough to prepare for a semifinal, and we fail again? That’s not something i think this team is interested in. So, it’s no longer about the glory of getting to the playoffs. It’s about winning.”
Despite the losses, this season Chicago has been a team that can still surprise you, even with five games left. Press believes the team can lock in, and get back to the mission at hand, saying:
“We have five games now. We’re going to learn our lessons from the last three games. We’re going to have to go [away] and we’re going to have to win games on the road, which is exactly what we’re going to have to do if we go to a final. I think we’re going to have to emotionally, physically, mentally – everything – to turn this around so that the last five games we go into October feeling like we can win.”
Sports media is a lot of things – inspiring, biased, challenging, thought provoking … I could go on. But every once in a while it is just plain repetitive. Case in point: Mallory Pugh. If you have watched a single match that Mallory Pugh has played in this season, whether it was for the Washington Spirit or for the U.S. Women’s National Team, I can pretty much guarantee that you heard about how the 19-year-old dropped out of UCLA to start her professional career before even playing a game for the Bruins. Sound familiar? Absolutely. And for some reason the media just cannot let go of this story line. I’ll be honest, I’m quite sick of it. And in my opinion, there is no longer a need for it.
So here it is – five reasons the media needs to find something else to talk about with regards to Mallory Pugh:
The Story’s Been Told
Sure, this story was pretty big when it came through. No one is denying that. But her decision to leave UCLA was made in April. It’s now August. How are we still having Lifetime pregame specials on this? Why does it have to be brought up by the commentators for every single match she has played in, both for club and country? The story keeps being told, but nothing is added to it. Day after day, match after match–by this point, the viewer could recite it themselves, it’s so overdone. Because after Mallory Pugh decided to begin her pro career that was it. That is the end of the story. It has nothing to build upon. But somehow, every week, the audience sits down in front of their TV or computer screen and are reminded for the fiftieth time that Pugh decided to leave college. And I know, at least for me, every time I care a little bit less.
She Made An Adult Decision
Part of the reason that the media can’t let this go is that Pugh is so young. Still in her teenage years but playing at the level of women in their athletic prime. And the media likes to slightly hint toward her potential naivety every time the narrative is told. Have you ever noticed how many times her age is commented on? I bet you will now. But the thing that everyone fails to notice is that the decision that she made, whether she was naive or not, was an adult decision. An adult decision that she couldn’t take back even if she wanted to. She chose what she wanted her career to be. She chose how she wanted to start it. Just like every other kid that goes to college and declares a major, or decides to enlist in the military, or drops out and decides that maybe trade school is a better fit for them. But no matter what, in all of those instances, including Pugh’s, an adult decision is made. And we never second-guess anyone else to the level that the media has seemed to second-guess Pugh. But thankfully, it doesn’t seem that Pugh has second-guessed herself, or her decision.
She Plays At A Professional Level
Along with her adult decision came adult consequences. If she was going to start her professional career then she was going to have to play at a professional level. And that is exactly what she did. And the fact that she knew with full confidence that she could succeed in doing so obviously helped her in deciding that this is was the right path for her. Mallory Pugh is better than what her NCAA competition would have been. Substantially better. It’s why she got to play with the USWNT at 17 years of age. It’s why backlines always keep an eye out for her when she is on the pitch. Because she is good. And if she keeps playing and progressing at the level that she has been then one day she will be great. She could even be the next gold standard for what U.S. Women’s Soccer should be. But somehow the media are still obsessed with the fact that she decided to leave a system that grooms players into professional athletes, to be the powerhouse professional athlete that she already was.
No One Else Is Talking About It
The media may drag this out for the rest of the season but the players and coaches could seem to care less. They do care that they now have to defender her, but her decision to leave college to go pro probably isn’t keeping them up at nights. And that seems to be the status quo around the league. They don’t comment on Pugh as this rebellious college dropout that has bit off more than she can chew. They regard her, and they prepare for her, as the threat that she is in the attacking half. But sadly, Pugh has to talk about it, because it seems to be the only thing she is questioned about these days. And she has handled it like a professional athlete too. She hasn’t given the media a sound bite they could exploit yet. But she has revealed that she spoke with Jill Ellis before making her decision. Ellis’ response–she would support Pugh’s decision no matter what. Wouldn’t it be nice if the media could do that too?
There Are So Many Other Stories
Mallory Pugh could one day be the best female player in the world. She is that good. So why aren’t we talking about that? There are so many things that could be written about her. She is such a dynamic player, and that is why the repetitiveness of this narrative so infuriating. The media isn’t on a shortage of material with regards to this woman. They could write a different story about her every day of the year and not hit a repeat. But still, soccer fans have to sit there, week after week (including international breaks), and hear about how 19-year-old Mallory Pugh decided to leave UCLA and begin her professional career.
This is the last that you will hear from me on this matter. Because ironically, this article defeats its own purpose. It talks about the one thing that it wishes wasn’t talked about. So I suppose this is more of a plea. A request that this be the end of this narrative. That we can close the book and put it back on the shelf, only to be revisited years from now when Pugh has been put her mark on the sport. And hopefully, if the U.S. fans are lucky enough, she will play the beautiful game in such a way that she begins her own narrative. One that she controls. And one that is just as dynamic as the player she is.
6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 16 – Jordan Small, Alyssa Zajac, and Elizabeth Wawryzniak break down their takeaways from this week. Included are thoughts on Tyler Lussi, the Orlando Pride’s playoff potential run, plus much more.
We are getting a battle now for the fourth place spot for the playoffs and also seeing some top teams face some surprising defeats. Let’s dive in to this weekend’s games.
Game 1: North Carolina vs. Washington Spirit
North Carolina record: 12-5-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 36
Washington Spirit record: 4-9-4
Position: 10th
Total Points: 16
The Courage have pulled five points away from the second place team coming into this weekend. They will look to build on that and continue to solidify their spot at the top. They’ve had some bumps along the way, but just keep pulling out wins, even if they are not so pretty. And it’s been a full team effort. The two players who did so much for them last year–Lynn Williams and Jessica McDonald–have really not done a lot this year. Instead, we’ve seen players like Sam Mewis stepping up. This week, with the Spirit struggling, the Courage should not have many issues. But as we have seen from recent games, the table only tells us so much. The Spirit may be in last, but the Courage will still need to be on top of their game. Look for Mewis to continue her hot streak.
The Spirit need work and time but their young players are settling in, and may be setting up for a decent 2018 season. This season, while they could end up playing spoiler, at this point there’s no realistic hope for the playoffs. Against the Courage they just need to focus on their basics. Expect to continue to see a solid shift from Steph Labbé, Mal Pugh to try to get herself on the scoreboard, and a defense led by Estelle Johnson to try to hold off the Courage attack.
Game 2: Boston Breakers vs. Orlando Pride
Boston Breakers record: 3-8-7
Position: 9th
Total Points: 16
Orlando Pride record: 7-6-5
Position: 5th
Total Points: 26
Boston has been bitten by the injury bug for several games now.
Beard postgame: Purce was playing w hamstring strain. Elby, Westphal won't be back for weeks. Chapman game to game. Lavelle still weeks out.
With several key players out, facing off against a red-hot Pride will be a test. They might still pull off a win, but the chances don’t look good. To get anything, they’ll need to stay organized on defense and find a way to split or shut down the Alex Morgan and Marta connection. Their attack has also been lacking, especially without someone spurring it from the midfield. Orlando will leave them some space to operate; the only question is whether they can find their way through the pockets.
Orlando is hitting its stride and from now to the end of the season, their biggest test will be themselves. They must remain consistent, and keep turning in solid performances. This week, the key is to take Boston seriously. On form, this one should be easy, but underestimate Boston and they can cause problems if Orlando takes the foot off of the pedal. The Pride attacking duo of Alex Morgan and Marta seems to be firing on all cylinders right now and they are looking dangerous. Both have 3 goals each in the last 2 games. The Pride defense, led by Ali Krieger, has also looked much better over this recent run, but has been shaky in the past. With the always vocal Ashlyn Harris back in goal, the Pride have to like their chances.
Game 3: Sky Blue FC vs. Seattle Reign
Sky Blue FC record: 7-9-2
Position: 6th
Total Points: 23
Seattle Reign record: 7-5-6
Position: 4th
Total Points: 27
This is the first match for Sky Blue since coach Christy Holly stepped down from the position. It will be tough going to rise up from the problems of the past month and push themselves back into playoff contention. Sam Kerr has saved the team many times this year, but couldn’t get much going against Orlando last week, but that is because no one was getting her the ball. The absence of Kelley O’Hara is a big part of that. They’ll need to sort out their distribution if they want to have a chance here. Christie Pearce has been a workhorse all season in the backline for Sky Blue, especially with such a young line set up around her. But she had some issues shutting down the Pride last week as she had very little help to do so. Sky Blue need to make some changes this week at home to try and right the ship against the Reign.
Seattle is coming in after a last minute comeback midweek against the Red Stars. They will also continue to be without Megan Rapinoe. They gritted out the win against Chicago but really did not look that great throughout the match. If not for a stand-out game for Haley Kopmeyer, there wouldn’t have been a chance of getting back into it in those final minutes. Seattle will need to shut down Sam Kerr; she is hungry to get her team back on track. They will also need to diversify their attack to deal with Rapinoe’s continued absence. While the Sky Blue defense has its struggles, the Reign will still have their hands full getting past the likes of Christie Pearce in the middle. A little creativity will go a long way here.
And if last match was any indication, this game may very well be another one for the books.
Game 4: Portland Thorns vs. Houston Dash
Portland Thorns record: 9-5-4
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 31
Houston Dash record: 7-9-2
Position: 7th
Total Points: 23
Portland had been riding a hot streak going into the midweek, but then suffered a surprising defeat to FC Kansas City. Which is another lesson to not underestimate any team in this league. They will look to bounce back against the Dash, who will be riding high after a great midweek performance of their own. The key for Portland is to get some more players involved in the run of play. With Allie Long back in the picture this week, they’ll look to bolster their passing game. But I would like to see more from players like Amandine Henry and Christine Sinclair. Additionally, Nadia Nadim has had limited minutes since coming back from the Euros; if she can get back up to playing a full 90, it would help the attack a lot.
When Carli Lloyd went down, many expected that it would be the death knell for their playoff push. But the team has set out to prove everyone (including me) wrong. Without Lloyd, they made a great showing during their midweek game, with other players step up to the plate, with Sarah Hagen scoring twice and Rachel Daly turning in one of her best performances in a while. It was against an injury-ravaged Boston side, which means it has to come with a grain of salt. But still, it was an indication. If the Dash can consistently put out this product, even without Lloyd, they still have a shot for that fourth spot. This week though, especially on the road at Portland, they will have a tough challenge.
Game 5: Chicago Red Stars vs. FC Kansas City
Chicago Red Stars record: 8-5-5
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 29
FC Kansas City record: 5-8-5
Position: 8th
Total Points: 20
The Red Stars have lost their last two games at home and will be looking to reverse course and get the much-needed three points from FCKC. Even with the recent difficulties, I do not think there is a whole lot to be concerned about with the Red Stars. They will have to take a look at their personnel, identify what is working and what’s not, and make a few adjustments. But the players are good and should pull through. Alyssa Naeher missed the game against Seattle (another USWNT player who picked up a knock at the Tournament of Nations…which is a conversation for another day) but hopefully will be back in goal soon.
Roy Dames in post game mentions that Dalton starting was a precaution for Naeher, started feeling groin injury with National Team #NWSL
Many of the Red Stars stalwarts did not look great against the Reign, including Christen Press. But one theme of the season is that when Press turns in a subpar performance she usually comes back that next week and grinds out a great one, so I fully expect to see her right back on her train and leading the Red Stars past FCKC. If Press is on this Sunday and we see the defense shift back to the starters, I think the Red Stars will be fine. Even with their 3 minute meltdown midweek, this defense is the best in the league and has enough to stifle the FCKC attack.
FCKC is coming into this weekend after a big win against the Thorns at home. After everyone had pretty much written them off, they turned on the jets the last two games, reminding us that they’ve still got some fighting spirit. They still have a lot of work to do and still need to figure out how to provide more help to Sydney Leroux, but they’ve done well to find alternate avenues for scoring–like those wonderful free kicks from Yael Averbuch–and are starting to look a little more like a classic FCKC team. The biggest test this weekend will be penetrating that Chicago defense. They’ll need to get service into their forwards, but also need players like Leroux and Shea Groom to come back to help build the attack. Look for FCKC to try and contain Christen Press as much as they can to keep Chicago off of the board early.
The Scouting Report:
We went live on Monday night with our weekly TSR and Thursday night with our recap of the midweek NWSL games. A reminder that you can catch TSR live every Monday night at 8pm EST on our YouTube channel. Make sure to follow the podcast on Twitter @ScoutingPodcast.
In case you missed the two episodes, catch up here:
Sky Blue FC has announced that defender Christie Pearce will miss the remainder of the 2017 season due to accumulating injuries.
“I’ve always had a really good awareness of my body and the ability to recover,” Pearce said in the Sky Blue press release. “I feel that I started the season off strong, but I’ve been consistently fighting through injuries, and I’m not able to give to the team what I consider to be my 100%. This decision, while it is hard to swallow, I know is the right thing for me and the team because I just can’t leave it all on the field every day. Something I must do is personally thank all of the fans. I feel so privileged to have their unwavering support, and they have always stood by me through thick and thin.”
Some very tough news to deliver. Christie Pearce will miss the remainder of the season due to accumulative injuries. https://t.co/NgZa5Vg8jV
Pearce, who earned 311 caps for the U.S. Women’s National Team between 1997 and 2015, has played for Sky Blue FC since the founding of the NWSL in 2013.
In 2009 she was the player coach of the Sky Blue FC team that won the WPS championship title.
A two-time world cup champion (1999 and 2015) and three-time Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2008, and 2012), Pearce announced in June 2017 that her retirement would likely come at the end of the 2017 season.
I am going to miss Christy Holly. He was a sharp-dressed man and built something good with Sky Blue FC and I think was on the cusp of something great with them.
ON THE TYLER LUSSI SUSPENSION & MORE The NWSL DisCo’s decision to suspend Tyler Lussi of the Portland Thorns three matches and an undisclosed fine for pulling Chicago Red Stars’ Dani Colaprico last Saturday is fair. Tyler Lussi doesn’t have an ill-reputation, either as a rookie nor one from her college playing days. Could it have played a factor in say maybe she should have only received 2 matches? Probably, but the DisCo is at least consistent with making it loud and clear for everyone in the league – DO NOT PULL HAIR. Simple enough of a rule, right? That said, Tyler Lussi is not a dirty thug with anger issues. Merritt Mathias of the Seattle Reign FC is also not a dirty thug with anger issues, who also got suspended for three matches and an undisclosed fine for the same thing. Yes, shit just does happen on the field during the height of competition. No one is naive enough to think professional athletes are cordial for every single second of competition. There’s probably going to be another instance of this happening in the near future and yes we’ll all get angry about it. IT DOESN’T MEAN people can get on their social media and direct messages to the culprit and bully them about it. Empathy, kindness, respect. Look up what those words mean and try to live by their definitions. You just might enjoy the escapism of sports a little bit better that way.
The FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year top 10 nominees were released this week. – Lesson to the kids out there playing soccer: With hard work and persistence comes recognition of your contributions on the field, like elbowing people in the head. Just ask Carli Lloyd.
WEEK 19 PREDICTIONS Playoff races are fun.
North Carolina Courage OVER Washington Spirit
The Courage continue to pad their lead atop the table. Next.
Boston Breakers and Orlando Pride play to a DRAW
You read that right. Breakers hold the Pride to a draw and every Orland Pride fan will direct their special brand of Mad Online at me for calling it.
Seattle Reign FC OVER Sky Blue FC
The Reign just got rid of one bugaboo and finally won in Chicago. I think they got their mojo back from the win and will keep it going against a Sky Blue FC that who really knows which version of them shows up.
Portland Thorns OVER Houston Dash
Mark Parsons remembers he can make up to three substitutions and really losing to FC Kansas City was inexcusable and they’ll take it out on Houston.
Chicago Red Stars OVER FC Kansas City
They shouldn’t lose to a Kansas City team that’s going nowhere. If they lose this one, it’ll be time to wonder out loud (and some here on this site might write about it) if they’re running out of gas and won’t have enough to get to the playoffs. They’re the superior team on paper and should rebound to show it on the field too.
Chances are if you follow the Chicago Red Stars and are reading this after watching the last home loss against Kansas City, you’re about 
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I am going to miss Christy Holly. He was a sharp-dressed man and built something good with Sky Blue FC and I think was on the cusp of something great with them.
Backline Soccer Archive 