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.