Tag: Houston Dash

Under the Radar: 5 Reasons Rachel Daly Is Underrated

Posted on by RJ Allen

[media-credit name=”Leanne Keator” align=”alignnone” width=”300″][/media-credit]

Rachel Daly isn’t the best player in the league. She isn’t even the best player on the Houston Dash. But she is everything that you would want a soccer player to be. She plays extremely hard, makes an impact, and is willing to play any hand she is dealt. Sure, she might not be the name that pours out of fans’ mouths when they talk about the Dash. She takes the back burner to the likes of Carli Lloyd, Morgan Brian, and Poliana. But she should be noticed more for the work she puts in.

Here are the five reasons why:

She Is All Over The Pitch

When Rachel Daly doesn’t have the ball in the attacking half it’s hard to not find her pressing some poor defender to try and win it back. She is everywhere, she is fast, and even though she is the kind of forward that likes to play high, she has no issue with dropping back in order to steal the ball in the midfield. And this makes her dangerous for opponents – they don’t see her coming. She is also the kind of player that didn’t bat an eye when placed at right back when injuries left Houston’s back line in need of some filling. And that is what anyone wants out of a soccer player – someone who is willing to put in the extra effort, no matter where that may be on the pitch, in order to create positive opportunities for the team.

 

She Comes In Like A Wrecking Ball

When the Houston Dash played Portland two weeks ago, the focal point of aggression was definitely coming from Carli Lloyd (which isn’t surprising). But day in and day out, Daly makes some really intense tackles that no one really seems to care about. She can be rough out there, and she doesn’t mind taking another player to ground if it can win her team the ball back. She just tends to be a little smarter about it than other players.

 

She Can Stretch A Back Line

Technically this reason is a team effort. But Rachel Daly plays a very intricate part in breaking down the opposing team’s defense. Because the Houston Dash have a rather impressive attacking side between Carlie Lloyd, Poliana, Kealia Ohai, and Rachel Daly, it can often be difficult for a defense to cover them all with ease. Choices have to be made, and with Poliana pushing up the wing, this often leaves Daly with room to move, collect, and drop a slip ball back into the box for Lloyd. And if that option isn’t available she can always shoot the ball, or look across the field to Ohai. So she has a lot of guns in the Dash arsenal to use in her attack, and she isn’t too selfish to only use her own. She also has the skillset and intelligence to make and execute this choice with ease. She can see the advantages of having Lloyd back on the pitch with her, and now that the Dash are beginning to turn a corner from the rough start they had at the beginning of the season, her role in this offense will only expand and become more dynamic.

 

She Owns Her Shortcomings

When Jane Campbell had her first NWSL start against the Seattle Reign on April 22 it didn’t really go her way. It was a 5-1 beating against Houston. And it would have been easy to point the finger at the rookie and just move on to the next match. But Rachel Daly acted like a true professional after the game. She acknowledged that she and the team could have played better, she acknowledged that it was a tough loss, and then she acknowledged that it was time to move on to the next game. That’s class, ladies and gentlemen. And that is something we all like out of our athletes.

 

She’ll Play Until She Literally Passes Out

Rachel Daly is tough, and she is passionate about the game that she plays. And she will work as hard as possible for all 90+ minutes of a match. And as many fans saw in May, she will literally play until she passes out from heat exhaustion, has to be taken out on a stretcher, and hospitalized. Then she would play in the immediate next match. Dedication is an understatement. She literally sacrificed her body to play at her top level on a day that was unsafe to play, and in a match that the league should have postponed. But if you ask Rachel Daly to do something, she will do it to the best of her abilities.

So, the next time you watch a Houston Dash game make sure to watch for Rachel Daly. Acknowledge her. Cheer for her. You’ll find it’s pretty easy. Because she is the type of player that will do everything you ask of her. She is what we all want in a soccer player. And she may not ask for the spotlight, but there are often times that she definitely deserves it.

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 16

Posted on by RJ Allen

[media-credit name=”Leanne Keator” align=”alignnone” width=”300″][/media-credit]

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 16 Game Previews:

As the NWSL season gets closer to the playoffs, we are seeing some distance between the top 3 and bottom 3, but movement in the middle. Let’s take a look at the upcoming games for the weekend. 

Game 1: Washington Spirit vs. Boston Breakers 

Washington Spirit record: 4-9-3
Position: 9th
Total Points: 15

Boston Breakers record: 3-7-6
Position: 8th
Total Points: 15

The Spirit are finally back at home after playing two games on the road and are looking to salvage the rest of their season. After a tough offseason, this is about where they were expected to end up, but they certainly won’t be satisfied and will want to tighten things up to close out the year. Their defense was in shambles against Orlando earlier this week so that will be the biggest thing to figure out with this quick turnaround. I don’t see a reason why their captain, Shelina Zadorsky, has been stuck on the bench. If she really has been worse in training than Kallman and Church, then the Spirit have bigger problems than we even knew.

Boston will be looking to pull out a win on the road and start another uptick in their season. They showed some good signs last week with a draw against FCKC but will need to get production from a broader range of players–last week it was pretty much Rosie White or bust–if they want to get more out of this match. If they can improve the attack, they should be able to get behind the Spirit backline, and hopefully, find some chances to finish. 

Game 2: Orlando Pride vs. Sky Blue FC

Orlando Pride record: 6-6-5
Position: 5th
Total Points: 23

Sky Blue FC record: 7-8-2
Position: 6th
Total Points: 23

The Pride are in must-win mode as they try to recover from a slow start and grab that fourth spot in the playoffs. They are coming off a dominating win against the Spirit and need to carry that momentum into this game. There weren’t major defensive problems against the Spirit midweek, but the floating right back position has caused distress, and with Sam Kerr back, they’ll need to get everything they’ve got to shut her down. Kristen Edmonds has been a liability for the Pride most of the season and if she can’t get her turnover ratio under control, Sky Blue will exploit it. The Pride attack, however, has seemed to find their groove, with Alex Morgan coming back into form and Marta staying on the top of her game. They’ll be facing a defense that has conceded the most goals in the league, and with their attack options ready, they should find the back of the net. 

Last week, Sky Blue was missing Sam Kerr (and Kelley O’Hara) and we saw a lot of cracks in their game. They’ve rescued plenty of results this year, thanks to some late match magic from Sam Kerr, but what is there to this team if she’s not around? She will be back this time, but they need to figure out the rest of the team and how they play because depending on Kerr can only get you so far. The defense is in trouble, and I’d like to see some changes. They’ve got injury problems, but what they’re doing now isn’t working and needs some tweaks. The big question marks this week will be the injury statuses of Kailen Sheridan, who was clearly in pain toward the end of the last game, and Kelley O’Hara, whose status has not been updated since the Tournament of Nations. If Kerr can get loose against the Pride and the defense can hold the strong Pride attack, we should be in for one exciting game. 

Game 3: Chicago Red Stars vs. Portland Thorns

Chicago Red Stars record: 8-3-5
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 29

Portland Thorns record: 8-4-4
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 28

The top three are quite compacted right now and so this is a must-win game for Chicago to hold on to that 2nd place spot. They should have all of their usual starters back after resting some of them last week against Orlando. With Sofia Huerta reminding people that she can score goals, expect to see even more link up between her and Christen Press this week against Portland. Chicago has a lot of luck at home and with probably the strongest defense in the league, they’ll like their chances of shutting Portland down. As long as Press or Huerta can get in behind, they should see success.

Portland is starting to come into their game, after quite a few struggles over the season. For a while, it seemed like they were just waiting for Tobin Heath to return. But as that looks increasingly less likely, they’ve finally started to make adjustments and pulled themselves back up toward relative playoff safety. Christine Sinclair has come into herself a bit more in the last few games, and that will need to continue if Portland wants to keep this run going. Nadia Nadim should also be back from the Euros, which will give the attack an extra boost. Overall, it will be hard to beat Chicago at home, but if they can shut down Press or Huerta, they may have a fighting chance. 

Game 4: Houston Dash vs. FC Kansas City

Houston Dash record: 6-8-2
Position: 7th
Total Points: 20

FC Kansas City record: 3-8-5
Position: 10th
Total Points: 14

The Dash are back at home and ready to face FCKC after a disappointing result against Portland. The Dash struggled with their formation and had trouble making anything of the few chances they did create. Their sub choices also left a bit to be desired. FCKC is struggling, so this is a prime opportunity for the Dash. But in this league, anything can happen on a given week. Sometimes the Dash are their own biggest enemies, so if they can put some shots on frame, they will give themselves a good chance to pick up some points. 

I feel at this point I am spinning a broken record with FCKC but they just do not seem to be able to figure it out. Sydney Leroux is not the pure scorer/striker they need, and they don’t seem to have any other solutions available.  My colleague Jacob Cristobal has a piece on the coaching situation this week. It’s been a tough year, but KC just need to try to finish out the season on a positive note. Despite their struggles, they do have most of the pieces. If they can just figure out how to fill some of the void of Amy Rodriguez, there’s room to build. 

Game 5: Seattle Reign vs. NC Courage

Seattle Reign record: 6-4-6
Position: 4th
Total Points: 24

NC Courage record: 11-5-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 33

This is a back-to-back matchup. Last time, the Reign fell 1-0 away. This time, they’ll like their chances better–at home and with both Megan Rapinoe and Jess Fishlock (seriously, can I get her healing regimen? Because my goodness …) for the first time in a couple months. Their difficulties on the road may well cost them a playoff spot, so they’ll need to be even better than usual at home to compensate. This week, with Rapinoe working back into the fold, they will need to find a way to get past the Courage defense. If Rapinoe is shut down, they will need to find another option to get into the attack. Seattle are pushing for that playoff spot but will need consistency across the weeks to make that happen. 

The Courage will be looking to continue their reign at the top of the table. That may be tough since they’ll be coming off of short rest after the makeup game Thursday night, but if any team has the fitness to handle that run, it’s NC. Plus, unlike last weekend, this time they’ll have an in-form Rapinoe to deal with. The Courage attack has gotten the job done this year but needs a bit of a kickstart. Lynn Williams has been relatively quiet this season (at least compared to her performance in 2016) but was the difference maker last match. If they can ramp their attack and keep Rapinoe at bay, we should see another hard-fought game.

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Monday night with our weekly TSR and Sunday night with our USA vs. Japan recap. 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:

The Unused Sub: August In Kansas Is A Hot Seat?

Posted on by RJ Allen
Kelley Piper

Hi.

UNPOPULAR… BUT SURELY A PROVOCATIVE OPINION
Most of the time I look past whenever people are playing the occasional hashtag game on Twitter. However taking part in #ConfessYourUnpopularOpinion, our very own fearless leader RJ Allen tweeted something that sure was provocative.

https://twitter.com/CaptainWOSO/status/894381935807561732

Full disclosure, what I am about to say here is based on limited knowledge about the team as in I don’t have day-to-day access/insights to them, what their fans are saying, etc. And while their biggest victories came at the expense of the team I am a fan of, I am very much a fan of Vlatko Andonovski. That said …

I disagree with the idea Andonovski should be dismissed after this season, but I sure see why RJ thinks he should be. And likely others are thinking the same thing but don’t want to admit to it. It has been a problem for them to find a solid goal scorer not named Amy Rodriguez. Unfortunately, the cruel bastards that are the Soccer Gods deprived us (and them) of her, and now FCKC can’t score for the life of them. You might be saying: well, it’s on the coach to adjust his plan to handle the situation dealt, but it’s really easier said than done.

Look at the Seattle Reign FC last year. Simply put, teams figured out how to play against Seattle. And it took Laura Harvey and the squad pretty much the entire season to come up with something new. In fact, they’re still in the midst of that process. The 2017 NWSL has no room for error and will not hesitate to punish a team that’s still looking to make adjustment. For Kansas City, the strike force going into the year looked good. But once Rodriguez went down, it’s been rough going. Sydney Leroux’s successful comeback from 2016 was reliant on Amy Rodriguez doing her thing. Can’t count on Shea Groom, when she is being chief instigator more than the chief creator. And Brittany Ratcliffe and Maegan Kelly are fine players, but they’re still wet behind the ears as far as getting comfortable with the pace of the NWSL. Kelly played two seasons overseas after being drafted by KC in 2014 and Ratcliffe is only in her second season as a pro.

I remember when FCKC were up here in Seattle a couple months ago. It was the game where Reign defender Lauren Barnes was issued the straight red four minutes in. Kansas City should have won that match, being up a player the whole game. But they couldn’t get it done. After the game, Andonovski said that it was just too risky to go all in on Seattle, even with the player advantage, knowing how tough they are at Memorial Stadium. No one is going to dispute that, given Andonovski’s prestige in the league.

But even without a full assault, they had plenty of chances. They just couldn’t do anything with them. Largely because, of all things, they kept sending crosses into the box hoping, apparently, that Leroux had suddenly become a target forward who could get a head on the ball. But if Leroux was ever that player, she sure isn’t now. And there was no way Shea Groom was going to bail her out when she basically had her right arm in a 90-degree angle all match. A friend post-match was wondering the same thing: “Why are they sending crosses into the box like Syd can get to them? They blew this game.”

We know Kansas City has a solid defense, with Becky Sauerbrunn there and Nicole Barnhart in goal. They just can’t score, and it’s upsetting the whole balance of the team. Still, I don’t think it warrants Andonovski getting his walking papers at the end of the season. Maybe it’s a silly thing, but I think winning your league’s championship puts some credit in the bank, and it takes more than one lost season to squander it.  Yes, a playoff format means that the NWSL functions a bit like a Random Champion Generator, but still … winning two in a row is some feat.

In 2017 FCKC won’t be making the playoffs. Once the season is put to rest, we’ll all look back and wonder “what could have been?”  If Rodriguez didn’t tear her ACL and if the team could have built around her. Would Leroux have looked better in her more natural role? Would Groom have been able to play off the other two more easily?

Andonovski certainly won’t try to shift the blame. He’ll tell you that the bad results are his responsibility. But I think his resume is solid enough that he deserves some benefit of the doubt. Maybe there were some mistakes, and maybe they shouldn’t have relied so heavily on Rodriguez. Maybe they missed out on an international signing or a trade that could have turned the ship around earlier. But that’s all speculation. What we know from the record is the Vlatko put in an earnest effort, and sometimes things go wrong. A big injury to a key player can ruin a season. But he deserves a chance to show what he can do in the offseason.

So, while I don’t think Vlatko Andonovski should lose his job at the end of this season, the seat will definitely be hot come 2018. Not like the dead man walking situation of former Houston Dash head coach Randy Waldrum this season, but plenty of eyes will be on Andonovski to show that those championships were for real. For me, I think the key is to get a forward with a proven resume of goals at the club and international level to compliment Rodriguez. Get that done, and FC Kansas City is back in the mix come 2018. Imagine if Kansas City pulled a coup and got someone like Jodie Taylor fresh off her Golden Boot-winning campaign from the Euros.

Is it guaranteed that Andonovski will turn it around? Nope. And will he definitely get the chance? Maybe not. Perhaps the KC ownership will make a change. That would be a little unfair, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world. He certainly wouldn’t be unemployed for long. And if it did happen, at least there would be some chaos in the game, which is only more fun for us media folks–from the fully established folks all the way to yokel bloggers like me.

What RJ tweeted probably is incredibly unpopular, and I disagreed with it, but I also understand why she thinks it. And disagreeing about contentious things is ultimately what this thing is all about, right?

WEEK 16 PREDICTIONS

The race for the playoffs is on.

Washington Spirit and Boston Breakers play to a DRAW.

  • Washington clowned Sky Blue last weekend. Orlando clowned Washington on Tuesday. Boston is rested but they’re still Boston. I still think Boston can jack up one of the teams hoping to get into the playoffs, but this weekend it’s going to be a meh match between these two.

Sky Blue FC and Orlando Pride play to a DRAW.

  • I think should there be a winner and a loser in this, yet I struggle to think which team could get the full 3 points. Orlando has momentum after taking care of Washington. At the same time, Sky Blue got humiliated by Washington last weekend and wants get that out of their system. If anyone does lose, their campaign is close to over, so there might be a lot of fear about getting that L and falling out of contention. So I’m going to be lame and say it will be a draw, with both teams taking the point and struggling on to the next battle.

Chicago Red Stars OVER Portland Thorns.

  • One Chicago player who wore the number 23 made mincemeat pie out of a Portland team so many years ago.  I think the current Chicago player wearing the number 23 will do much the same this time.

Houston Dash and FC Kansas City play to a DRAW.

  • This is a game that the Dash should win because KC is bad and can’t score to save themselves, yet they’ll somehow hang with Houston and the Dash will rue not getting the full points.

Seattle Reign FC OVER North Carolina Courage.

  • It won’t be a fireworks spectacle like the last Reign FC home match, but they’ll get the points to keep their playoff hopes alive. Memorial is still a fortress. It’s the road games that will make or break Seattle’s season.

Here’s this week’s music video break.

Song: “Adventure” | Artist: Cheat Codes

The Unused Sub: Hey, We’re Back

Posted on by RJ Allen

As I write this, the Pacific Northwest is in the middle of a crazy heat wave. It’s hot in the room I am typing this and my brain has melted.

NWSL ALL-STAR GAME? SURE WHY NOT
I just finished watching the 2017 MLS All-Star Game in which the league’s best players took on Real Madrid – maybe you’ve heard of that upstart team from Spain. Yes, the game had the significance of navel lint and I’m sure I could have spent the time better continuing watching GLOW or something. However, it did give thought to maybe someday the NWSL could have an All-Star Game.

I recall asking Megan Rapinoe about the idea for the league to have one after the Reign picked up the win in a bonkers, nine-goal game against Sky Blue FC before the league went on international break. She said she’d like the league to have it and yeah, who wouldn’t? Of course, entertaining the idea of an All-Star Game is a really, REALLY long ways away. There are so many other things the league needs to do in terms of ensuring sustainability, we know this. But let’s say in the distant future, if/when the conditions are met, how could a NWSL All-Star Game look like?

There have been some suggestions that it could be the best of the NWSL taking on a women’s club team from Europe, much like the format the MLS has. It’s not a bad idea. Another suggestion is NWSL East versus NWSL West. Again, not a bad idea. I’m sure what I’m about to say is not an original idea as I’m sure it’s been proposed on Twitter or (shudders) the black hole of WoSo fandom, Tumblr, but what about one team made up of NWSL players from the United States, Canada, and Mexico versus NWSL players from the rest of the world. Being that the league started off with the federations of Canada, Mexico, and the United States – there’s enough talent there to field a starting eleven with adequate subs. Then with the NWSL Internationals, I think we can safely assume that by the time anything All-Star Game related is actually materialized, the league will have grown and be sustainable enough that there are just as many international players in the league as there are from North America. Schedule it around a mid-season FIFA break and in addition to the game, you can have NWSL Skills competition like a free kick competition, have fans vote for say team captains or the final roster spots for each team, and make it a day or weekend of festivities. It could work, right?

So, NWSL North America versus NWSL International. Thoughts?

WEEK 15 PREDICTIONS
I’m glad the break is over and the league resumes. Here are this weekend’s predictions.

Boston Breakers OVER FC Kansas City.
I don’t know if the break has given Vlatko Andonovski the time to come up with something new so the ball gets to Sydney Leroux or Shea Groom and they’re actually putting shots on target. That’s Kansas City’s problem and I have my doubts they can find the trick. I said before that Boston is going to be a problem for some teams as the push for the playoffs heats up and I think a win here starts that momentum that enables them to look at the playoff contenders with bad intentions.

Sky Blue FC OVER Washington Spirit.
Sky Blue will look to avenge that bonkers game against Seattle before the break, and they will take it out on Washington.

Portland Thorns FC and Houston Dash play to a DRAW.
I have no idea if moving the kick-off time will play an advantage to either side. The extreme heat that’s blanketing the Pacific Northwest is going to result in a game where everyone moves like wet sponges.

North Carolina Courage OVER Seattle Reign FC.
I’d like to be proven wrong in that Seattle will pick up a major win on the road with this one given North Carolina will have the make-up game against FC Kansas City after this before they travel to Seattle for the return leg of this series the following weekend. That said, the side that’s hosting does not lose in this league. Also, who knows if this one will kick-off on time.

Chicago Red Stars OVER Orlando Pride.
Last time I said Chicago Red Stars would do good and win, Christen Press claimed a brace. So clearly she saw my predictions and went, “I like the cut of this guy’s jib.” Red Stars keep their hold at the top of the table.

Here’s your tunes to send you into the weekend.

Song: “Fever” | Artist: Roosevelt

The Unknown International: Andressinha

Posted on by RJ Allen

The NWSL may be the American women’s soccer league, but some of their strongest players come from all around the world. This series will look at some of those internationals that you may not know a lot about. Each article will highlight their style of play, the role they play on their national team, and the role they play in their club.

This week we will be looking at Brazilian international Andressinha of the Houston Dash.

What Does She Do?

Andressinha is a 22-year-old attacking midfielder. She is one of the numerous Brazilian players in the NWSL. Among these include names like Marta, Camila, and Monica of the Orlando Pride; Debinha of the North Carolina Courage; and Poliana, Andressinha’s teammate on the Houston Dash. Andressinha is one of many young Brazilian players making a name for themselves in the NWSL.

Brazilian National Team

Andressinha has been with the Brazilian national team since 2012. She has nine goals in 23 caps with the team, and competed in both the 2015 Women’s World Cup and the 2016 Rio Olympics. She is currently competing in the Tournament of Nations, where she played a full 90 minutes in the 1-1 draw against Japan and scored two goals in Brazil’s 4-3 loss to the United States. The Brazilian national team, and Andressinha along with them, have been steadily improving since 2015. Their critical matches in recent tournaments have come against Australia. Australia knocked them out of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, and they subsequently knocked them out of the 2016 Rio Olympics. Both teams are strong and on the rise, full of young talent and getting better with each match.

Houston Dash

Andressinha has made 25 starts in 27 appearances for the team over the past two years. This season she has already scored two goals and three assists. She is improving more and more as the season goes on and as she gets more playing time. Andressinha has played a crucial role in the Dash’s six-game undefeated streak, earning Player of the Week in Week 13 after scoring the game-winning goal against the Washington Spirit. She was credited with creating two goal-scoring opportunities in that game and had an 87% passing accuracy.

Andressinha is a player that is constantly improving with both her club and her country. At just 22-years-old, she has much more time to grow her game, especially as she continues to get more minutes with both Brazil and the Houston Dash.

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 14

Posted on by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 14 Game Previews:

We have arrived at week 14 of the NWSL and the last week of matches before a break for the USWNT Tournament of Nations with Japan, Australia, and Brazil all participating. Let’s dive into some previews. 

Game 1: Chicago Red Stars vs. Orlando Pride

Chicago Red Stars record: 7-3-4
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 25

Orlando Pride record: 5-5-4
Position: 6th
Total Points: 19

The Red Stars are finally playing a game at home after coming off a last-minute draw against Sky Blue last week. They will be looking to shut down the Pride attack that came alive last week against FCKC. Chicago, for all of its efforts, is still struggling to finish their chances as well even with the play of Christen Press and Sofia Huerta this season. If Chicago can keep stringing passes together and start to make something of their chances, Orlando may be in trouble. 

Orlando is coming into this game hoping for a much-needed, big win on the road against Chicago. The attack came alive last week, with four different players scoring the four goals. However, Orlando’s biggest problem all season has been staying consistent. If they can stay consistent, bring numbers forward, and make sure their chances are being finished, we should see a very good game. Their biggest threat from Chicago will be two-fold. One, figuring out a way to slip past the Chicago defense, who don’t leave much room for breakaways. Two, making sure, again, the attack is not stifled and making scoring opportunities happen. 

Game 2: FC Kansas City vs. North Carolina Courage

FC Kansas City record: 3-7-4
Position: 9th
Total Points: 13

North Carolina Courage record: 9-5-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 27

FCKC is struggling this season. There is unfortunately just no other way to say that. They have a lot of talent but are missing a few very key players whose voids have not been filled. For all of the struggles, the team has remained positive but the mental game has been quite strong. Sydney Leroux is still not being used in ways that best suit her game, which is a big part of why they may be floundering on that front. They will have their hands full this week against a very tough Courage attack. The biggest test at home will be if their defense is up to the task.

North Carolina is coming into the week still at number one. Will anyone knock them off of the pedestal? Even though they are playing FCKC this week, the parity of this league has reared its head on more than one occasion this season, so anything can happen. They will be best suited to continue their strong wave of attack, making sure to keep up the pressure against FCKC’s backline, and challenge Nicole Barnhart as much as possible. 

Game 3: Houston Dash vs. Boston Breakers

Houston Dash record: 5-7-2
Position: 7th
Total Points: 17

Boston Breakers record: 3-6-5
Position: 8th
Total Points: 14

The Dash are coming in on a streak and I think it’s sufficient to say that the presence of Carli Lloyd and their renewed faith in their play have both contributed to that. I am of the belief that interim Head Coach Omar Morales does not have a whole lot to do with that, but rather playing a consistent starting line-up has helped a lot. This week against a Breakers side–who are also stringing a few more things together–the Dash will need to remain consistent. This will include preventing silly giveaways but also making sure the defense is on point. 

The Breakers are looking to tally a few more positive results together to get themselves on a run too. With Houston, their thing will be to find a way to score. Sounds easy enough, but Boston is having trouble making that happen, especially since Rose Lavelle went out. The Breakers will have their hands full with Carli Lloyd back in the mix but will also have Allysha Chapman back from suspension as well, who has been an asset for them this season.

Game 4: Seattle Reign vs. Sky Blue FC

Seattle Reign record: 5-3-6
Position: 5th
Total Points: 21

Sky Blue FC record: 7-6-2
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 23

Seattle has been one of the bigger head scratchers of this season for me, points and playing wise. One week, they seem to be on a tear, and then the next, they weaknesses predicted at the beginning of the season rear their ugly head. My co-worker, Charles Olney wrote a great piece about this struggle this week. Facing a Sky Blue team with Sam Kerr in the form she is in, is no easy feat. Their job is to find a way to contain Kerr and not let her produce some late match magic. Megan Rapinoe also had a quiet game last week and with Jess Fishlock out for the foreseeable future, there is even more pressure for her to be on her game. 

Sky Blue is the team of late-match magic this season. They have been inconsistent in stretches and then seem to come back at the very last-minute and put games away. Their defense without Mandy Freeman and some other key players has been struggling a lot this season and if Seattle can capitalize on that, they will be in trouble. While Sky Blue has many different pieces, without Sam Kerr, I believe we would be looking at a much different team right now as she has been the one to usually save the game in the end. 

Game 5: Portland Thorns vs. Washington Spirit

Portland Thorns record: 6-4-4
Position: 4th
Total Points: 22

Washington Spirit record: 3-7-3
Position: 10th
Total Points: 12

Portland, while pulling out a big win against the table leaders last week at home, still seem to be having trouble just figuring out what it is they want to do as a team. Chemistry on a team that has not seen a lot of turnover plus lack of play from some big names is a bit concerning. Christine Sinclair, for all of her international prowess, has been almost non-existent for the team and Adrianna Franch’s distribution issues and weaknesses are starting to be brought more into the light. But somehow, for the most part, they keep etching out wins. They may not have too much trouble this week against a struggling Spirit side, but ultimately, it may be their own lack of chemistry and togetherness that sees the Spirit potentially pull one out on the road. 

The Spirit are at the bottom of the table, seemingly struggling from injuries but also from the predicted outcomes from the beginning of the season. They have some of the pieces capable of turning it around but with Franny Ordega out, their attack has taken another big hit. The Spirit are in desperate need of a turnaround and I am not sure on the road against Portland will do them any favors in that regard. However, if they can just keep their head down and high pressure up against a Portland side that is also struggling with consistency, they might have a chance. Ultimately, the Spirit will need a big game from Mal Pugh and will rely on consistency from core players, Estelle Johnson in the back, Steph Labbé in-goal, and Tori Huster in the midfield. 

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Monday 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: More Than A Feeling With Boston

Posted on by RJ Allen

First and foremost, a big thanks to my Backline Soccer colleagues for wishing me a happy birthday last week.

AS I TOOK ANOTHER STEP IN BEING OLD, I CAN’T HELP BUT GET REFLECTIVE

On  Sunday, the UEFA Women’s European Championship started.

The second half of the NWSL season is underway and with it comes the push for the four playoff spots.

Next week there will be the Tournament of Nations in which the United States, Australia, Brazil, and Japan take part in, across three cities in the US.

Needless to say, times are good for women’s soccer.

Yes, there are still strides to be made in regards to accessibility for fans and media alike to watch a match on a television, computer, or mobile device. Yes, collectively attendances could always use more people going through the turnstiles and attending matches live. Yes, there are jamokes whose sad minds need to be changed from “LOLWOMENSSPORTS” and give these professional athletes, and human beings, the proper respect. That said, it’s pretty remarkable where the women’s game started compared to where it is today. 

Last week, we celebrated the anniversary of the July 10, 1999, Women’s World Cup final where which defender Brandi Chastain converted the winning penalty and subsequent iconic photo. The interest of women’s soccer, let alone soccer, in general, was so far from my radar of interests, that it’s really surreal that here I am, typing out a weekly musings piece for a women’s soccer website.

Like any other world of sports fandom, the fanatics that make up the soccer world, no gender caveat specific, is sure a fascinating one. Yet I would not trade it for anything else in the world.

SO YOU WANT TO BE IN THE NWSL PLAYOFFS? “HIYA” SAYS BOSTON

With the second half of the NWSL season well underway, I think we can be safe in saying it will be North Carolina plus three other teams that will make up the playoff field for the NWSL Championship. Where things stand in the table at the moment, I think those other three will be the Chicago Red Stars, Sky Blue FC, and Seattle Reign FC.  That being said, the teams in the middle aren’t too far off from the playoffs either. There are several squads who–with some strategic wins–could find themselves above the cutoff in that number four spot. But having seen Boston in person last weekend at Memorial Stadium, and watching them hold the Reign FC to just a point, I think the Boston Breakers will do enough to affect the playoff chances of either Portland or Orlando.

In the final two months of the regular season, the Breakers meet Orlando twice (one home, one away) and host Portland. If Boston gets a draw in those three matches and/or somehow get a victory one of them, it could be a proverbial bump in the road on them trying to get into the NWSL playoffs.

When Boston was in Seattle last week, head coach Matt Beard said they had a plan for Megan Rapinoe. You don’t have to look far as to how 2017 Megan Rapinoe has been playing–she’s at the top of her game. But the thing about Boston is … their plan worked. Historically, whenever the Reign FC score first at home, they smell blood in the water. Seattle scored first last weekend and if some final balls didn’t lack that last bit of quality, Seattle could have easily been up one or two goals on Boston, especially some of the chances midfielder Lindsay Elston had. 

Yet Boston’s defense did not break; hell it barely bent considering the firepower capabilities Seattle had in Rapinoe and Nahomi Kawasumi. Goalkeeper Abby Smith and a defensive line led by Julie King stayed in constant communication and their switches and swarming the ball when they needed to worked as well as anyone could expect. If the Breakers are going to disrupt any playoff spot-chasing team in August and September, it’s going to be because of their defense. And we really need to start giving those back five the attention that they deserve. In talking to defender Amanda Frisbie after the match against Seattle, she sounded like a player that was totally into Matt Beard’s program. Previewing the season, I said that Boston could give people a lot more trouble and I’m sticking with it. So at the risk of making two strong and vocal fan bases really mad at me, yeah – Orlando and Portland, do not sleep on the Boston Breakers.

They could very well muck any thoughts you had of playoff soccer.

IN ADDITION TO MY GENERALLY BAD WEEKEND PREDICTIONS …
I am going to add a blurb or two as to what I see when looking at the matchups that leads me to make the predictions. And yes they’ll be from the same sound logic that is my brain and what I think I know about soccer.

Chicago Red Stars OVER Orlando Pride

Red Stars have a stout defense. And they have players up top to actually put shots on goal – I think they’re going to knock Orlando back to reality. And maybe out of that eyebrow-raising power ranking.

North Carolina Courage OVER FC Kansas City

Yes, for the most part, the side that is hosting historically gets the result. However, I don’t think KC will recover from Orlando’s four goals in time for a North Carolina side that is probably still annoyed at being handcuffed last week in Portland.

Houston Dash and Boston Breakers play to a DRAW

Houston will probably dominate the numbers and feel like they “should” win but the Breakers will be a barrier that won’t be broken.

Seattle Reign FC OVER Sky Blue FC

This will be a goal-fest, like four or five. Headlined by Pinoe and Kerr trying to top each other. And in the final minutes, a Seattle defender will get that match winner.

Portland Thorns FC OVER Washington Spirit

Remember that time Portland traveled to Maryland and Washington won because Portland looked lethargic? Yeah, the Thorns remember and will get their retribution.

And here is your music video break.

Song: “The Heavy Entertainment Show” | Artist: Robbie Williams

6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 13

Posted on by RJ Allen

Another week, another step closer to the end of the season, and a little bit more parity. The Portland Thorns are currently occupying the last playoff slot, but just five points separate them from the top of the table … and from 7th place. It’s a close race.

Here are our six takeaways from the weekend.

Understated Journeyman, Aubrey Bledsoe – Luis Hernandez

This season has provided its fair share of highlights and outstanding play; however, one of the bright spots of the league to go slightly below the radar is the performance of Aubrey Bledsoe. When Ashlyn Harris went down against Seattle, newly signed keeper Caroline Stanley stepped in due to Bledsoe being out on concussion protocol. That setback didn’t phase Aubrey at all, and once she was cleared she was able to earn her spot in Head Coach Tom Sermanni’s starting XI. Bledsoe’s continuously improving performance coincides with Orlando adding Lloyd Yaxley as goalkeeper coach.

Her time in front of the Orlando Pride goal has delivered the team’s lone clean sheet, two Save of the Week honors, 31 saves, and a record of 4-2-1. In the coming weeks, Harris will be fit enough to reclaim her starting job, but Bledsoe’s performance should give Sermanni some food for thought as Aubrey demonstrated that she has the skills to be a starter in the league, and is making a case for herself should a team need to make a play for a goalkeeper in the offseason. Bledsoe will soon return to the bench, and she’s been overshadowed by the likes of Stephanie Labbe, Sabrina D’Angelo and Kailen Sheridan. But we need to acknowledge, and celebrate, her steadiness in goal and admit that she’s one of the playmakers behind Orlando’s resurgence this season.

The Reign May Rue Another Home Draw – Luis Hernandez

Seattle played its eighth home match last weekend, putting it up with North Carolina for having almost exhausted their home field matches of the 2017 season. However, unlike the Courage–whose home record is 6-2–the Reign have only won four of their home matches so far, notching up four draws as well. The team will have to become road warriors if they hope to break through into the playoff picture. Of course, this isn’t exactly something for Seattle to get their laces in a knot over at the moment. They currently sit in fifth place, trailing the Portland Thorns by a mere point. The club is in control of its fate.

The Reign, however, should be higher in the standings. And they made it harder for themselves by not holding on to the lead against the Boston Breakers. For the season, Seattle has scored first eight times, but only won four of those games. Compare that to the teams above them on the table–they each have a better home game success rate than the Reign. Additionally, hot on their heels are the Orlando Pride, who also have a better percentage when scoring first. If this trend continues, Head Coach Laura Harvey’s crew may miss the playoffs for the second straight season because of their inability to seal the deal at Memorial.

Defender Goals Are the Best Goals – Jordan Small

On Saturday night, two defenders scored their first NWSL goals of their careers. Yes, you read that correctly. Two defenders netted goals on Saturday and neither were headed into the net off of a set piece. Orlando’s Toni Pressley rocketed a shot past FCKC goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart in the 70’ to give the Pride a 3-1 lead. Pressley picked up the ball and took half a dozen dribbles or so before taking a booming left-footed shot from the top of the 18-yard box. The ball had so much curve on it that it ended up bending around the outstretched arms of Barnhart at the back post.

Washington’s Estelle Johnson also wanted in on the goal scoring action in their game against the Houston Dash. And so, in the 75’ Johnson streaked through the box and received a well-timed pass from midfielder Havana Solaun. Johnson shot the ball at the near post and seemed to have caught goalkeeper Jane Campbell leaning.

While forwards like Sam Kerr, Marta, and Megan Rapinoe are lighting it up on the goal sheet this season, it’s always fun to see defenders get in on the goal scoring action. With defenders being asked to get forward even more this season, don’t be surprised if more players on the backline start finding the net.

Jane Campbell Is Settling In – Jordan Small

Jane Campbell’s NWSL career didn’t start off as she had hoped. A 5-1 shellacking in late April on the road against Seattle was not great at the time, but maybe that was the bit of adversity Campbell needed to get her career underway. Now six games into her career, she has righted her goals against average to a pretty impressive 1.3.

On Saturday night, Campbell had eight saves in the 2-1 win against Washington. She was tested early and often, but stood strong in goal to pick up the three points. Her ability to command the backline and her confidence in net has allowed head coach Omar Morales to stick with her over Australian international Lydia Williams. With the Tournament of Nations coming up and Ashlyn Harris still hurt, Campbell has made a very good case for herself to be the backup to Alyssa Naeher for the United States.

North Carolina Need to Watch Out for a Second Half Swoon – Charles Olney

Last year, the Western New York Flash raced out to a strong start, only to stumble badly in the second half of the season—picking up one solitary win in their final eight matches. That was enough to hold off Seattle for the final playoff spot, but it was a close call. If not for some major strokes of luck (getting to play Boston two extra times, and snagging three points secured on an extremely tiny field), they could easily have missed the playoffs. This year, they’ve got a new location, but they might just be in some risk of repeating the results of last year. North Carolina remains at the top of the table but they’re starting to look just a little ragged. Some of that may be down to their style of play: aggressive pressing, constant running, leave nothing on the field. That takes a lot of energy and can be difficult to sustain for a full year. What’s more, teams around the league seem to have made some adjustments. This weekend, Portland looked far more comfortable dealing with the NC attack and far less troubled by the high press.

With only ten games to go, Carolina is still pretty close to a lock to make the playoffs. But if they can’t make some adjustments, the Supporters Shield and home-field advantage might very well be on the table.

Have Sky Blue Been Lucky or Good? Why not both? – Charles Olney

In their last two matches, Sky Blue have started out looking thoroughly outclassed. In each game, they went down 2-0, and it could easily have been worse. Their backline looked haphazard, their midfield sloppy, and Sam Kerr could barely get a touch on the ball. Against Kansas City, a red card for Shea Groom helped turn the tide. Sky Blue came roaring back, winning the game on a Kerr hat-trick. Groom’s foul wasn’t much, but by a strict reading of the rules was a red card offense. A hand to the face is a hand to the face. But this week, the story went the other direction. Nikki Stanton was (correctly) given a yellow card in the opening minutes, and then committed an awful foul about 20 minutes later, but was allowed to continue. That in and of itself isn’t shocking—NWSL referees are quite lenient about rough play and are usually quite hesitant to issue dismissals. But by a strict reading of the rules, it was clearly a bookable offense.

In one sense, these two discretionary calls were the key turning points of their respective games. And had the decisions been reversed—if the referees had been loose in the first case and strict in the second, rather than the opposite—it’s quite likely that Sky Blue would be looking back at two rough losses in a row. So in that sense, they were quite lucky. But it’s important to remember that lucky chances are only as important as you make them. Even with a bit of luck in refereeing decisions, the New Jersey side still had a lot of work to do to pull those results back. And they deserve all the credit in the world for staying tough, holding on, and capitalizing on the opportunities provided. At the end of the day, you can’t control what sorts of lucky breaks will come your way, but you absolutely can control what you do when they do show up. And right now, Sky Blue is exploiting their luck to great effect.

Amber Brooks Deserves Another Shot With the USWNT

Posted on by RJ Allen

Amber Brooks may not be the first name that comes to mind when talking about who might be called up to the USWNT in the next year or so, but perhaps she should be.

With the USWNT officially in the rebuilding stage in between major international tournaments, there has been much conversation about who might factor into the picture for the 2019 World Cup. Jill Ellis said at the beginning of this process that she would be looking at the NWSL as the prime market for identifying talent that could translate to the international stage. This has paved the way for many of the new faces we’ve seen in recent friendlies, including Casey Short, Lynn Williams, and Kealia Ohai. 

There are still pieces of the puzzle missing, however, if their struggles against the top teams in the She Believes Cup is any indication. One of those pieces happens to be a primarily defensive-minded, holding midfielder who can hold down the fort and spring the strong attack. Without the steadying defensive presences of Lauren Holiday and Shannon Boxx, the USWNT has looked slightly lost when it comes to feeding the ball through the middle and stopping attacking runs before they get to the backline.

In the NWSL, there are few better at that job than Amber Brooks.

Brooks came up with the National Team youth system, playing in major tournaments for the U-17, U-20, and U-23 sides. Her college years were spent playing for the vaunted UNC Tarheels under legendary Anson Dorrance. Brooks was looked at by the USWNT in 2013–during Tom Sermanni’s tenure–earning one cap and 81 minutes against Brazil. Her club career includes a stint at Bayern Munich, as well as playing with Portland and Seattle in the NWSL before landing in Houston.

Brooks came to Houston in October of 2015, by way of the blockbuster trade that landed Alex Morgan in Orlando and Meghan Klingenberg in Portland. While Houston has struggled (to put it lightly), Brooks has provided a bright spot in their lineup. She’s a strong presence on the field, she’s a ruthless defender, and her free kicks and eye for offensive service make her a perfect lynch-pin for an attack. With Morgan Brian out with persistent injuries and National Team duty for much of 2016, Brooks became the stalwart presence that helped the Dash midfield and defense steady themselves after their shaky start. She has only grown in that role for them as the 2017 season has progressed.

For a USWNT so desperate for defensive solutions that they have resorted to putting attacking midfielders in at center back, under the guise of needing someone to direct the attack from the back, Brooks would be a valuable stop-gap as a defensive mid. She is not particularly fast, but she is smart about compensating for her speed by choosing her moments, similar to Sauerbrunn. Having her in front of the backline would provide some peace of mind to a struggling defensive system and allow attacking mids like Allie Long and Carli Lloyd to range farther forward where their heads can provide perfect targets for Brooks’s strong service. 

Houston has most definitely benefitted from having Brooks offensive skills over the past couple of years. Her solid presence and ability to direct play allows players like Andressinha, Morgan Brian, and Carli Lloyd to assume their preferred attacking roles. Brooks has also developed good connections with Rachel Daly and Kealia Ohai in the Dash’s frontline, often feeding them through balls that they can run onto as often as their heart desires. 

While Brooks is 26–a bit older than the young phenoms that Ellis has shown a preference for–she definitely deserves another look at the defensive mid position for the USWNT. Her years of experience are exactly what the USWNT needs to balance out their glut of young attackers and strengthen the backbone of the lineup. Brooks can provide an offensive rallying point and perhaps give Becky Sauerbrunn some peace of mind. 

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 13

Posted on by RJ Allen

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 13 Game Previews:

We have arrived at Week 13 of the NWSL. Parity is still a real thing as we continue to move through the season, but the gaps are widening. The Courage and the Red Stars are pulling away from the pack but the fight for the 4th spot is fierce; even the 3rd spot is potentially up for grabs as we progress through the season. Let’s take a look at some quick notes on this weekend’s games.

Game 1: Portland Thorns vs. North Carolina Courage

Portland Thorns record: 5-4-4
Position: 5th
Total Points: 19

North Carolina Courage record: 9-4-0
Position: 1st
Total Points: 27

Portland’s season has been a bit of a head scratcher and an argument between Allie Long and Meghan Klingenberg caught on camera at the end of last week’s match, it seems cohesion and team chemistry may actually be the bigger problem this year. They will also be without Nadia Nadim, Amandine Henry, and Dagny Brynjarsdóttir, who are off with their national teams to compete in the Euros. Playing at home this week should give them the energy and motivation they need to get back on track. Look for players like Christine Sinclair to feed off of that energy and hopefully get her season in a groove. Facing a strong wave of attack from the Courage, the Thorns will need to be careful of not being spread too far and allowing the attack to find pockets of space. Adrianna Franch has been having problems with her decision-making in big moments and will need to shore that up this week to have a fighting chance. Overall, if the Thorns can find their attack early, coupled with the Courage’s seeming struggles on the road, they may just pull one out at home. 

The Courage have spent all but about 12 hours of this season on top, but over the last several games, they have proven that they are beatable. They would certainly prefer to continue to reign at the top. With both Lynn Williams and Jess McDonald fully back from injury as well as an in-form Ashley Hatch, the Courage have plenty of attacking power to test the Thorns defense, which they will look to do this week. Playing on the road and especially in Portland, the Courage will want to get on the board early. 

Game 2: Sky Blue FC vs. Chicago Red Stars

Sky Blue FC record: 7-6-1
Position: 3rd
Total Points: 22

Chicago Red Stars record: 7-3-3
Position: 2nd
Total Points: 24

Sky Blue is looking for three big points at home this week. After a come-from-behind win thanks to the dominating play of Sam Kerr last week, I ask, where would they be without her? I think you would be hard-pressed to find a team that needs the likes of Sam Kerr more than Sky Blue as another attacking option just does not seem plausible without her. Sky Blue will be facing a tough Chicago attack with Christen Press leading the way and a stalwart midfield, led by Julie Ertz. While they have been in the habit of winning games late, they are going to want to wrap this one up early in order to stave off Chicago, who gets progressively better as the game goes on. The big focus for Sky Blue this week will be their defense. Mandy Freeman was injured last week, spraining her left ankle in the big win against FCKC, and will be out this week. Even with her healthy, the backline of Sky Blue has had struggles holding games together and will more likely have big problems against Chicago this weekend. 

Chicago would also like to move on from a disappointing draw last week with three big points this week. Their main focus this week will be to figure out how to contain Sam Kerr. If they can shut down Kerr, the Sky Blue attack will be mainly stifled. However, Chicago has had issues this season stringing passes together and maintaining meaningful possession. To accomplish pulling out a win and containing Kerr, they will need to rely more heavily on the team as a whole–not just Christen Press–to drive the attack. Press works better as the main striker and with her not playing last week there, their best asset was not being utilized properly. The Red Stars, though, continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the back. Expect Naeher and company to be tested frequently. 

Game 3: Orlando Pride vs. FC Kansas City

Orlando Pride record: 4-5-4
Position: 6th
Total Points: 16

FC Kansas City record: 3-6-4
Position: 8th
Total Points: 13

Orlando’s season has been one big roller coaster but if they want a chance at that fourth spot, they have got to get better at finishing their chances and stop giving away games with dreaded penalties. This week, with FCKC struggling in the attack, as long as the Pride can finish more of their chances, they should see positive results. The Pride seem to have a different struggle each week. For example, Orlando needs to find a better and more suitable defender than Kristen Edmonds as her play is becoming detrimental at times. This game should not prove defensively troublesome but if the Pride cannot convert their load of possession into the end result of goals, then the struggles will continue. Look for more cohesion from Alex Morgan and Marta this week, as they have another week of practice time under their belts. If Morgan can get her timing right this week, she may just be the extra push and clinical finisher they need up top with Marta.

FCKC just doesn’t have the answer for replacing Amy Rodriguez as a linking attacking player, which would free up players like Sydney Leroux and Shea Groom in the attack. Without Groom this week, due to a red card suspension, it will be mainly up to Leroux to hold down the attack and try to work in behind the Pride defensive line. If Leroux is able to find an opening and get on the board, FCKC may be able to start building the game from there. They will have their hands full, however, up front, staving off the attack Morgan, Marta, and Camila; the latter two players have been leading the way for most of the Pride season. 

Game 4: Houston Dash vs. Washington Spirit

Houston Dash record: 4-7-2
Position: 7th
Total Points: 14

Washington Spirit record: 3-6-3
Position: 10th
Total Points: 12

Houston is on the slow and steady upswing of their season, pulling out some crucial points. Without Carli Lloyd this week, due to red card suspension, we will see if her influence is just as palpable on the bench as on the field. The flair of the Spirit attack will test the Dash backline. While Lloyd has not yet supplied a good amount of goals, she has been crucial in developing play and linking passes to the goal-scorers, so they will need to make sure someone steps up in her absence. If Houston can get more production from Rachel Daly and similar production from Poliana–who should be starting–they may get positive results in the week without Lloyd. 

The Washington Spirit attacking duo of Estefania Banini and Mal Pugh will be key this week. Banini and Pugh showed off some early connections against the Pride last week, so with more time together, they should prove deadly for anyone facing them defensively. The Spirit have some dark horses in Meggie Doherty-Howard and Havana Solaun and if they can engage their talents more this week, they should see some good production. As always, the Spirit will look to rely on Tori Huster and Steph Labbé who have been huge and crucial for the success that Spirit have had this season. 

Game 5: Seattle Reign vs. Boston Breakers

Seattle Reign record: 5-3-5
Position: 4th
Total Points: 20

Boston Breakers record: 3-6-4
Position: 9th
Total Points: 13

Seattle will be without Jess Fishlock for a while, and once they looked out of sorts last week against the Courage without her. They will need to bounce back quickly to continue their quest for a playoff spot. Megan Rapinoe will need a much better game this week in order for the team to see success. If Rapinoe can connect and get back to the form she has had all season, the Reign should roll through this game. But if the Reign continue to have inconsistency issues, the Breakers could feasibly fight for the win. 

While Boston is sitting near the bottom of the table, they have begun to play a little better lately. The Breakers will sorely miss Allysha Chapman, out on yellow card accumulation. Boston will have to find an answer for Rapinoe this week, especially if she is back to her usual self. If they can contain her and put up a quality attacking presence, they just might be able to come out of Seattle with the win. 

The Scouting Report:

We went live on Monday 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: