Tag: NWSL

6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 19

Posted on by RJ Allen

Week 19 saw two playoff spots clinched, a team ending an at-home losing streak, and 19 goals scored throughout the weekend games. As the number of teams who can make the playoffs continues to drop, the fight to the finish continues for the teams within reach of the final two playoff positions.

We’re here with our takeaways as the season grinds down to the nitty gritty. 

A Numbers Game – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

Some people might know that I’m a bit of a data nerd. I like seeing numbers, exploring them, and trying to derive meaning from them. I’ve been keeping an eye on the NWSL on Lifetime audience numbers as best as I can this season, and there’ve been some interesting things I want to talk about.

First, I think the deal was definitely a boon for the league. Granted, they have never released data on Youtube audiences in seasons 1-4, but a quick skim of the NWSL Youtube channel suggests that the audience numbers (even two or three years later with the ability to go back and stream for free) for the first four seasons on Lifetime far exceed them. So far, the biggest audience for Lifetime has been the Portland Thorns v NC Courage game on July 13th, while the smallest audience was 49,000 just two weeks earlier when the Courage played Sky Blue FC on July 1st. But all in all, with 19 weeks gone of the season, the NWSL is averaging almost a hundred thousand viewers per week. Which is impressive for the league. Everyone should be pretty excited about the growth of the fan base.

What would be interesting to see, of course, are the numbers for the go90 games. Because I’d imagine that those are out-performing Youtube as well. Or the international numbers from the NSWL site itself. But all in all, it’s pretty clear that the Lifetime deal was a good move for the league.

The Fall – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

I remember a few weeks after the 2015 Women’s World Cup victory, watching some of the players on the field, off of it. And they didn’t look happy. The World Champions looked a little … lost. The thing nobody tells you about achieving your dream or reaching the peak of one of your highest goals is the fall after. All that adrenaline, all that focus, all that drive. And then the celebrations–the constant moving from one event to the next, the parties, the accolades. It all sounds like a dream, right? Except–the drop-off after, it can be devastating. The low after such a high, it can take a long time and a lot of help to climb back up from.

This weekend Lifetime did a special segment on Stephanie Labbe, the Canadian goalkeeper and two-season veteran of the Washington Spirit squad. And Labbe, very clearly, talks about the same issue. The low after the high, the depression she fell into in the wake of her team’s fabulous Bronze Medal Olympic performance, the struggle of coming back to her NWSL squad and sitting on the bench. And how she couldn’t find “Steph Labbe” for a time amid all the “Canadian Bronze Medalist Stephanie Labbe” talk and celebrations.

First, props to Labbe for being open about her mental health struggles. She joins the small but important (and growing) group of athletes who are helping to destigmatize mental illness. And second, maybe let’s try to remember that athletes, first and foremost, are people. What they do and what they achieved is not their identity, it doesn’t define them.

Alex Morgan, Full-Time Pride Player – Luis Hernandez

One of the growing concerns for Orlando Pride fans for the 2018 season was whether the team would start next season without Alex Morgan. With the recent success and current unbeaten run the team finds themselves on the verge of a playoff spot in its second year of existence, the U.S. women’s national team striker first announced during the Orlando City on WRDQ TV27 that she would return to Orlando at the start of next season because she and Olympique Lyonnais had mutually agreed to terminate her contract.

The Pride star striker calls Orlando her home, and as much as Tom Sermanni and his squad would like nothing more than to lift the championship trophy this year, the outlook for Orlando looks even brighter next season. The Pride struggled to find any offense for the first quarter of the schedule; had Orlando had Marta and Morgan starting like the team will next year instead of fighting for the last playoff spot, the club could be looking to claim the NWSL shield in 2018.

 

A Rose By Any Other Name … – Luis Hernandez

In a young league like the NWSL, there are very few constants. However, one almost sure thing happened this past weekend when the Portland Thorns once again punched their ticket to the playoffs. In fact, the only time Portland failed to make the postseason was in the 2015 season which saw Paul Riley exit from the team; and that’s worked out for him as well. The first league champions have the support of city they play in, as well as the full backing of the Major League Soccer organization which owns the team. That level of support has been key because most teams couldn’t claim to have the level of success Portland has while having three changes to the head coach. In a league where organizational backing is the vital mark of on-field success, Portland hasn’t had an equal. In the odd 2015 season, the Thorns bounced back and reloaded for 2016. Something the organization isn’t shy on is bringing big name talent nationally and from across the world. As this year winds down, and supporters of the league start to countdown to next year’s draft and start of preseason, don’t be surprised when all the NWSL pundits come out and have Portland as a favorite to make playoffs once again which should please its supporter group, the Rose City Riveters, and the rest of Portland’s fans. #BAONPDX

Franch Makes Her Case for Return to the USWNT – Alyssa Zajac

There’s no denying that AD Franch had a shaky start to the 2017 season. Poor decision making and overall shakiness led to close calls in games and frustration from fans (myself included). There were several instances where everyone knew that Franch had barely escaped disaster after a bad giveaway or poor clearance.

However, as the season has progressed, Franch has grown into a capable and skilled starter for the Thorns. With nine shutouts on the season, Franch has shown herself to one of the most in-form goalkeepers in the league.

That being said, I think AD Franch should get another call up to the USWNT.

Right now, if I had to choose a depth chart for 2019 and beyond, this would be my top five for goalkeepers. This is based on two factors: current form and future potential/use of a player.

  1. Alyssa Naeher
  2. AD Franch
  3. Katelyn Rowland
  4. Jane Campbell
  5. Abby Smith

Franch has the potential to be a great asset to the USWNT. If she were to get called in, I would not be opposed to her alternating some starts with Alyssa Naeher–especially in friendlies (mostly because we don’t need a situation where Naeher is injured and we’re throwing a new INT GK to the wolves, please and thank you).

Anything could happen and change my opinion in the coming weeks, but right now Franch is one to watch. Based on her performance, she has earned another shot at the USWNT.

Chicago Gonna Chicago – Alyssa Zajac

Remember what I said last week about Chicago needing to stop letting in late goals? I should have added the statement “they also need to avoid conceding early goals”. Sunday’s game started with the Red Stars’ patented “what is soccer?” method for the first 20 to 25 minutes of the match.  Once again, the slow start cost them, with Lynn Williams scoring for the Courage in the 15th minute.

I figured that, in fairness, I do the same assessment as last week, except noted goals will be goals the Red Stars have conceded in the first 25 minutes of a game (to coincide with their slow starts for the first 20 to 25 minutes on average), and the impacts they had:

  • Houston (Ohai 15’) – goal differential. Result: 2-0 Loss
  • Sky Blue FC (Tiernan 3’) – goal differential. Result: 2-1 Win
  • Orlando (Morgan 24’) – goal differential. Result: 1-1 Draw
  • Portland (Raso 3’, Sinclair 9’) – goal differential. Result: 2-3 Loss
  • FC Kansas City (Leroux 23’) – goal differential. Result: 1-3 Loss
  • North Carolina (Williams 15’) – goal differential. Result: 2-1 Win

This is where I find the silver lining – the Red Stars have been able to come back and at least get a point out of  50% of the games in which they conceded early goals. While they did eventually equalize against Portland, they were unable to secure the draw. The two games they didn’t equalize coincidentally were games that saw Chicago conceding goals in the final ten minutes. I found that interesting.

So, what does all of this tell us? Honestly, not a whole lot. Chicago continues to be a team that generally struggles initially, then usually pulls themselves together, then either holds out for points or collapses in the final minutes. I know, I don’t understand it either.

The Red Stars’ final three games are going to be interesting to watch. While the win against North Carolina gave Chicago a tiny bit of breathing room, how the next three games start and finish could be what makes or breaks Chicago’s playoff dreams.

 

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

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

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

Something To Aspire To

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

They Are Connected

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

Role Models

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

Women Helping Women For The Common Goal

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

The League Is Attainable For Everyone

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

 

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

Off the Bench with Backline Soccer: 2017, Week 19

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

Backline Soccer Recap:

Quick Fire Week 19 Game Previews:

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

Game 1: Portland Thorns vs. Washington Spirit

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

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

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

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

Game 2: Orlando Pride vs. Boston Breakers

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

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

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

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

Game 3: FC Kansas City vs. Sky Blue FC

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

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

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

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

Game 4: Chicago Red Stars vs. North Carolina Courage

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

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

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

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

Game 5: Houston Dash vs. Seattle Reign

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

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

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

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

The Scouting Report:

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

Soccer Takes From Jake: The Final Four (Weeks)

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Breaking News: Chicago Red Stars Acquire Morgan Brian

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

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

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

 

6 Takeaways from NWSL: Week 18

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nicole Barnhart isn’t going to play forever.

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s Talk Six, Baby – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

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

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

First, stop using the word “historic.”

Okay, that one’s a joke.

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

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

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

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

#1, #1, #1 – Elizabeth Wawrzyniak

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on by RJ Allen

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

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

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

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

Find an Identity

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

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

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

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

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

 

Find Some Midfield Personality

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

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

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

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

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

 

Find Some Veteran Presence

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

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

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

Irreplaceable: 5 Reasons Christie Pearce Should Stick Around

Posted on by RJ Allen
Leanne Keator

Earlier this year Christie Pearce stated that this would be her last season playing professionally. So when it was reported that she was finished for the season because of an accumulation of injuries I felt my heart drop to my stomach. I wasn’t ready for it. In my mind, she was always that constant on the pitch. She has always been around. Ever since I was a kid watching the ’99 World Cup. And then she was just gone. In a second. And I didn’t like it one bit. I still don’t. I thought I had at least six more matches to watch her play. And now it looks like that won’t be the case. But there is a slim chance that she returns next season. In what capacity? I don’t know. And what are the chances of that happening? It’s hard to say. But all I know is that the sport needs her to stick around. Whether that is as a player, a coach, a commentator, or an ambassador for the sport, it doesn’t matter. We still need her…And maybe some of us still aren’t ready to let her go.

Regardless, here are the five reasons Christie Pearce should stick around:

She’s Still Good At Her Job

It’s easy to say that Christie Pearce was still a competitor in the league this year. She was the fastest defender in the league, she was tough to beat in a one-v-one on the back line, and she could help be that steady, calming force for Sky Blue FC. But her job wasn’t simply to be a center back. It hasn’t been for a long time. She is Captain America. She is a leader, and an on-field player-coach when she needs to be. She is a mentor to younger players, and a role model for the league veterans to idolize. She inspires the next generation by being the living legend of the sport. It’s a lot of responsibility. And sure, someone else would step up if she walked away from the sport for a while. But it wouldn’t be the same. No one else could juggle so many roles so effortlessly.

 

Her Soccer IQ Is Off The Charts

There isn’t anyone in the league that has a higher Soccer IQ than Pearce. She simply knows how to win, and how to innovate, and how to inspire a team. So even if her insanely good skillset isn’t utilized on the pitch, it could definitely be taken advantage of off of it. Because I think she still has more to give to the game. She has coached Sky Blue to a championship before while she was playing in 2009. Why not use that knowledge of the sport as a full-time coach? She will succeed in it. And I guarantee it will be much less stressful than the last time she coached. Why not make a run at being the next Alex Ferguson?

 

The League (and Everyone Else) Respects Her

No one speaks a bad word about Christie Pearce. She holds herself to a standard that all athletes should. She is poised and humble, but still commands respect from her peers. And through the years her prior peers have become ambassadors for the league, commentators, or coaches. Now her peers are twenty-somethings that look at her as if she walked on water. Everyone, including the fans, will support her in whatever decision she decides to make for her future. Because she has made some pretty great choices in her career this far. I mean, I don’t see any other 42-year-old players on the pitch with two World Cup wins, three Olympic Gold Medals, and a Women’s Professional Soccer Championship, so she must be doing something right. So if she decides to hang up her boots and call it a day, everyone will respect her choice. And if she decides to stick around, in whatever capacity that is, her choice will be welcomed with open arms.

 

Soccer Mom/Mentor

After the news broke of the end of Pearce’s season, Lifetime reported on it before their Match of the Week. And during their report, they stated that the young players of Sky Blue FC call Christie Pearce ‘Mom.’ And I get it. She is that person that they can always call on for reassurance or advice or a swift kick in the ass. But it isn’t just the Sky Blue women that see her in the mentoring role. It’s almost hard to not see her as that. She has seen more games and more situations than anyone else in the league. And going back to the second reason, she is great at knowing what to do and how to advise these women on the game. So if she hangs around, regardless of her position, she is still going to be looked to for the answers. Because she has seen it all – three separate professional leagues, pay disparities, and a bunch of FIFA politics. To put it simply, her input for these women and this league is invaluable.

 

We Don’t Want To Let Her Go

I get it if she wishes to walk away. She deserves a break. She deserves a happy retirement. She has been playing professionally for longer than any other active player. Think about the players that came and went during her career; how many of her friends she watched retire while she kept going. But then I think about her not being around to mold and shape the future of the sport and I have a difficult time thinking that anyone else wouldn’t want her to stick around. The players, the coaches, the fans, and the league hold her to a higher standard. And it is a standard that no one else has reached yet (and maybe never will). But the real question is if we are ready to let her go. I don’t think that we are. We can if we have to, but like that first Sky Blue match without her, it will be a strange experience.

At the end of the day, the choice is Christie’s. And we will all respect it no matter what, whether she stays or takes her much deserved retirement to be with her family. And maybe this article is a selfish plea to get her to stick around. I recognize that. I also recognize that my opinion undoubtedly holds zero weight in Christie Pearce’s mind. The whole point of this article is to highlight how she still holds a very meaningful place in the sport. One that cannot be filled by anyone else. And it doesn’t matter how she would decide to fill that place if she does. We will take anything that she is willing to give us. Because for us, she is irreplaceable.