Sky Blue takes WPS title
I have to confess I was conflicted going into this match. Sky Blue had to be worn out as they played their third game in eight days, all on the road, all in warm weather. There was no way they could beat Los Angeles. But then with the way the Sol finished the season, and a two-week layoff, I thought the Sol were in deep trouble. So I had ruled out both teams as potential winners. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought Sky Blue could do it.
Which they did, beat L.A. 1-0 on a goal by Heather O’Reilly and then a red card that left them a man up for about an hour. Would the Sol have been able to equalize if the sides were even? Maybe, especially since Sky Blue faded substantially down the stretch. It reminded me of Tom Watson at the British Open. Once that match went to a playoff, he was doomed. If L.A. had equalized, they would have won in overtime.
But Sky Blue picked up the team of destiny tag somewhere along the way, and that’s what they are. Everything went their way at the end. To win three games, on the road, when your coach quits with two games to play, is no small accomplishment. The course of the season didn’t show Sky Blue to be the best team, but they looked better than all three teams they beat in the postseason.
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I hate to say this, but the FSC broadcasts could use some work. There was the couple of seconds where we had a nice view of the sky in Carson, replays that were late or replays that wiped out play. There was one Sol corner kick in the second half that was missed. The woman doing the postgame stuff said Commissioner Tonya Antonucci would “presentate” a trophy and her postgame interviews were, well, vague. I’ve seen better.
Tom: I’ll have to agree with you completely. World-class talent on the field, but certainly far from a world-class broadcast. In fact, I’ve seen better broadcasts on Charter back in the 90’s when they did Ambush games. I would have liked to seen FSC pick better announcers as well.
CONGRATS to Kerri Hanks, who was traded by Saint Louis a while back. She received much more playing time after the trade and I think she did well and created a lot of opportunities. I thought she looked very good against the Athletica in the semi-final….oh I’m sorry, the “Super” Semi-Final. Unfortunately, she found out why Hope Solo is the best women’s GK in the world.
Also, after watching Marta play several times, I don’t think she’s nearly as good as she’s all jacked up to be. In fact, I think Eluko is just as dangerous. Daniela might be just as good.
A player I hope Athletica keeps on eye on is a tall, powerful defender from Kansas City (Lee’s Summit to be exact) - Lauren Fowlkes, who is in her junior year at Notre Dame. She stands 5-10 and helped anchor the defense for the US WNT U-20 FIFA World Cup Championship team last December in Chile. That team was coached by Boston Breakers coach Tony DiCicco. In fact, she might be the BEST defensive player in women’s college soccer. In speaking with her recently, she said she’d love to play in St. Louis, which is close to home for her. Plus she might help add to the season ticket base with friends and family from the KC area.
I’d also like to see Athletica make some off-season moves and bring in the other local players that are already in the league.
And what is the latest on WPS expansion? I know it’s on the horizon for next year with Atlanta and Philly, but isn’t the LA Sol up for sale? What if they don’t find new owners? Are any other teams in trouble?
It was a good game but the red card was too much since it looked like Falk missed Kai and Kai went down on her own. Also Miyama should’ve probably been awarded a PK when she was taken out in the box.
Marta hasn’t put on the flashy moves as much as she did in the Womens’ World Cup in 2007. She had some amazing plays then that she used to get around people. I don’t know why she doesn’t use that as much but she was still very good today and played with a lot of determination. Losing Abily really hurt them.
Ambush2010, I don’t think any WPS teams are in trouble yet and I think the Sol are not in trouble for at least 3 years.
I didn’t think Falk’s foul was a red card from just the standpoint of the foul, but I think the ref made the decision that Falk was the last defender and clipped her from behind. To me, Los Angeles played with no urgency and maybe that was because they were down one player, but it looked like they found themselves in the championship game and didn’t know how to win the big game. Shannon Boxx looked like she was the only one in the last 30 minutes who understood what was at stake.
I agree with a lot of what Ambush2010 said, especially concerning the announcers. Hildreth was going on about how Falk intentionally elbowed Kai in the back of the head. What??? Rogondino tries hard and is okay for the most part, but Hildreth is in love with some players (mostly the USWNT players) and they can do no wrong and she openly shows her bias in the broadcast. And FSC did have a couple technical glitches with the production. They could certainly do better.
However, there are two points I differ with. Hanks played far more minutes with Saint Louis. She played in 10 of 11 games and 587 minutes for Athletica. With Sky Blue, she only played in only 6 of 8 regular season games with Sky Blue for a total of 158 minutes and only more than 30 minutes once. The reason she saw more playing time in the playoffs was because Rampone was afraid that Kai couldn’t play anywhere close to 90 minutes and saved her for the 2nd half in the first two playoff matches.
As far as local talent around the league goes, there isn’t much. Sauerbrunn is with Washington and she isn’t going anywhere. Spisak is also with the Freedom, but we’re pretty well set at keeper. I guess you could include Nobis since she went to Mizzou and is from Quincy, but I don’t think Boston will let go of her, unless they lose her in the expansion draft. There just isn’t a lot of talent on that level from this area. I’m just thankful for the one we have (Chalupny). We’re lucky to have her.
Expansion draft on September 15. After we find out which 2-3 players we lose, then we can figure out what else we need, besides another scorer.
Well I would like to hoist a pint to both Francielle and Kerri Hanks. Even though we traded them they are members of our family that is Athletica and I am very proud of the both of them!!! Congratulations ladies
And by the way as a very proud Mizzou and River Cities Futbol Club fan I say make a trade for J-No in a heartbeat 
The Sol are looking for investors. AEG has said they don’t want to run the team by themselves.
Atlanta and Philly will make it 9 for 2010. They want to get to 12, but that’s obviously down the road. Not sure what other markets they’re looking at. San Diego was in the WUSA, as was a team in North Carolina. Dallas? Something in Florida? The WUSA had eight teams.
By the way, Heather O’Reilly was talking after the game of the history of winning the league’s first title. Anyone remember who won the first WUSA title? (Answer below.)
Becky Sauerbrunn was one of five players to play every minute of every game. Good luck prying her out of D.C. As for Nobis, I think there’s a better chance of Cooper going after Amy Rodriguez. Though I did see Nobis do some great stuff back in her River Cities days.
In Founders Cup I, Bay Area and Atlanta played to a 3-3 tie with Bay Area winning on PKs.
The league caught up to the Sol and they certainly fell backwards into themselves. The June game against the Atheltica set the stage for the Sol’s slide. Except for a decisive win over Chicago, the Sol was at best, mediocre in the final eight games. SBFC timing for coming into their own aided by the Athletica and the Freedom losing keystone players to the Euros set the stage for their brilliant run at the championship.
It could have not happened to a harder working group of athletes.
Early on in the season, by observing the WPS’s website, one could not help but notice a distinct difference in the depth of the social connection and sense of team that SBFC had over its peers.
Walsh, after the loss on Wednesday, perhaps sub-consciously so physically separated herself from the circle of Atheltica players receiving the post-game talk from Coach J. She was notably positioned on the centerline side. It was obvious she felt pulled by that connection of her former teammates.
There is a twelfth set of on-field boots available for every game for every team. It is the team. Unfortunately the twelfth set of boots does not always show-up. When they do, red cards can be overcome.
I think Rampone knew how to make sure the twelfth set of boots was the first on the pitch and the last to leave.
Congratulations SBFC.