Sky Blue FC opened their 4th NWSL season on the road, in the unfriendly confines of Memorial Stadium, home to the Seattle Reign. Going into the match, the Reign had not lost a single match at this venue, going 16-0-6 since they’ve been playing there. Sky Blue had not defeated the Reign since May 2013, although there were multiple draws in that time.
Entering the game, Seattle’s lineup featured only a few changes from last season (Dutch international Manon Melis and rookie Carson Pickett), while Sky Blue’s lineup featured six players making their NWSL debuts (rookies Caroline Casey, Erica Skroski, Erin Simon, Raquel Rodriguez, Kelly Conheeney, and former US international but new to the NWSL Tasha Kai). In what seemed like a surprise move, Sky Blue head coach Christy Holly went with rookie Caroline Casey as his starting goalkeeper instead of Caroline Stanley, who came to Sky Blue after she was released by the Reign at the end of last season.
Early in the match, a Caroline Casey goal clearance ricocheted off of Reign forward Manon Melis’ head and spun back towards the goal. Casey dove to stop it and missed, but the spin on the ball somehow kept the ball from crossing the line and Casey was able to cover it up and keep the game scoreless.
Sky Blue surprised Seattle a few minutes later, with Tasha Kai scoring a goal against the run of play in the 15th minute. This game marks Kai’s return to professional soccer, her first in five years. She was subbed out in the 57th minute.
Sky Blue almost made it 2-0 late in the first half when Kelley O’Hara was taken down inside the box by Merritt Mathias. Midfielder Sarah Killion stepped up to take the penalty kick, and after Hope Solo held an extended conversation with the referee and was given a yellow card, Solo saved the ensuing kick.
The Reign equalized in the 52nd minute, when Jess Fishlock crossed the ball toward the far post and Merritt Mathias headed it into the net.
Rookie Kelly Conheeney broke the tie in the 66th minute after a poor clearance by Hope Solo was cut off and ended up at Taylor Lytle’s feet, who collected the ball near the end line and sent a great cross in front to a wide open Conheeney. Conheeney made Sky Blue’s roster after attending an open tryout this spring. ESPNW’s Graham Hays wrote a fantastic profile of her and her medical struggles in 2013, which you can read here.
After Conheeney’s goal, Seattle pressed and pressed but Sky Blue held firm and the Reign were unable to equalize. Sky Blue’s shocking defeat of a team many have picked to win the league should be a good confidence booster for a fairly young team with a rookie head coach.
Sky Blue return to Yurcak Field for their home opener next Sunday night against the Washington Spirit, who defeated the Boston Breakers 1-0 on Saturday night.
