Sky Blue Press Release -
www.SkyBlueSoccer.comWednesday, June 18, 2008BEDMINSTER, NJ - Sky Blue Soccer will welcome the defending W-League champions to New Jersey on Wednesday night when the Washington Freedom comes to town for a regular season matchup. In a battle between two organizations involved in Women's Professional Soccer, Jersey Sky Blue will host the Freedom in the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
Sky Blue and the Freedom will clash at 7:30 p.m. at Drew University's Ranger Stadium in Madison, NJ.
In its first official season in the W-League, the Freedom rolled through the competition to capture the 2007 W-League Championship. Washington posted a 12-1-1 mark in the regular season to finish first in the Northeast Division with its only loss coming to Sky Blue, which finished second with a 12-2 mark.
Wednesday's matchup will be important for the playoff hopes of both teams as Washington enters in second place at 4-1-1 with 13 points. Sky Blue is not far behind at 3-1-1 for 10 points and fifth place in the Northeast Division. The Boston Renegades have the early lead in the division at 6-1 for 18 points with the top three teams in the division qualifying for the postseason. Sky Blue currently has the least number of games played of any team in the division with five.
Both the Freedom and Sky Blue are preparing for their first season in WPS, which is slated to kick off in 2009. The new women's professional league is currently set for seven teams across the country with an eighth side possible. Sky Blue Soccer and the Washington Freedom are the only organizations involved in WPS that are currently operating amateur teams for the 2008 season.
Following its key 2-1 victory over the New Jersey Wildcats last Wednesday at Ranger Stadium, Sky Blue's game against the Connecticut Passion was postponed due to persistent lightning on Saturday night and will be rescheduled for a later date. Against the Wildcats, Sky Blue midfielder Domenique Esposito had a breakout game scoring both goals off headers as Sky Blue came from behind to claim the intrastate victory.
Esposito's two goals put her second on the Sky Blue scoring list behind Yolanda Odenyo, who missed the game against the Wildcats due to a strained hip flexor. Odenyo, who has played all over the field for Sky Blue but primarily up front or as a central midfielder, is doubtful against the Freedom. Sky Blue will most likely rely on the attacking tandem of Michele O'Brien and Daniela Molina, who created numerous chances against the Wildcats, with a combination of Ashlyn Brantley, Marisa Brown, and Gina DeMaio in the center of the midfield.
In the back, the combination of Kim Brandão, Fanta Cooper, Kelly Eagan, and Bonnie Young look to be setting in. In 2007, Brandão, Cooper, and Young were part of a Sky Blue defense that led the W-League allowing just six goals in 14 regular season matches. Brandão, who started every game for Sky Blue in 2007, is the most recent piece to join the back four after missing the earlier part of the season with an ankle injury. Jillian Loyden has played every minute of every game so far with a .833 goals against average and two shutouts.
The Freedom come into Wednesday night's game after struggling in recent matches. Washington went 3-1 in its first four matches with the lone loss a 1-0 setback to Boston at home. Since then, the Freedom has needed late goals against two winless teams to save results. Against the New York Magic this past Saturday, the Freedom came from behind to post a 2-1 victory when substitute Jill Gilbeau connected in the 86th minute. On Sunday, the Northern Virginia Majestics surprised the Freedom by scoring early and then holding on for a 1-1 tie as Washington once again found the back of the net in the 86th minute courtesy of a goal from substitute Tiffany McCarty.
The Freedom's roster is loaded with a plethora of potential professional players including former WUSA players Lori Lindsey, Kele Golebiowski, Emily Janss, Christie Welsh, and Casey Zimny. Washington also features a number of players with extensive United States youth national team experience including Ella Masar, Ali Andrzejewski, Sarah Huffman, Rebecca Moros, Becky Sauerbrunn, and Kati Jo Spisak. So far this season, striker Jen Parsons, who joined the team this season after a successful run with the Richmond Kickers Destiny, leads the team in scoring with three goals and four assists for 10 points while Lindsey and Welsh both have three goals and two assists for eight points.
Wednesday's game will be the last chance for Sky Blue fans to see their team at Ranger Stadium until July 9th when Sky Blue hosts the Long Island Rough Riders in the only meeting of the season between the teams. Following the match against the Freedom, Sky Blue embarks on a trek of three road games in a four-day span. Sky Blue travels to Arlington, VA to face the Northern Virginia Majestics on Saturday and then to Fredericksburg, VA to take on the Fredericksburg Lady Gunners on Sunday. The quick road stretch ends on Tuesday when Sky Blue faces the Wildcats in a rematch at Paul VI High School in Haddonfield, NJ.
Catch all the action live with audio webcasts straight from the games by visiting the Sky Blue Soccer website at SkyBlueSoccer.com. Tickets for all Sky Blue W-League home games and season tickets for next year's Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) season are available in the Sky Blue Soccer Store.
