Sky Blue FC fell 1-0 to the Chicago Red Stars Saturday, May 2nd, in Lisle, Illinois. The Chicago Red Stars had all six of their national team players (Christen Press, Julie Johnston, Shannon Boxx, Lori Chalupny, Karina LeBlanc, and Abby Erceg) while Sky Blue was without the services of Christie Rampone and Kelley O’Hara.
The absence of Christie Rampone and Kelley O’Hara did not seem to impact Sky Blue much, as many of the same problems that have been present in previous games again manifested themselves against the Red Stars.
Lindsi Cutshall fell into Rampone’s center back role, where she played multiple games last season, and Hayley Haagsma started in O’Hara’s spot. This game also marked Taylor Lytle’s first game back after breaking her leg in a game against the Western New York Flash on May 11, 2014. She played 61 minutes before being replaced by Meg Morris.
Red Stars rookie Danielle Colaprico, chosen ninth in the 2015 College Draft, scored her first professional goal in the 54th minute. After a scrum following a corner kick, her first shot went off of teammate Julie Johnston’s face but rebounded right back to Colaprico, who slammed it past Brittany Cameron. Christen Press was kept off the scoresheet for the first time this season, but took several shots and had a few chances to convert but was unable to do so.
In the 55th minute, Nadia Nadim looked for a penalty against Red Stars keeper Karina LeBlanc, who came out to challenge Nadim, dove, knocked the ball toward the end line, and seemed to almost trip up Nadim as she continued her run toward the ball. No penalty was called, and Sky Blue was never able to break through. Nadim picked up her second yellow card in the later stages of the match.
Sky Blue forward Maya Hayes had two injury scares in the game, but none worse than in the 40th minute when she went into a tough challenge and went down holding her knee. After a few moments on the pitch, she was able to walk off the field and rejoin the team just before the whistle blew signaling halftime.
Up next for Sky Blue is the Seattle Reign, who travel to Yurcak Field on Saturday, May 9th. The Reign will have almost all of their firepower in place; they will only be missing US national team players Hope Solo and Megan Rapinoe. It won’t get any easier after that, as Sky Blue will take to the road and face the Washington Spirit at the SoccerPlex, and then onward to Boston to take on the Breakers before returning home to host the Houston Dash at the end of May.
