2010 season | ||
---|---|---|
Owner | Phil and Tammy Murphy [1] Thomas Hofstetter | |
President & CEO | Thomas Hofstetter [2] | |
Head coach | Pauliina Miettinen (until July 20) Rick Stainton(after July 20) [3] | |
Stadium | Yurcak Field | |
WPS | 5th | |
WPS Playoffs | DNQ | |
Top goalscorer | Laura Kalmari (5) Natasha Kai (5) | |
Highest home attendance | 4,440 (April 10 vs. CHI) | |
Lowest home attendance | 2,491 (Aug. 11 vs. WAS) | |
Average home league attendance | 3,320 | |
Biggest win | 2–0 (June 27 vs. BAY) | |
Biggest defeat | 0–4 (Aug. 15 vs. BOS) | |
The 2010 Sky Blue FC season was the team's second season as a professional women's soccer team, competing in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), then the top-division tier of women's soccer in the United States.
Following its inaugural season championship victory, Sky Blue FC hired Finnish manager Pauliina Miettinen as head coach on September 30, 2009. [4] [5] She retained Mike Lyons from the 2009 staff as an assistant and brought in Anne Parnila and Rick Stainton as additional assistants. [6]
Expectations for Sky Blue FC were high, with Soccer America favoring the team to repeat as champions. [7]
Team captain and 2009 player-manager Christie Rampone was expected to miss part of the season while pregnant with her second child. [8] [9] Defender Anita Asante also missed the beginning of the season while recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury [9] and 2009 starting goalkeeper Jenni Branam missed the first two months of the season with a broken patella suffered during a preseason match. [10] [11] [12]
Sky Blue FC played its home matches at Yurcak Field, part of Rutgers University, and trained at Rutgers Preparatory School in Somerset, New Jersey. [13]
No. | Pos. | Name | Ntn. |
---|---|---|---|
13 | MF | Yael Averbuch | United States |
1 | GK | Karen Bardsley | England |
23 | GK | Jenni Branam | United States |
17 | DF | Keeley Dowling | United States |
6 | FW | Natasha Kai | United States |
9 | MF | Heather O'Reilly | United States |
3 | DF | Christie Rampone | United States |
11 | DF | Rosana | Brazil |
7 | DF | Meghan Schnur | United States |
8 | MF | Kacey White | United States |
21 | FW | Laura Kalmari | Finland |
20 | FW/MF | India Trotter | United States |
4 | DF | Daphne Koster | Netherlands |
10 | MF | Carli Lloyd | United States |
14 | DF | Brittany Taylor | United States |
22 | FW | Katie Schoepfer | United States |
26 | MF | Angela Salem | United States |
15 | DF | Danielle Johnson | United States |
2 | DF/MF | Kiersten Dallstream | United States |
5 | DF/MF | Kendall Fletcher | United States |
0 | GK | Shannon Myers | United States |
96 | FW | Patrizia Panico | Italy |
— | GK | Meghann Burke | United States |
Players exiting mid-season | |||
5 | DF | Anita Asante | England |
— | FW | Jessica Landström | Sweden |
— | Ashley Thompson | United States | |
— | Meagan Snell | United States | |
18 | GK | Kristin Luckenbill | United States |
Position | Name |
---|---|
General manager | Gerry Marrone |
Head coach | Pauliina Miettinen (until July 20) |
Rick Stainton (after July 20) | |
Assistant coaches | Mike Lyons |
Anne Parnila (until July 20) | |
Goalkeeping coach | Rick Stainton (until July 20) |
Sky Blue FC entered the 2010 WPS Draft with the 6th, 26th, 29th, 35th, 44th, 53rd, and 62nd picks. [9] [16] [17] [18] Sky Blue FC traded the 62nd pick to Philadelphia Independence in exchange for the rights to Jen Anzivino, which Philadelphia had picked with the 49th-overall selection. [18] Melissa Clarke, selected by Sky Blue 29th overall, would instead sign with NiceFutis in Finland's Kansallinen Liiga. [19]
Round | Pick | Pos. | Player | College | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | DF | Brittany Taylor | University of Connecticut | [18] |
3 | 26 | FW | Katie Schoepfer | Pennsylvania State University | |
3 | 29 | MF | Melissa Clarke | Louisiana State University | |
4 | 35 | DF | Danielle Johnson | University of Mississippi | |
5 | 44 | FW | Meagan Snell | Santa Clara University | |
5 | 49 | DF | Jen Anzivino | Rutgers University | |
6 | 53 | MF | Kelly Isleib | University of Utah | |
On January 28, 2010, the Los Angeles Sol disbanded. The league scheduled a dispersal draft for the Sol's players on February 4, 2010. [20] Sky Blue FC had the 6th, 11th, and 22nd picks in the dispersal draft. [21]
Round | Pick | Pos. | Player | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6 | FW | Nikki Washington | [22] |
2 | 11 | DF | Kiersten Dallstream | [22] |
3 | 22 | Pass | ||
Date | Pos. | Player | Former team | Fee/notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 21, 2009 | MF | Carli Lloyd | Chicago Red Stars | Free-agent signing. | [23] [24] |
May 6, 2010 | FW/MF | India Trotter | Saint Louis Athletica | Acquired with St. Louis's first-round pick in the 2011 WPS Draft, in exchange for Anita Asante and the rights to Nikki Washington. | [25] [26] |
August 2010 | GK | Meghann Burke | Chicago Red Stars | Free-agent signing. | [27] |
Date | Pos. | Player | Destination team | Fee/notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
May 6, 2010 | DF | Anita Asante | St. Louis Athletica | Traded with the rights to Nikki Washington in exchange for India Trotter and St. Louis's first-round pick in the 2011 WPS Draft, which had been held by Los Angeles Sol prior to its dissolution. | [25] |
Sky Blue FC opened the season with two victories in April, both against Chicago Red Stars, and a loss against FC Gold Pride. [28] Newly acquired midfielder Carli Lloyd broke her ankle, [29] and Sky Blue placed Lloyd on the team's 30-day injured reserve. [23] [30] The team also struggled with absences from defender Meghan Schnur with a knee injury, and from Natasha Kai with a hamstring strain. [31] [32]
Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was named Player of the Week for week 5 and Player of the Month for May, amassing 31 saves and two shutouts over four matches in the month. [33]
On June 27, Sky Blue recorded its largest win of the season by defeating first-place FC Gold Pride on the road 2–0. [34] However, the win was a rare bright spot in the mid-season months. Sky Blue fell three times to the expansion Philadelphia Independence, conceding 10 goals against three goals scored in three matches. [35]
Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was named to the starting WPS All-Star team, [10] and three Sky Blue FC players — Natasha Kai, Laura Kalmari, and Christie Rampone — were named to the 2010 WPS All-Star Game reserves from which the two all-star teams would be selected. Kai and Kalmari were selected by the Abby Wambach-captained team, and Rampone was selected by the Marta-captained team. [36]
However, Sky Blue's misfortunes with injuries continued. During an All-Star training session in July, Bardsley injured her clavicle while leading the league with five shutouts and a 0.90 goals-against average. [10] [37] Third keeper Kristin Luckenbill took over duties until Jenni Branam recovered from injury, then retired from soccer. [10]
Sky Blue FC were invited to the White House to celebrate their 2009 championship with President Barack Obama on July 1. [36]
Sky Blue struggled to score goals, and by July 19, general manager Gerry Marrone fired head coach Pauliina Miettinen and assistant coach Anne Parnila, and appointed goalkeeping coach Rick Stainton as head coach. [3] [10] [38]
Starting goalkeeper Jenni Branam returned from injury on August 1 to make four saves in a loss to Chicago Red Stars. [39] However, she soon suffered another injury, forcing Sky Blue to play its fourth keeper Meghann Burke, signed in August as a free-agent. [10] [27] Burke would hold the job until the end of the season. [10]
Needing a win against first-place FC Gold Pride on September 1 to secure the final playoff bid, Sky Blue FC took the lead on a 72nd-minute goal by Natasha Kai. However, a misplayed free kick by Sky Blue's defense in second-half stoppage time resulted in an equalizer by Gold Pride's Becky Edwards. [40] Sky Blue would not score another goal in its final two matches, ended the season with three draws, and finished three points out of fourth place to miss the playoffs.
Sky Blue FC did not qualify for the playoffs and were unable to defend their 2009 title. [41]
April 11, 20101 | Sky Blue FC | 1–0 | Chicago Red Stars | Piscataway, New Jersey |
6:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score Report | Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 4,440 Referee: Ted Unkel Assistant referees: John Schmitz, Brian Dunn Fourth official: Richard Sanchez | ||
Note: Broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel [12] |
April 17, 20102 | FC Gold Pride | 3–1 | Sky Blue FC | Castro Valley, California |
7:00 p.m. PDT (UTC-7) | Box score Report | Stadium: Castro Valley Athletic Stadium Attendance: 3,757 Referee: Felisha Marsical Assistant referees: Marlene Duffy, Colin Arblaster Fourth official: Maurizio Laudani |
April 25, 20103 | Chicago Red Stars | 0–1 | Sky Blue FC | Bridgeview, Illinois |
6:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score Report | Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 3,136 Referee: Margaret Domka Assistant referees: Kristen Schiereck, Ian Gut Fourth official: Jorge Cuate |
May 1, 20104 | Sky Blue FC | 0–1 | FC Gold Pride | Piscataway, New Jersey |
6:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score | Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 3,798 Referee: Stephanie Toth Assistant referees: Bryan Roslund, Michael Donovan Fourth official: Jose Carlos Rivero | ||
Note: Broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel [31] |
May 9, 20105 | Atlanta Beat | 0–1 | Sky Blue FC | Kennesaw, Georgia |
7:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score | Stadium: KSU Soccer Stadium Attendance: 7,248 Referee: Moo Hackett Assistant referees: Melanie Johnson, Patrick Baker Fourth official: Tony Russo | ||
Note: Broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel |
May 16, 20106 | Saint Louis Athletica | 2–2 | Sky Blue FC | Fenton, Missouri |
4:00 p.m. CDT (UTC-5) |
| Box score | Stadium: Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park Attendance: 2,346 Referee: Margaret Domka Assistant referees: Mandy Love, Ann Mayberry Fourth official: Mark Boyko |
May 29, 20107 | Sky Blue FC | 0–0 | Boston Breakers | Piscataway, New Jersey |
7:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score | Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 3,418 Referee: Donald Dellavia Assistant referees: Debbie Coleman, Mark Allatin Fourth official: Mark Boyko |
June 6, 20108 | Philadelphia Independence | 2–1 | Sky Blue FC | West Chester, Pennsylvania |
6:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score | Stadium: John A. Farrell Stadium Attendance: 2,585 Referee: Dallas Malhiwsky Assistant referees: Amy Willing, Stanford Nagle III Fourth official: Ross Kleinstuber |
June 13, 20109 | Boston Breakers | 1–2 | Sky Blue FC | Boston, Massachusetts |
4:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) |
| Box score | Stadium: Harvard Stadium Attendance: 4,687 Referee: Michael Donoval Assistant referees: Marlene Duffy, Russell Wolf Fourth official: Kellee Walsh |
June 19, 201010 | Sky Blue FC | 1–4 | Philadelphia Independence | Piscataway, New Jersey |
7:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score | Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 3,362 Referee: Daniel Fitzgerald Assistant referees: Amy Mahan, Emilie Buse |
June 27, 201011 | FC Gold Pride | 0–2 | Sky Blue FC | Hayward, California |
6:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) |
| Box score Report | Stadium: Pioneer Stadium Attendance: 2,478 Referee: Felisha Mariscal Assistant referees: Veronica Perez, Marlene Duffy Fourth official: Vicente Cortes |
July 7, 201012 | Sky Blue FC | 0–0 | Washington Freedom | Boyds, Maryland |
5:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) |
| Box score |
| Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex Attendance: 2,871 Referee: Daniel Radford Assistant referees: Mike Kampmeinert, Juan Guzman Fourth official: Hakan Baydere |
July 10, 201013 | Chicago Red Stars | 2–0 | Sky Blue FC | Bridgeview, Illinois |
Box score | Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 4,064 Referee: Felisha Mariscal Assistant referees: Kristen Schiereck, George Ghawi Fourth official: Jorge Cuate |
July 18, 201014 | Sky Blue FC | 0–1 | Atlanta Beat | Piscataway, New Jersey |
7:00 p.m. | Box score |
| Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 2,808 Referee: Margaret Domka |
July 24, 201015 | Philadelphia Independence | 4–1 | Sky Blue FC | West Chester, Pennsylvania |
7:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) |
| Box score |
| Stadium: John A. Farrell Stadium Attendance: 2,415 Referee: Tony Crush Assistant referees: Stanford Nagle III, Adam Brugman Fourth official: Darth Newman |
Note: Broadcast on Comcast Sports Net Philadelphia |
August 1, 201016 | Sky Blue FC | 1–2 | Chicago Red Stars | Piscataway, New Jersey |
7:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score Report | Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 3,539 Referee: Daniel Radford Assistant referees: Mike Kampmeinert, Ryan Dos Reis Fourth official: Hakan Baydere |
August 7, 201017 | Atlanta Beat | 1–2 | Sky Blue FC | Kennesaw, Georgia |
| Box score | Stadium: KSU Soccer Stadium Attendance: 3,489 Referee: Michael Donovan Assistant referees: Juan Guzman, Mark Cleland |
August 11, 201018 | Sky Blue FC | 1–1 | Washington Freedom | Piscataway, New Jersey |
7:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score | Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 2,491 Referee: Allan Chapman Assistant referees: Amy Willing, Ayodeji Obisesan Fourth official: Albert Calise |
August 15, 201019 | Boston Breakers | 4–0 | Sky Blue FC | Boston, Massachusetts |
6:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score BOS report |
| Stadium: Harvard Stadium Attendance: 6,108 Referee: Felisha Mariscal Assistant referees: Debbie Coleman, Scott Kachmarik Fourth official: Kellee Walsh | |
Note: Broadcast on Fox Sports Channel |
August 22, 201020 | Sky Blue FC | 1–0 | Philadelphia Independence | Piscataway, New Jersey |
4:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score | Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 2,572 Referee: Bryan Roslund Assistant referees: Amy Willing, Ian O'Neil Fourth official: Tim Snyder | ||
Note: Broadcast on The Comcast Network |
August 28, 201021 | Washington Freedom | 2–1 | Sky Blue FC | Boyds, Maryland |
7:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score | Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex Attendance: 3,143 Referee: Donald Dellavia Assistant referees: Ashley Cedro, John Schmitz Fourth official: Moo Hackett |
September 1, 201022 | Sky Blue FC | 1–1 | FC Gold Pride | Piscataway, New Jersey |
7:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score | Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 3,412 Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero Assistant referees: Debbie Coleman, Albert Calise Fourth official: Emilie Buse |
September 5, 201023 | Atlanta Beat | 0–0 | Sky Blue FC | Kennesaw, Georgia |
6:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score |
| Stadium: KSU Soccer Stadium Attendance: 4,752 Referee: Allan Chapman Assistant referees: Melanie Johnson, Mark Cleland Fourth official: Justin Nelson |
September 11, 201024 | Sky Blue FC | 0–0 | Boston Breakers | Piscataway, New Jersey |
7:00 p.m. EDT (UTC-4) | Box score | Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 3,810 Referee: Felisha Mariscal Assistant referees: Shelley Finger, John Schmitz Fourth official: Brian Dunn |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3 | Philadelphia Independence | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 37 | 36 | +1 | 34 | Advance to First Round |
4 | Washington Freedom | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 33 | 33 | 0 | 31 | |
5 | Sky Blue FC | 24 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 31 | −11 | 28 | |
6 | Chicago Red Stars | 24 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 21 | 27 | −6 | 27 | |
7 | Atlanta Beat | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 20 | 40 | −20 | 21 |
Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
24 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 20 | 31 | −11 | 28 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 10 | −4 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 21 | −7 |
Last updated: September 11, 2010.
Source: WPS Soccerway
Sky Blue FC scored 20 goals, tied with the Atlanta Beat for the fewest goals scored on the season, [42] and conceded 31. [43] Forwards Laura Kalmari and Natasha Kai led the team in goals with five each. Heather O'Reilly led the team in assists with five. In goal, Karen Bardsley led all of Sky Blue FC's keepers with 10 starts, five shutouts, and a 0.90 goals-against average. [44]
Rookie defender Brittany Taylor played every minute of the season. [10]
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