Sky Blue FC scored a season-high three goals, and overcame two separate two-goal deficits, as they were able to come away with a 3 – 3 draw against the Western New York Flash.
This was the first game of the season where Sky Blue was able to tally more than one goal. Despite giving up a very early goal in the 3rd minute, they were able to rally in the second half to salvage a point on the road.
“I really liked the resiliency we showed today, particularly in the second half,” Sky Blue FC Technical Director & Head Coach Jim Gabarra said. “Both teams had some mental breakdowns on the goals, but I was proud of the way we played overall. We put them under a lot of pressure and created a lot of chances in both halves. It is a little disappointing to not come away with the three points, but scoring three goals on the road is very gratifying.”
The Flash kicked the scoring off in the 3rd minute when midfielder Becky Edwards fired a corner kick into the box that bounced around and deflected off numerous players before getting to the foot of forward Jasmyne Spencer who was able to stuff it in past a laid-out goalie Brittany Cameron.
Western New York continued the scoring and went up 2 – 0 in the 24th minute. Defender Jaelene Hinkle took possession at midfield and was given enough space to make a solo run on goal before firing a shot from just outside the box to beat a diving Cameron.
Sky Blue got on the board in the 39th minute as defender Kelley O’Hara gained possession toward the upper left corner of the box and saw forward Nadia Nadin split a couple of defenders in front of the goal. O’Hara gave a little chip over the defense and the wide-open Nadin was able to tap it into the right side of the goal to make it a 2 – 1 game.
The Flash grew the lead back to two in the 50th minute when midfielder Samantha Mewis fired a shot from outside the box where Cameron made a fantastic diving save, redirecting the ball as it hit off the post. Flash midfielder Michelle Heyman was able to gather the ball off of the deflection and take advantage of the prone Cameron to establish the 3 – 1 lead.
The score was cut back down to one goal in the 60th minute on a possession where O’Hara gathered the ball outside the penalty box and drew defenders in and away from midfielder Katy Freels. O’Hara was than able to feed the open Freels who fired a shot that deflected off of Flash defender Brittany Taylor and into the goal past goalie Chantel Jones. The goal was judged an own-goal by Taylor and Sky Blue was down just 3 – 2.
Just two minutes went by when Sky Blue managed to notch the tying goal in the 62nd minute. A Freels corner kick was fired just in front of the goal where it missed a crowd of players and bounced right to defender, and Women’s National Team Captain, Christie Rampone who was waiting all alone at the back post to put the ball in the goal and level the score at 3 – 3.
Brittany Cameron’s ten saves for Sky Blue were the most she’s had in a single game this season and pushed her league-leading saves count to 70 over their 13 games this season.
With the draw Sky Blue remains in last on the table with a record of 2-6-5, sitting just one point behind the Boston Breakers. Western New York sits in middle of the pack at fifth with a record of 4-5-3.
Sky Blue look to keep up their momentum against the Boston Breakers on Saturday, July 25 when they return home to Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ.
