Weekend Athletica notes
With the Athletica playing two games on this road trip, they travelled with 18 players, more than they can suit up in any one road game, because manpower needs may vary between the two games. The only players not making the trip were Ashlee Pistorius and third goalie Erin Kane and injured players Daniela and Sarah Walsh. Which means that Melissa Tancredi is your backup forward for these next two games.
Tony Hubert points out that the Athletica have allowed 12 goals this season, two in the first half, 10 in the second. They’re 5-1-1 when being badly outshot by a 2-1 margin and 2-0 in games where they’ve taken two shots or less.
As Tancredi told me earlier this week: “You never know what will happen in soccer. You can play the best you’ve ever played and still lose. But you can play scrappy ball and still come up with a win.”
This weekend’s action:
Saturday, Boston at New York
Sunday, Athletica at San Jose, LA at Washington.
No matter what happens, the Athletica will still be in the top four after the weekend’s games and could get back into second.
Since the Athletica last saw Bay Area, the Gold Pride have added Sissi, the Brazilian legend, as a player. She had been an assistant coach. Gold Pride now has four Brazilian players on its roster.
And is in last place in the league. Those things probably aren’t related.
Soccer is a funny game no doubt. You can dominate games and still lose, and then the next week play like crud and pull out a win. I’m not too worried about the Brazil contingent that Bay Area has. We must remember that just because they have Brazillian players doesn’t make them perfect. Six points are out there on this trip. Let’s go get them.
Do we really want 2nd place? No 2nd place team has ever won a game in this league. Boston will try to break that jinx this weekend (hopefully not). It’s been really bad luck.
I’m surprised they’re not taking Pistorius on the trip, but the fact that Tancredi can play back line or forward helps. I guess Cinalli or Woz could move up front if they have to (or even Chalupny).
Bay area has four Brazilians, but really only Formiga is a top player. Erika and Adriane are okay, but they’ve been battling injuries off and on and neither on a level with Marta, Daniela, or Cristiane.
Sure we do. Remember that until Wednesday no team had trailed in a game and came back to win…and that streak is over now. Why shouldn’t we be a team that can break a streak??? The less games we play once we make the playoffs the less games we have anybody to get hurt or pick up a suspension in.
The curse continues! That’s 0-7-6 now. Sky Blue beats Boston 1-0 on a direct corner. Okay, if we can get some points Sunday night, it will be our shot at it. Go Athletica!
The teams are getting more bunched up with Chicago and Sky Blue winning.
Ok yeah…..a little bit of a suprise there today, but none the less this is our time to get it done. End the streak