Photo by Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Thorns
By SARAH HALLETT
The tenth week of the National Women’s Soccer League was missing some familiar faces with many key players fulfilling national team duties. A few teams however found ways to win and make up some ground in the standings, despite missing their superstars.
FC Kansas City sits only five points behind the Seattle Reign FC after their Saturday night win against the Houston Dash. FC Kansas City scored a late goal to earn the full three points on the road, taking full advantage of Seattle’s off week.
The Washington Spirit struggled in both their games this week and wrapped up a four-game road trip that highlighted the team’s offensive struggles, after failing to notch any goals in the past two games. Meanwhile the Houston Dash, Sky Blue FC and the Boston Breakers all have positives to take from the past week as the second half of the season is underway.
Here’s a closer look at this week’s results in the NWSL:
DASH EARN FIRST WIN AT HOME, KNOCK OFF FLASH
The Houston Dash won their first game on their home pitch, as well as their third game in a row by defeating the Western New York Flash 2-1 on Wednesday night.
Tiffany McCarty gave the Dash the lead in the 39th minute after getting by two Flash defenders and then striking a bullet to the right side of the net. McCarty is on a hot streak for the Dash, with four goals in the last three games.
Andriana Martin found the equalizer for the Flash in the 62nd minute with a long chip shot that sailed over the Dash defense. However, the Dash earned a penalty kick minutes later and Teresa Noyola put the Dash ahead with an easy shot far out of reach of Flash keeper Lydia Williams.
Check out the match highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GQgzRNpLP8
BREAKERS SHUTOUT SPIRIT FOR THIRD WIN OF THE SEASON
The Washington Spirit dropped points for the first time in six games with a 2-0 loss at the hands of the Boston Breakers on Wednesday night.
The Breakers netted two goals within a minute of each other late in the first half that decided this game. The first came after midfielder Mollie Pathman zigzagged through the Spirit defense, then tapped it to Katie Schoepfer, who found a goal with a tight left footed shot.
Only a minute later Courtney Jones took advantage of a rebounded shot from Nkem Ezurike that Spirit keeper Chantel Jones couldn’t clear and punched in the second goal of the night for the Breakers.
The Boston Breakers benefited from the absence of Spirit defender Ali Krieger and starting goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris, to earn only their third win of the season.
Check out the match highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JM-xl0dVoo
LATE SILVA GOAL LIFTS KANSAS CITY OVER DASH
The Houston Dash were looking for their fourth win in a row, instead they suffered a late game loss to FC Kansas City, losing 2-1.
The two teams were even at 1-1 as the match was pushed into stoppage time with FC Kansas City scoring the game winner in the waning moments of the game. Erika Tymrak placed the ball perfectly in front of the net and Frances Silva delivered the game winner with a beautiful header that Dash goalkeeper Bianca Henninger could only watch sail above her.
It was the second loss for the Dash this season in stoppage time and a disappointing result after keeping pace with one of the top teams in the league for nearly the full match. Becky Edwards earned the lone goal for the Dash in the 79th minute and Jenna Richmond scored in the 66th minute for FC Kansas City, with the assist also coming from Tymrak.
No match highlights available.
SKY BLUE RALLIES TO DRAW WITH RED STARS
Sky Blue FC showed signs of life as the struggling club came back from being down two goals, to draw with the Chicago Red Stars 2-2 on Sunday.
Alyssa Mautz led off the scoring for the Red Stars in the 21st minute with a header to give Chicago the early lead. Zakiya Bywaters added another goal for the Red Stars ten minutes later, her second on the year.
Sky Blue FC mounted a comeback in the second half with Lindsi Cutshall earning a goal in the 60th minute and Maya Hayes finding the equalizer for Sky Blue FC in the 63rd minute.
For Sky Blue FC it was a much needed point for the team that is hovering above last place. The Red Stars however continue to struggle at home, only once earning a full three points on their home pitch this season.
No match highlights available.
THORNS SNAP THREE-GAME LOSING STREAK IN WIN OVER SPIRIT
The Washington Spirit closed out a four-game road trip with a 2-0 loss to the Portland Thorns FC. It was the second loss in a row for the Spirit, who have also failed to produce any goals the past two matches.
Jessica McDonald picked up her sixth goal of the season in the 11th minute. McDonald received a quick pass down the middle that caught the Spirit defense off guard, allowing McDonald to win a 1-on-1 battle with Spirit goalie Chantel Jones.
The Portland Thorns FC capped off the game with a goal from newly acquired Veronica Boquete in the 78th minute. The Spaniard is one of the most prized additions to the club and Boquete put the game out reach for the Spirit with her first goal in only her second appearance for Portland.
No match highlights available.
SBI WEEK 10 AWARDS
Player of the Week: Erika Tymrak. Can you give a player who didn’t score a goal player of the week? You can if she is Tymrak. Her two assists led FC Kansas City to a win to keep them only five points behind the Seattle Reign FC.
Team of the Week: The Portland Thorns FC needed to shake off that miserable 5-0 loss to the Western New York Flash a week ago and a win at home against the Washington Spirit did exactly that.