The Athletica season ended with a 1-0 loss to Sky Blue FC on Wednesday in the WPS semifinal. I’ll have more on Thursday, but here are some quick thoughts on the loss:

Would the Athletica have been better off playing Washington, a team they hadn’t beaten, rather than Sky Blue, a team they’d beaten three times? Goals likely would have come more easily against Washington, which may have been a boost for the Athletica.

The offense generated just about nothing in the first half. As Kendall Fletcher noted before the game, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sky Blue come out a bit stronger since they’d already had a playoff game, but the Athletica never got their level up until the second half. Tina Ellertson said it was goalie coach Paul Rogers who really got on the team at halftime.

The Athletica never really tested Sky Blue goalie Jenni Branam, though they certainly banged her up.

Sky Blue coach Christie Rampone said the team wouldn’t be doing any training between now and the final. Two days between the semifinal and final is just too tight. It would be really bad if the semifinal was played on the East Coast and the final on the West Coast.

I asked Jeff Cooper after the game if they had considered a private jet to fly Eniola Aluko in for the final and he said they considered every option.

Once again, the Athletica’s set pieces didn’t produce much. Melissa Tancredi came close on a header on one corner, but it probably looked closer than it was.

The presence of Fox Soccer Channel and the possibility of inclement weather forced the press corps out of the press box, and while standing in the back of the crowd may not be the best way to cover a game, it was nice to say hi to a bunch of Athletica fans. And it never rained.

Every time I’ve watched a Sky Blue game this season, in person or at home, someone has asked me, “If they’re called Sky Blue, why are they wearing orange?” It happened again last night.

More on Thursday …