A Little Hollywood Magic: A History of Sky Blue Draft Picks

Posted on by RJ Allen

While I was working on another piece about late round draft picks, I started to notice a pattern with Sky Blue’s draft history. Since 2014, every first round pick they have had has stayed with the team. 

Maya Hayes was their pick in 2014 out of Penn State, followed by Sarah Killion from UCLA in 2015. 2016 saw another Penn State player, Raquel Rodríguez, added to the team, and in 2017 a pair of USC defenders, Kayla Mills and Mandy Freeman, were drafted. The only first round pick that is currently not on the roster is Lindsi Cutshall. Cutshall sat out 2016 because of medical reasons and in 2017 she welcomed a child. If she did come back to the roster Sky Blue would have each and every first round pick. 

Their second round picks have been a bit more hit and miss. Kendall Johnson is still in the league, playing for the Portland Thorns, while both Hayley Haagsma and Kristin Grubka are not currently attached to any clubs. The only second-round pick currently on their roster is Leah Galton, selected in 2016. Galton has been a breath of fresh air on the wings when able to play at 100% and has performed closer to a first-round pick than a second. 

Sky Blue has had more third round picks than any other round, with nine in total. Ashley Baker, Michelle Pao, Shade Pratt, and Catrina Atanda do not currently appear on the roster, but the other five do. That’s Daphne Corboz, Erica Skroski, Caroline Casey, Madison Tiernan, and Kailen Sheridan. All have started games, with Skroski and Sheridan being first choices for their positions. With Corboz, it did take a slightly roundabout route, with her going to England rather than joining Sky Blue after the 2015 draft. But when she decided to return to the states, it was Sky Blue who added her to their roster.  

Sky Blue have had quite a bit of success finding useful players in the 4th round, though often it’s been to the benefit of other teams.  Elizabeth Eddy, Chioma Ubogagu, and Lo’eau LaBonta were all drafted by Sky Blue in the 4th round, but play on other teams. Their other picks include Becky Kaplan–not on an NWSL roster–and their 2017 4th rounder, McKenzie Meehan, who has appeared in seven games, starting two this year. 

But round by round can only tell us so much. The coach for the first three years, Jim Gabarra, left in 2016 to join the Washington Spirit. That left former assistant coach Christie Holly to take over. Turnover at the top means that Sky Blue’s drafts haven’t all been run by the same people at the top. That said, Tony Novo has been the GM for Sky Blue since the winter following the 2013 season, offering a bit of consistency even as the coaches have transitioned.

Still, if you divide the tenures, it becomes clear just how good a job Christie Holly has done. Of the 10 players selected under his watch, only one is currently excluded from the club’s roster. And that one, Catrina Atanda, is still in the practice pool.

Compare that to Gabarra’s tenure, from which only three out of 14 picks are still on the roster. Of course, the further back in time you go the more chance there is for players to move on.  And the three still with the club (Maya Hayes, Sarah Killion and Daphne Corboz) are all fantastic players. But the defining feature of Holly’s tenure has been his ability to pick up up the Madison Tiernans or the Erica Skroskis of the world–good players, but not considered to be draft standouts–and turning them into solid, dependable players who can start for a playoff contender. 

And having someone who can put together consistently strong drafts is a big deal. Drafting takes more than just identifying talent. It means creating a game plan focused on both tactics and club culture, and identifying how well players coming out of college might be expected to fit into that plan. That’s not something every club has. Even very successful coaches (looking at you Tom Sermanni and Laura Harvey) seem to be unwilling or unable to do what it takes to put together a strong draft.

Holly is doing more than just putting together a good 18 to 20 players for his roster. He is looking for players that will grow a culture that is very much “play for the player beside you, damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead” that has paid off with a team in 3rd place at close to the halfway point of the season. 

Rory Dames, long held to be the NWSL’s King of the Draft, finally has a worthy challenger. 

Draft Class Magic: Late Round Picks that Paid Off

Posted on by RJ Allen

The NWSL draft has brought some truly outstanding players into the league from the world of college soccer: Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle, both Mewis sisters, the list of first round picks could go on and on.

But past the second round the chances of success can fade. I’ve gone back as far as the very first draft in 2013 to pick out my top 10 picks from the 3rd or 4th rounds, to see who went late and paid off for their clubs.

Each of the ten I picked are starters (at least are when both ACLs are healthy), and have made major impacts for their clubs since coming on board.

2015 – 19th Overall Pick – Caprice Dydasco – Washington Spirit

Dydasco was the very first pick on the third round of the 2015 NWSL draft. While she only played 6 games, with 1 start, in 2015 it was 2016 where she really started to shine. With 12 appearances, all starts, the speedy defender proved her worth to the Spirit, helping take them to the NWSL championship game. While she ended up with a torn ACL before half time, she has made a quick recovery and already returned to the pitch in 2017, which will surely be a delight for Spirit fans far and wide.

2015 – 21st Overall Pick – Sabrina D’Angelo – Western New York Flash

Only two goalkeepers were taken in the 2015 draft. FC Kansas City selected Katelyn Rowland with the 17th pick, which was followed by the Flash taking D’Angelo four spots later. While the two would end up as teammates during the Flash’s 2016 championship run, it is D’Angelo who has come out on top in terms of playing time and accolades. The Canadian international has been quite good since coming in to the NWSL. And no one can forget her 3 PK saves during the title game in 2016. 

2016 – 23rd Overall Pick – Erica Skroski – Sky Blue FC

In 2016 Sky Blue took four players, each still on the current roster. Their third pick was used to snag Rutgers defender Erica Skroski, who made an immediate impact on the Sky Blue starting XI. Her speed, calmness under pressure, and willingness to put in the work have made her a mainstay in a young Sky Blue backline, where she has brought maturity far beyond what most second year players can find.  Some minor injury worries have limited her time somewhat this year, but once she is back to 100%, her tough defending will once again be a rock in that back four.

2017 – 23rd Overall Pick – Kailen Sheridan- Sky Blue FC

Goalkeepers always go late. It’s a fact of the draft. But if early returns are any indication, a few coaches might have wanted to take a bigger risk in 2017. Sheridan won the starting job right out of the gate for Sky Blue and hasn’t looked back since. Her performances seem to only get better week to week. While some young goalkeepers have struggled coming into the league in the past it seems that Sheridan is thriving under the pressure.

2013 – 24th Overall Pick – Amber Brooks – Portland Thorns FC

Amber Brooks is one of those players who sometimes struggles to find playing time, despite performing extremely well whenever she actually gets the chance to take regular minutes. She is smart on the ball, able to play a hard position, holding mid, well and has a rocket of a shot when she takes it. It is against all reason that Brooks has not been in the USWNT picture since a brief stint in 2013.

2013 – 25th Overall Pick – Jen Hoy – Chicago Red Stars

Jen Hoy is often the odd woman out for Chicago when people discuss their many attacking options. And there are certainly plenty of other names to focus on there. But while she might not have the panache of Press or the outright speed of Huerta, Hoy has some beautiful footwork, great vision and had put in work over her time on the Red Stars. 2015 may serve as her high water mark with 1110 minutes played over 18 matches, with 4 goals scored but I think given the chance she has more in the tank.

2014 – 25th Overall Pick – Emily Menges – Portland Thorns FC

Over the last 3 years, Menges has been one of the best defenders in the NWSL. She’s the kind of player who rarely gets the recognition she deserves–solid no-nonsense defenders are often underappreciated.  Always solid, she has developed one of the most sophisticated readings of the game, and her defending has only grown over the years.

2016 – 27th Overall Pick – Abby Smith – Boston Breakers

Another goalkeeper, another late round gem. Of the 5 goalkeepers who were selected in the 2016 NWSL draft Smith is the only one starting games. Lindsey Luke, Caroline Casey, Madalyn Schiffel, Britt Eckerstrom have all found themselves on NWSL rosters as backups, while Smith (when not fighting off nasty injuries) is the clear #1 in Boston. Her play has even gotten attention from the USWNT, as she was called into the US roster for the recent friendlies in Norway and Sweden Smith was on hand. Though she watched both games from the bench it was still a deserved call up. 

2015 – 30th Overall Pick – Whitney Church – Washington Spirit

29 players had their names called before Whitney Church in 2015, nine of them defenders. And while you might not argue with Gilliland or Dahlkemper going before her it is clear that Washington got a bargain when they took Church 30th overall. Speed has never been Church’s primary feature but her brains on the pitch and her skill in the air have kept her in the Spirit’s lineup every game so far in 2017.

2013 – 31st Overall Pick – Haley Kopmeyer – Seattle Reign FC

Maybe the greatest late round draft pick of all time. Haley Kopmeyer joined a Seattle team already populated by the likes of Michelle Betos and Hope Solo and outlasted both of them. She joined in 2013 as a clear 3rd choice, but has taken the time spent as a backup to craft and hone her trade, growing by leaps and bounds into a top 3 goalkeeper this year. Her growth is in no small part to the Reign’s commitment to develop her and to Hope Solo’s mentorship of her during her time on the team. From second-to-last to one of the best isn’t too shabby.

Route Two Soccer – Let’s Talk About Tori Huster

Posted on by RJ Allen

In this game, we focus a great deal on the players who do things. And for good reason. Most of the time, the action is…well, where the action is. But there is always a lot more going on than just what’s happening near the ball. And there is no player in the league who better illustrates this point than Tori Huster.

Watching her reminds me of Vicente del Bosque’s praise of Sergio Busquets: “If you watch the whole game, you won’t see Busquets—but watch Busquets, and you will see the whole game.” Huster is a similar player. Watch her and you’ll see the whole game.

Washington 1 – 0 Portland

After spending six weeks out with a quad strain, Huster made her return this week. It was a big ask—coming straight back in for a full 90 without a chance to build back up her match fitness and form. And against Portland, no less. But Huster looked as comfortable as if she’d never left, helping to lock down many of the improvements that the team had made in her absence.

Generally, teams have found success against the Thorns this year primarily through a high pressing game: harass them high up the pitch, break up their rhythm, force them into dumb mistakes, and generally just keep them from playing their game. North Carolina provided the template early in the season, but others have found some good results using the same techniques, including Sky Blue last week.

The problem with that approach is that it needs a lot of pace. In order to keep the channels clogged as you press high, you need to play a high line and do a lot of running. Even more, to play this way you desperately need a midfield who can hold possession under pressure, to capitalize on turnovers and spring attacks in transition.

And while Washington has certainly looked better recently, those improvements haven’t solved those fundamental weaknesses in the team. Unlike their 2016 iteration, which really did have the personnel and speed to play that way, the 2017 squad can’t afford to fully commit to a full field press.

Now, that may change over the coming weeks. After all, the Spirit should soon be getting Mallory Pugh back from injury, Estefania Banini back from Europe, not to mention an increasingly fit Caprice Dydasco (who made a big difference pushing higher up the pitch in her half-hour this week). Combine those additions with some increasingly confident and active players like Francisca Ordega and Meggie Dougherty Howard, and you’ve got the core of a truly solid unit. By the end of the year, the Spirit may well be playing a lot like they were at the end of 2016. But for now, lack of team speed and midfield control will doom them if they try to play too expansively.

High pressing with a low backline: Wait, what?

Their solution is as simple as it is effective: focus your play on the attacking thirds, and don’t worry too much about what’s in between. In effect: keep your defense as deep as possible—to avoid the backline getting turned and their limited pace exposed—while still pushing as high possible in the attacking end.

Your front players should press aggressively and look to quickly close down on the ball high up the pitch. Your defenders, however, should drop off the ball as much as possible. Don’t step up to challenge, and risk getting beat. Just drop, and drop quickly. Keep the other team in front of you and build a wall in front of your goal.

At times, this could be mistaken for ‘bunkering,’ since it involves setting a deep backline and soaking up pressure rather than trying to play through the midfield. But it’s different in the important respect that you’re really only playing with six players behind the ball. The attacking four will drop when necessary, but their focus is upfield, not down. That’s what makes it possible for them to exert effective high pressure, and what keeps them available for good looks on goal.

Now, there are two clear problems with this approach:

First and most obvious: it requires conceding dominance over a (pretty important) part of the field. Games are won and lost in the midfield, and this setup is a recipe for losing a lot of midfield battles. However, there is an important element of expedience here. Because the fact is: given the available personnel, Washington is probably going to get beat in the midfield a lot anyways. So the question is how to structure those defeats. More on that in a moment.

Second, this approach is bad for possession. Creating such a wide gap between the front and back lines makes it difficult to link them together when you do get the ball. It’s a recipe for a lot of long balls over the top and speculative crossing runs, most of which will go astray. This is a real problem since it’s hard to win the game without the ball. But again, this is a matter of facing realities. Even if they wanted to, Washington simply isn’t going to get a ton of joy from keeping the ball on the ground and playing tiki-taka through the middle. So it’s quite reasonable to think about this not in terms of how much possession you get, but rather how useful you’re able to make your limited chances.

Tactical judo: turning your weaknesses into strengths

In both of these cases, the underlying logic owes as much to the martial arts as anything else. Because the key is to use your opponent’s strength against them by carefully managing how that strength can be expressed.

By accepting a disadvantage in the midfield, you draw your opposition out. If they manage to unlock the high pressure, they’ll move quickly through that vacant midfield space, hoping to pounce on the retreating backline. But if you can hold the line, they’ll often find themselves spinning their wheels—far more stretched than they expect. Like the dog who catches the car, you may end up with an attacker who sprang forward anticipating a devastating counter only to find herself 30 yards ahead of any help.

Alternatively, if they do manage to get forward in numbers, that creates the space that you want for your counterattacks. Stay resolute, break up play, and then quickly turn and look for the long crossing ball that will give your forwards room to run.

Everything depends on the holding midfielders

Making this setup work is no simple thing. It requires a lot of organization and needs defenders who are solid with their back to goal. It needs a keeper who is comfortable dealing with shots from distance, and who can handle crosses well. And it needs attackers who can thrive without much support from the midfield—players who can make their own chances, by beating a couple defenders, or by racing down low-percentages balls and making something out of nothing. But more than anything else: you need dependable holding midfielders. And that’s where Tori Huster comes in.

Because while there are plenty of great holding midfielders these days, some with more creative attacking flair, some who are better goal scorers, and some who are better tacklers. But I’m not sure there’s anyone in the league who is more dependable. And this weekend’s game was as clear an example as you could ever hope for.

Washington managed only 38% possession and were consistently overrun in the midfield. But for all that, Portland looked fairly toothless all game—only managing three shots on goals. Certainly, some of the blame can be placed on the Thorns themselves, but a lot of credit needs to go to Dougherty Howard and (especially) Huster—the holding midfielders who held the rock on which Portland crashed for most of the evening.

While the high press gave the Thorns some trouble, it was by no means able to coop them up entirely. But every time they broke through and tried to come in numbers, Huster was there—tracking along and slowing their attack, giving the defense time to drop and set before they were overrun, tracking the front runners and closing down passing angles. And once the defense set, Huster and Dougherty Howard were a constantly-moving shield at the top of the 18-yard box, forcing play to go wide, interfering and disrupting.

One of the hardest things about defending well is the discipline it takes to judge when to step and when to drop. And it’s often even harder to assess that quality from afar. We focus on the perfectly executed tackles, the last-ditch efforts that save a goal, the narrow inches between winning the ball and conceding a penalty. But often the most successful defenders are the ones who keep the dangerous play from developing in the first place. By holding their position, they delay the attack long enough for support to arrive. By dropping, they fill the space where the through-ball might have gone. By being patient, they maintain control.

This is an important quality for anyone, but it’s especially important for the holding player in Washington’s setup. Defense is a team problem, and a defense is only as good as its weakest link. But ‘weakest’ isn’t a static concept. Good players don’t just do good things individually; they also help build an infrastructure that helps everyone do better.

When the Spirit have played well this year, it’s been driven by good performances in those central midfield roles–protecting the defense in transition, preserving the ball long enough to launch attacks, marshaling the troops to keep everyone in line. Dougherty Howard has grown into the role and looks a very useful player. Havana Solaun was deputized there with some success but is far better utilized in a more attacking role where her creativity can shine. And Line Sigvardsen Jensen has filled in where necessary. But Huster’s return is a game-changer.

Watch Huster, and you’ll see the whole game

Think about the quote I mentioned at the start: watch the game and you won’t see her; watch her and you’ll see the whole game. That’s because so much of what she’s doing never shows up in plays that go into the box score. She’ll win her share of tackles and make her share of passes, sure, but more than anything she’s a shepherd. Her job is to make sure everything stays on course, not necessarily to do it herself.

And it takes incredible discipline to successfully play this way. You need someone who will run endlessly just to make sure that the passing channels stay clogged. Who can see play in motion and anticipate where someone will need to be. Who can cover for her teammates when they’re dragged out of position. Who can understand the team’s shape as it ebbs and flows and keep everyone working together.

It’s a cliché when talking about a ‘weak’ team who is tough to score against to say “they’re just really well organized,” but we don’t spend nearly enough time thinking about where that organization comes from. Obviously, coaching is immensely important here, but it also takes a lot of work from the players on the pitch to actually execute the plan. And it depends in particular on the field general who can keep everyone marching to the same tune.

That’s Huster.

Watch Washington play with her on the pitch and notice how often she’s pointing—drop into this space, protect that flank, watch your blind side, pass into that channel, and so on. Watch to see how often she’s moving ahead of the play—protecting space that’s not threatened yet, but which is about to be attacked. Watch to see how assiduously she manages breakaway attacks—not looking to make a spectacular (but risky) tackle; trusting that her defense will be able to stifle the attack if she can just give them the time to reset.

But more than anything, watch to see how often the opponent seems strangely quiet on the night—unable to find those penetrating runs, unable to successfully isolate and turn defenders, unable to do much of anything with all the possession that they seem to have.

There are plenty of flashy players in the league, and we rightly give them a lot of credit for the incredible things they can do. But I’m not sure there was any player more crucial to their team’s success this week than Tori Huster. That her contributions were so quiet only makes them that much more impressive.

6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 10

Posted on by RJ Allen

This week in the NWSL, we saw two teams start to pull away at the top, and a shakeup at the bottom of the table. There were comebacks, a rare straight red card, and a few (maybe unexpected) shutouts. With four midweek games to look forward to this week, here are our takeaways from Week Ten

Nadia Nadim Meets with TAPS Family after Washington vs. Portland – Jordan Small

After Saturday night’s loss to the Washington Spirit, Portland Thorns forward Nadia Nadim walked over to the side of the field to meet with a group of fans that had been escorted down onto the field. The group was from an organization called TAPS. The Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors, or TAPS for short, is a program that offers resources and services to those who have lost a loved one while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

A young lady who lost her father in Afghanistan presented Nadim with a bracelet following the match. Nadim, whose father was also killed in Afghanistan, took the time to talk with the family and take a few pictures. This was just another reminder that life is so much bigger than sport and that win or lose, a simple gesture such as a bracelet or a small conversation can have a greater impact on someone’s life.

Does Portland Have Too Much Star Power? – Jordan Small

Looking at the Portland Thorns roster, it is incredible to see the amount of talent that they have. As a team, they have combined for over 625 caps for six different national teams. Against the Washington Spirit, they had 62.7 percent of possession. What do they have to show for all of that? Getting shutout on the road for their second straight loss. Against a team that’s only just barely broken away from the bottom of the table over the past few weeks.

In 10 games this season, the Thorns have scored 12 goals while only giving up nine. Not bad all things considering. But when you look at the goals, three have come via the penalty spot and two were own goals. Sure they are scoring, but they aren’t creating many opportunities for themselves. Against Washington, Lindsey Horan, Allie Long, and Christine Sinclair were nonexistent on the field. Amandine Henry was subbed out at the half and won’t be around for much longer because of the upcoming EUROs. Is Tobin Heath coming back from injury the answer to this struggling Portland attack? I’m not so sure. But I do know that they are going to have to figure some things out if they want to be in the hunt for a playoff spot come September.

Dash Put it Together (at Least for One Week) – Luis Hernandez

As unlikely as it seemed, the Houston Dash bounced back from the four-goal drubbing at home to enact payback against the Orlando Pride this weekend, taking home three points on the road for their effort.  Head Coach Omar Morales made several key adjustments while taking advantage of the lackluster performance from Orlando. Perhaps the post-match comments from Carli Lloyd last week also lit something under her teammates as she took the field in just her second game back from the UK.

The Dash rolled out a new combination on the backline, the sixth different version of the season, to clamp down on the Orlando attack. Limiting the Pride to three shots on goal allowed Jane Campbell to bounce back for her second start of the season, a much better showing from the rookie even with the few shaky moments she had in the beginning of the match. As the Lifetime game of the week, Houston proved to the national audience which team wanted to win more. The result moves the Dash out of last place on the table and puts them in ninth, sitting just above the Boston Breakers, who they’ll host in their midweek game on Wednesday. Houston is positioned to give themselves some separation from the Boston while gaining confidence for the weekend showdown at FC Kansas City.

Missed Opportunity for FC Kansas City on the Road – Luis Hernandez

If you had told Vlatko Andonovski on Friday that his team was going to leave Seattle with a point on the road, he would have been happy. A point would have been a great result in the first of two road games for the Blues after already drawing against the Reign the week before. However, Seattle were left with just ten players on the field after Lauren Barnes was issued a straight red card in the 4’ for an armbar of striker Shea Groom. Kansas City took advantage of the imbalance early on, making Seattle pay in the sixteenth minute with a goal from Brittany Ratcliffe. However, FCKC couldn’t hold on to the lead, and the Blues leave the Emerald City dropping two points.

The draw keeps Kansas City one point behind Seattle, and barely keeps Orlando at bay. As FCKC go into the midweek match at Portland, they will have a challenge getting a result at Providence Park. If FCKC fail to make the playoffs, will they look back at this game as one of the reasons they miss the postseason, dropping two points when they had the clear advantage from almost the very start.

Sportsmanship – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Living just over an hour outside of Chicago has its benefits, and one of those is the ability to schedule a trip down to Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL, to catch matchups between the Chicago Red Stars (my “geographical” faves) and Sky Blue FC (my “absolute” faves). Last year’s trip down was actually my first live, in-person, soccer game ever, and it was an event to remember (and one that ended with a selfie with one of the greatest players of the game, Christie Pearce). This year I was looking forward to another good matchup, and the chance to see Kelley O’Hara play with her club team. She’d been on NT duty in 2016, and though I’d seen her play with them in Chicago and again in Minnesota late last year, club play is different, and brings out different sides of a player’s game.

Unfortunately, O’Hara didn’t play on Sunday, either suffering from a slight injury or being rested in anticipation of a midweek match-up against the Orlando Pride. But them’s the breaks and with any luck, I’ll get to see her play with Sky Blue at Toyota Park next summer.

The thing I noticed, though, that I want to call attention to, is just how much of a leader O’Hara is on and off the field. Sitting on the bench in trainers, she was coaching and offering tips to the younger members of the backline who were out there on the field. Before the game, during the slight break when Chicago’s GK Alyssa Naeher was down on the field and the Sky Blue players came to the sideline for some water, at the half, and so on, O’Hara was demonstrating how to defend against Chicago’s attack, reassuring her teammates, helping them out.

With the news that this year is almost certainly Christie Pearce’s final season with Sky Blue FC, it’s good to see that the backline and the team will have someone as focused on teaching and leading as playing. And most of all, for all the little girls and boys in the stands, for all the grown-ups in the stands, it’s an important and visual reminder that an athlete’s work doesn’t begin and end on the field, and isn’t simply the accumulation of their physical talents. How a player performs on the bench is maybe just as important as how they perform on the field.

And I just felt like this is a good moment to acknowledge that.

Tears and Tears – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

We need to talk about ACL tears.

Obviously, we’re all tearing up about Kealia Ohai’s unfortunate injury over the weekend, or the fear that we’ll hear the same news from Danny Colaprico after she went down in Sunday’s game against Sky Blue FC. ACL tears are tearing up the league this season, and we need to talk about why that is.

Here’s the thing about this kind of injury.  It’s three times (3x) more likely to happen to a female soccer player than a male one. And this year, it’s taken down a number of players in our league (or former NWSL players), starting with Amy Rodriguez and Joanna Lohman over opening weekend, Kim Little over in the UK, and Yuri Kawamura. (Did I forget anyone?) And Diana Matheson, Cali Farquharson, and Kelsey Wys are all still in recovery for injuries suffered late last season or during off-season play.

It’s no secret that the focus in sports kinesiology and physical therapy is imbalanced, that most teaching, studies, and practical therapies and preventative techniques are based on the male body and the way the male body reacts to usage and stress of joints, ligaments, etc. But the male body is not the universal norm, and there needs to be more attention given to the physiological differences of female bodies to male ones, differences that don’t make women weaker or inferior, but ones that requires us to pivot differently, shift our weight differently, run differently, than our male counterparts.

And women’s teams (and leagues like the NWSL) need to make it a priority to find and work with trainers and therapists who understand the different needs and abilities of female athletes.

Who understand the science of playing like a girl.

Well, that’s what we took away from Week Ten as we head to a slew of Wednesday matches. Give us your biggest takeaway in the comments or let us know where you disagree with us. Until next time, fair readers.

Kealia Ohai to Miss Remainder of 2017 Season

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Houston Dash announced today that forward and captain Kealia Ohai suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Orlando Pride this past Saturday.

Ohai initially went down in the 67′ after trying to make a turn against Pride defender Ali Krieger, returning to the field after being checked over by Houston training staff. She went down again in the 74′ and had to be assisted off the field.

After a medical evaluation, Ohai was diagnosed with a Grade 3 ACL sprain and medial meniscus tear in her left knee.

“I am devastated but so excited to start my recovery and get back on the field,” Ohai said in a heartfelt post on Twitter.

Losing Ohai is a major blow for a struggling Houston team, who have three wins and seven losses on the season. Interim head coach Omar Morales had this to say about losing Ohai:

“The injury to Kealia is a big hit to the team, not only on the field but off the field due to the leader that she is. With her being the captain, you are losing a big piece of your team. We have to stay strong for her, push for her, win some games and build on the momentum from Saturday. We will keep her in mind because she has done so much for us this year.”

The Dash have confirmed that Ohai will be placed on the disabled list for the remainder of the season.

 

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 10

Posted on by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 10 Game Previews:

We have arrived at Week Ten of the NWSL, not necessarily unscathed, but seeing plenty of parity between several teams in the league. Let’s dive into this week’s previews. 

Game 1: Orlando Pride vs. Houston Dash

Orlando Pride record: 3-3-3
Position: 6th
Total Points: 12

Houston Dash record: 2-7-0
Position: 10th
Total Points: 6

After last week’s dominant performance, (minus the last 10-15 minutes,) the Pride are coming into this week confident, really needing to start honing in and perfecting the little things. Big picture this week sees the Pride most likely coming away with the three points, if last week was any indication, but they will need to work hard on closing out games and remaining consistent. This week that will be their focus. They have seemed to have settled on a starting XI, at least until Alex Morgan is inserted back into the line-up in a few weeks. But their biggest enemy this week will be themselves. With Marta assisting in or scoring all four goals last week, the Pride will look to her for another solid performance. But they will also need to see others step up, especially defensively, to close-out the game. The last minute goals last week came at the cost of a goalkeeper and a defensive mistake. 

The Dash struggles continue and look to continue for the foreseeable future. I have mentioned this a few times in my previews, but even seeing the return of Carli Lloyd, who, while not scoring, had some strong moments in last week’s match, they just do not seem to have much idea of what to do, or what game plan they want to have at any given moment. This was apparent last week, especially as the players seem to fatigue well before the second half began. Their key, even if they do not win games, is to find consistency amongst each other this week. Their defensive game plan should be their first step. The team needs to find a way to get everyone working together, especially as the Pride have started to find their groove. They may have lucked out not having to face a combination of Marta and Alex Morgan quite yet.

Game 2: Boston Breakers vs. North Carolina Courage

Boston Breakers record: 2-5-2
Position: 9th
Total Points: 8

North Carolina Courage record: 7-3-0
Position: 10th
Total Points: 21

Boston has a lot to figure out this week but I do not know if we will see much more of an improvement against a Courage side that has been playing pretty consistently this season. The Breakers have also been plagued with injuries and it was just announced that starting goalkeeper Abby Smith is out this week. We will most likely see the first start for rookie and 2017 NWSL draftee, Sammy Jo Prudhomme. While she was a great goalkeeper in college, going up against an attack like the Courage’s, she will be tested early and often. Boston’s main focuses this week are to not give up the early goals and find a way to curb the Courage attack. The Breakers also re-signed Libby Stout during the week, a former GK who made 9 starts and 42 saves for the Breakers in 2016.

The Courage were without a few key players last week with Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald injured, but the team was still able to churn out a quality product. If both players return to the line-up this week, the Courage won’t need to make many adjustments in what they have been doing. Their key is to stay patient and shore up their defense because the Breakers’ attacking side only needs a little bit of space to make the Courage pay. Look for the hopeful return of the injured players to the line-up and the continued solid performance against a struggling Breakers side. 

Game 3: Washington Spirit vs. Portland Thorns

Washington Spirit record: 2-5-2
Position: 8th
Total Points: 8

Portland Thorns record: 4-2-3
Position: 4th
Total Points: 15

The Spirit are coming in this week with a new weapon in their arsenal. Estefania Banini, who was their leading goal-scorer last season, as returned to the Washington roster. There has been no word if she will be available for this match but the signing alone is good news for a team that’s been struggling. After holding the Red Stars to a draw last week, the Spirit will once again have their hands full against the Thorns. The Spirit are starting to put a few more pieces together but are still missing what Tori Huster brings and also may be potentially be without Mal Pugh again as she continues to recover from an injury suffered during the FIFA break. Washington will be looking for another consistent game from Steph Labbé, who has saved their butts on numerous occasions this season. But in order to get past the Thorns this weekend, the Spirit will need to keep the pressure and attack at a high level.

The Thorns are coming in this week after a loss to Sky Blue last week at home, a subpar performance that left them disappointed and maybe a little embarrassed. Look for them to want to bounce back very quickly this week. The Thorns are starting to show where the injuries are hurting them, mainly with a gaping hole left by Tobin Heath, who has experienced a setback with her back injury and looks to be even longer now. The weaknesses of Franch were exposed last week as well, so she will need to make sure her decision making is on this week as anything can happen against the Spirit. While also suffering more injuries than just Heath, if the Thorns can bounce back quickly this week, they should see a different result.

Game 4: Seattle Reign vs. FC Kansas City

Seattle Reign record: 3-2-4
Position: 5th
Total Points: 13

FC Kansas City record: 3-3-3
Position: 7th
Total Points: 12

The Reign have been quite the puzzling team this season. They started off the strong but have seemed to level out and been a bit inconsistent with their play. They really need work on closing out games and finding a bit more consistency defensively. While the backline is set and we have seen some great play from Haley Kopmeyer, it has been inconsistent. While FCKC won’t be a huge threat for them, with their inconsistencies, the attack from their post-season nemesis could cause some problems. Seattle needs to get back to their previous form and find a way to make their team gel better. If this means a shake-up in the line-up, then so be it. Granted, even though a few players such as Diana Matheson and Larissa Crummer, who they had planned on for the season, are still injured, they have several key pieces that coach Laura Harvey could move around. Jess Fishlock will need to become a little more dominant in the middle if Seattle is going to have a better chance at moving up the table.

FCKC has also been a bit puzzling this season. With Amy Rodriguez no longer a part of the picture, the FCKC attack has seemed to start to find the light of their rhythm. Sydney Leroux seems to be coming into her own a bit more, which is really the key for them, especially going up against the Reign, who have been a bit unpredictable. With FCKC fairly solid in the back with the Nicole Barnhart holding it down, if FCKC can spur their attack, they should see success this week.

Game 5: Chicago Red Stars vs. Sky Blue FC

Chicago Red Stars record: 5-2-2
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 17

Sky Blue FC record: 5-4-1
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 16

Chicago will have its hands full this week with Sky Blue. With a somewhat disappointing performance against the Spirit last week, there will be some things they look to improve on come Sunday. They’ve faced difficulties connecting their passes or in their ability to string them together, and the Red Stars will need to work on that against Sky Blue this week. The backline will also be fully tested with Sam Kerr, as most teams have been this season. She had herself a game last week against Portland, so Chicago will need to contain her throughout the game. If Chicago can connect more passes and be more consistent this week, this should be a great match-up to watch.

Sky Blue will want to continue their climb towards the top with another dominating performance this week. Look for them to rely again on Sam Kerr to spur the attack and get them on the board in Chicago. The biggest thing for Kerr, however, is consistency. She can have dominating games like she did last week and then be unable to buy herself a goal in the next. So working on her consistency, especially this week, will be key. Christie Pearce has also had to work all season with a young backline and, for the most part, they have been able to handle the tests of the NWSL play. But this week, with the Chicago attack led by Christen Press, Pearce and the rest of the backline will be tested frequently. Where Kelley O’Hara plays this week will be anyone’s guess, but if she causes as many fits on the field as she did last week, Chicago will have their hands full.

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Tuesday night with our weekly TSR. 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 this week’s episode, catch up here:

The Unused Sub: I Stand With You

Posted on by RJ Allen

Don’t mind me as I am just thinking out loud, but I think I want a Sam Kerr jersey. I wonder who do I know that can make such arrangements happen. Hmm…

Hmm…

IT’S A NO-BRAINER BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT
On Tuesday afternoon, I attended a press conference hosted by Athlete Ally in collaboration with the Seattle’s professional sports franchises, the Seattle Reign FC, Seattle Sounders FC, Seattle Storm, Seattle Mariners, and Seattle Seahawks. The goal of the presser was to show the broad community of sports in Seattle all united, standing in solidarity with the LGBT community and to affirm their shared commitment to advocacy and inclusion in sports through education and other public outreach.

It was a good day for the city of Seattle. It was a fun day for the city of Seattle. But it was also just plainly an important day for the city of Seattle.

When I received the press release last week about it, I was in awe. I was in awe because it is pretty much unprecedented for someone to gather the sports franchises of any major US city and have them unite on a message that is essential. Much less a message like this one. This was a direct clapback to that tired “stick to sports” adage people like to throw around on social media when an athlete expresses an opinion about politics or society. 

Seattle isn’t having any of that. Nope, not these sports franchises and the athletes that put on the jersey that represents this team, this city, and its people. Not with the platform of the public eye they have and the power of influence they wield with it. The effect sports has on a community and society is like that of an artist with a mound of clay. You can mold and shape it however you want it, whatever you want it to be.

For someone like me who came to America, who wasn’t born here, the spectacle that was professional sports was my introduction to American culture and how diverse it is. It didn’t start out that way for sure, but as I grew up I learned stories of those athletes who dared to challenge the status quo and change the world, with their athletic skill and with their public actions. People who advocated and effected change because they were aware of the power and influence they held. And it was from this history, American sports history, I understood what sports can do for people. How it can mold and shape people and their society.

Falling in love with soccer and convincing myself that I can somehow string a few words and sentences into something someone else will read has made me into a far more social person than I could ever imagine when I was a five-year-old foreigner fresh out of an airplane in some strange land called the United States of America. I saw Michael Jordan literally dunking on fools and was enthralled. Or when I was nine years old going on ten and the only world I ever knew was turned upside-down because my parents got a divorce. America’s past-time, baseball (specifically the Cinderella run of the 1995 Seattle Mariners) soothed the fracture of the divorce and my mom and I found something to share that helped us through that painful period of our lives. Or last year when I was celebrating my birthday (don’t ask for the number, I’m old, simple as that) and finally I got my parents to attend an NWSL match and they saw it. They got it. They understood why taking an interest in the beautiful game and covering specifically the women’s game became my thing. It was pure happenstance, but they understood that this was my hobby, my passion. Something to give me an identity and with it opening myself up to more different walks of life, different life stories, different world views, that they are proud to say have made me a better person.

It was a privilege to witness the press conference first-hand and to then have some small one on one conversations with those involved.  Some might say it is controversial. Some might say it is uncomfortable. However, the bottom line is, it is the right thing to do. It is the important thing to do. Who I am and some values of what I hold dear as what makes us good, decent people have been influenced by sport and how it brought me to connect with an individual or a group of people.

It’s through bringing people together with through sport, that maybe, just maybe, the communities we live in can become better places for all, regardless of color, religion, sexual or gender identity, or any other of the beautiful things that make us each entirely our own unique individuals.

I believe we can be better and this is something I do not hesitate to stand for and support those that feel and do the same.

DID YOU KNOW JUNE 21 WAS NATIONAL SELFIE DAY?
Now that it is officially summer (June 21 was the official Summer Solstice day), it’s time for: Sun’s out, NWSL hotness out. Here’s this weekend’s predictions.

  • Orlando Pride OVER Houston Dash. (They might show better fitness or something, but Houston still isn’t winning.)
  • North Carolina Courage OVER Boston Breakers.
  • Washington Spirit and Portland Thorns FC play to a DRAW.
  • Seattle Reign FC OVER FC Kansas City.
  • Sky Blue FC OVER Chicago Red Stars.

And here is this week’s music video break.

Song: “Keep Shining” | Artist: Shad

The Crown: Growth of a Young Supporter Group

Posted on by RJ Allen

As a big fan of Orlando soccer, I was looking forward to last Saturday’s games. It was an important weekend for both the men’s and women’s team coming out of the international break, and soccer in Orlando was getting back into the swing of things.

The Orlando Pride were in Houston, taking on the Dash at BBVA Compass Stadium there while Orlando City SC, the franchise’s MLS side, was hosting the Montreal Impact at home. As a season ticket holder for both teams, I was all set to man The Wall, the standing supporters’ section on the north side of Orlando City Stadium. Unfortunately, in doing so, I would miss the Pride’s game in Texas, but as Orlando City was set to honor the 49 victims of the Pulse shooting as part of the one-year anniversary of that horrific event, I felt it was important to show my ally-ship for that memorial and my support for the men’s team.

This wasn’t the first tribute to the Pulse victims of the season. The Crown, the supporters’ group for the Orlando Pride, had started the tribute to the victims at the women’s previous home match against the Boston Breakers, raising a special tifo in memory of those lost. And the supporters’ groups for the men’s side also had a special tifo planned for their game.

But just as I was set to head out to the men’s match, I checked Twitter one last time, and this tweet caught my eye.

Since I wasn’t able to experience matchday with the Crown, I thought it would be a great time to get out and enjoy the company of the team’s supporters. Being a member of the Crown in good standing, I have felt disconnected from the group because I don’t use Facebook, the primary means of communicating within the group and because I don’t live close enough to engage when it’s not match-day. So I was excited at the chance to attend this watch party and chose to head to the Crown’s event instead of going to the Orlando City game. 

I arrived early to Ocean Sun Brewing, where a chalkboard sign welcomed Crown members for the watch party. Nobody was there yet, but I wasn’t concerned since I was there an hour before the scheduled start time. With the Orlando City match playing on the big screen, I settled in to grab a bite and watch the BroSo match while I waited for Pride fans to show up. I even killed some time with a post on Instagram hyping the watch party.

 

As time passed, I was getting more jazzed to cheer with my fellow Pride supporters. The Crown even liked my Instagram post and commented on it. But as time ticked closer to the start of the match, nobody was there. I was feeling puzzled, and I was getting a hunch the watch party was going to be impacted by the City match. It made sense that there could be a low turn-out to the watch party since a traveling group of Crown members had made the trip to Houston and many of the passionate supporters were also supporters for the men’s side, but I was getting concerned this watch party could be a bust. The bar manager didn’t have a way to play go90 on any television, and I was concerned I might be stuck watching the Pride on my phone.

I felt slightly better once my group of friends (Jay, Sammy and Michelle) arrived, but they were as puzzled as I was. The four of us turned out to be the entire watch party. One of my friends, Jay, has also brought her son to enjoy the Pride play since her son loves soccer but hadn’t embraced NWSL so far. This watch party experience certainly wasn’t helping. She ended up leaving while the rest of us sorted out a way to watch Orlando Pride for this “Crown watch party.” Thankfully, Michelle had her laptop with her, so the three of us gathered around the MacBook like a fire on a cold night.

It was disappointing to go to a planned watch party unable to see a four-goal performance on a television. I couldn’t understand how the supporters’ group could advertise this on the group’s social media without any participation or even a tweet canceling the event. The bar manager told us that if we had the appropriate AV cable, he would let us connect to one of the screens, but we didn’t know this ahead of time, and no one had brought any.  It just reflected a lack of planning and, perhaps, more concerning, a lack of leadership and engagement from the official supporters’ group that neither any representatives of The Crown’s organizers or any Pride fans showed up to the event. 

Establishing a supporters’ group takes time, building a culture like the more established groups have done–Rose City Riveters, Spirit Squadron, or Cloud 9, for example–takes time. The Crown does do a great job to enhance the gameday experience, and the tifos they have created this season have been stunning statements of dedication. But it’s a bad look to publicize an event and not have anyone show up to run it, and this type of thing detracts from what the Crown is trying to accomplish. It felt like the watch party didn’t really matter or it was more of an afterthought. I am hopeful, however, that this night was just a one-time miss, and not something more, as it is a challenge to grow support for a newer team.

After the event, I reached out to the Crown for a comment for this story. This was the statement received:

Hi Luis, I apologize as there was a mix-up. The person who normally runs the watch party wasn’t available at the last minute. He called Ocean Sun and they said no problem they will put it on thinking that it was on Lifetime. For future matches, we are purchasing the brewery a Chromecast so they aren’t relying on anyone to bring a laptop and HDMI cord.

TBH – if you want to get a true representation of the group the best time to connect is our tailgates. The watch parties are very hit or miss dependent on the MLS schedule, time of the match, and who is traveling to watch live. You are always welcome out to Broken Cauldron!

Of course, home games and home game tailgates are more fun. But a supporters’ group needs a strong base of involvement and engagement at home when the team is away as well. A strong base celebrates together home and away, and The Crown has demonstrated that although they are an enthusiastic supporters’ group, they still have room to grow as they mature into one at the caliber we see in other NWSL cities across the league. 

Unsung Hero of the Week: Fantastic Freeman on Display

Posted on by RJ Allen

In this weekly series, I will be highlighting a player from the weekend who was their respective team’s unsung hero, win or lose. A player who does the dirty work, does the little but important things in a game and someone who didn’t exactly fill up the stat sheet but found other ways to contribute.

This week I’ve chosen Sky Blue FC defender Mandy Freeman.

The 22-year-old was taken 10th overall in the first round of the 2017 College Draft by Sky Blue. Fresh off a NCAA Championship with USC, Freeman jumped right into the NWSL, so far starting in all 10 games for the New Jersey side. In her first season, she has the opportunity of a lifetime: to be paired next to Christie Pearce. What a mentor to have, huh? Going into the season I wasn’t sure if Sky Blue would be able to start strong, but 10 games into the year we find them in third place and really starting to find a groove.

Sky Blue 3-1 Portland

Sky Blue got off to a perfect start, scoring the opening goal just 24 seconds in. Officially it was given to Raquel Rodriguez (after a lovely pass from Sam Kerr) 25 seconds in, but I have watched it several times and it’s clearly in the back of the net at the 24 second mark–which would make it the fastest goal in NWSL history.

But I’ll move on from that and get down to specifics.

The first play worth talking about from Freeman was in the 11th minute. #22 had darted forward to intercept a pass intended for a Thorn player at the halfway line. Freeman got it to Kerr, who charged forward and put herself in a dangerous position in the middle of the park. Emily Sonnett eventually won a tackle, stopping Kerr just before she entered the 18-yard box. But it was a wonderful attacking move which started with Freeman winning possession and then quickly finding Kerr moving forward.

Now, it’s certainly no easy task to rattle to Portland … at Providence Park … in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 16,736. Also add in the fact that the Thorns had not lost at home since July of 2016. Quite an impressive feat, but in the first half Sky Blue were playing like they were the home team, executing their game plan to a tee.

Freeman wasn’t only doing her defensive duties, she wanted in on the action at the other end too. She awaited the service of a Kelley O’Hara corner in the 17th minute, volleying it towards goal where forward McKenzie Meehan sent it just just over the crossbar.  Obviously, Sky Blue drafted her for her defensive abilities but at 5’8″ Freeman could sneak onto the scoring sheet eventually. In her college days at USC, Freeman did find the net twice and earned eight assists as well, so it’s not a completely foreign land to her.

The next big play came in the very next minute. Portland patiently strung together a series of passes, working their way deep into the Sky Blue end. At the end of it, Sinclair turned Mills away with a cute stop-and-go on the right side of the 18 and found Raso, who was in the middle, with a point-blank shot. Or so she thought. But instead, Freeman comes lunging forward with such graceful desperation, putting her body in front of a ball that was on its way to being blasted upper 90 for the equalizer. Freeman once again read the play, reacted in the right way and preserved the lead for Sky Blue. It was a crucial moment. With Portland’s pressure growing and the game moving at a frantic pace, an equalizer could easily have turned the tide on the night and shifted the momentum. Freeman’s clutch stop gave Sky Blue some refuge and let them restore some order to their game plan.

As every team in the NWSL knows, containing Portland is extremely difficult to do. With the likes of Nadia Nadim, Christine Sinclair, Allie Long, Amandine Henry, and Lindsey Horan, Sky Blue and their balanced defense managed to do just that. Balanced meaning two veterans and two rookies keeping the line very organized. Freeman deserves individual plaudits for her containment of Sinclair–a player who has proven capable of escaping from the world’s best defenders. In maybe her best game of the season so far, Freeman kept Canada’s legendary forward in check and off the score sheet.

In the second half, Portland didn’t start well but in the 64th minute, they could’ve had a quality chance on goal if not for Freeman. Building from the back, the Thorns found Meghan Klingenberg out wide, looking to serve the ball toward Long in the box. Once again, Portland were inches away from a goal, but somehow Freeman burst in to steal the header from Long and deny a golden scoring chance.

One last play to highlight Freeman came in the 88th minute with Portland desperately searching for a bit of pride back and a consolation goal. Henry won the ball near the midfield and surged forward, leaving two Sky Blue players in the dust on her way to goal. Freeman came over to support, stood tall against the French playmaker and took it away from her. Then she had the awareness to slot it to Madison Tiernan in the midfield, who sent a long searching ball to a certain Aussie (who beat the entire Portland backline) and raced 15 yards before faking out Adrianna Franch for the cool finish and a brace.

Freeman had to deal with some incredible talent on the night and taking the ball away from Henry and starting the final goal-scoring sequence had to feel good for the rookie as it capped off a fantastic game for her. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this game, it was end-to-end action. And in my opinion, Freeman made the difference for her club on the night.

Sky Blue are currently sitting in third place with five wins, four losses, and one draw. If Freeman and this backline can continue this type of electric play, we could see this team back in the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Roster News: Pride Add Morgan, Waive Burkenroad

Posted on by RJ Allen

The Orlando Pride has added USWNT forward Alex Morgan to the club’s roster today, waiving Christina Burkenroad to make room for last year’s captain, returning from her time with UEFA Women’s Champions League winners Olympique Lyonnais Féminine.

Morgan has been playing in France since January, earning the much-sought French women’s treble with the team as Lyon won the Division 1 Féminine, the Coupe de France Féminine, and UEFA Women’s Champions League titles.

Morgan has been back in the States for a few weeks but has been rehabbing a hamstring injury suffered in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. She is expected to return to the pitch for Orlando in a few weeks. The Pride have been making strong moves in the league table over the past few weeks as Brazilian international Marta seems to have settled in and found a rhythm with her Orlando teammates. Morgan’s return to the field and the possibilities of a Marta-Morgan scoring team have fans eagerly awaiting the moment she dons Pride purple once again.

In order to stay within the NWSL’s 20-player roster requirement, the Pride has waived forward Christina Burkenroad. Burkenroad was drafted to the Pride in 2016 and has made eight appearances for the team. Burkenroad may not be without a team for long, however, as the Orlando Sentinel is reporting that the Norwegian team IK Grand Bodø has expressed interest in her.