Sky Blue FC stretched their unbeaten streak to three games as they beat the Boston Breakers 3 – 1, led by a two goal performance from midfielder Kelley O’Hara.
The return of their star players from the international duty has really elevated Sky Blue’s play. With just one win, and no more than one goal scored, in the first 11 games this season, they’ve now scored three goals in back-to-back games and won two of their last three.
Sky Blue pushed the tempo right out of the gate, getting five shots by the 13th minute when O’Hara scored her first of the game. The play started with midfielder Katy Freels who took the ball toward the corner flag when she fired a cross into the center of the box, where O’Hara met it with a perfect run and directed it into the back of the net to put Sky Blue up 1 – 0.
“Tonight, we played at a very high tempo, and we are a tough team to beat when we play at that type of pace,” Sky Blue FC Technical Director & Head Coach Jim Gabarra said. “Attacking-wise, we are starting to look sharp and very dangerous, which makes us difficult to defend. This was a good performance for us, and our play was rewarded with the result.”
O’Hara scored her second goal of the night in the 36th minute. Forward Sam Kerr started the play when she made a dangerous run into the right side of the penalty box drawing in defenders before she knocked a pass over to O’Hara smashed it into the top of the net giving Sky Blue a 2 – 0 leading into halftime.
Sky Blue would score their third goal in the 53rd minute. Midfielder Hayley Haagsma had possession around midfield when she pushed forward and fired a pass to the top of the penalty box that reached the feet of Kerr, who was able to beat the last defender putting her in a one-on-one with the goalie, before she knocked it right over the diving Boston goalie Alyssa Naeher, putting Sky Blue up 3 – 0.
The lead was wide enough where Sky Blue was able to give goalie Brittany Cameron a break, subbing her out for goalie Aubrey Bledsoe in the 82nd minute. It was the first time Cameron was given a rest this season, and the first-ever NWSL appearance for Bledsoe.
The Breakers were able to score a sing goal late in the 84th minute when defender Lauren Lazo put a great shot on goal from just inside the penalty box that was able to beat Bledsoe to the upper 90 and cut the Sky Blue lead to 3 – 1. Bledsoe would later make the first save of her career.
Sky Blue’s 26 shots and 12 shots on goal were both season-high marks for a single game this season.
“It’s fun to be back,” O’Hara said after the game. “I’m happy, and I love playing with this team.”
The win moves Sky Blue up the table from last place into the seven spot with a record of 3-6-5, while the loss knocks Boston to the bottom of the league with a record of 3-8-3.
Sky Blue remains home at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ for their next match when they face the Western New York Flash on Saturday, August 1.
