NJ SKY BLUE 0 - 0 LOS ANGELES SOL

Sky Blue FC and the Los Angeles Sol played to a 0-0 tie Saturday evening at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.Infront of over 4000 fans. With the tie, the Sol (7-1-4, 25 points) maintained its firm grasp on first place, while Sky Blue FC (2-5-3, 9 points) remains in last place.

The rain clearly affected play from outset, as both teams struggled to complete passes on the soggy field. Sky Blue FC had the better of the play in the early going with Natasha Kai, Rosana and Heather O’Reilly all taking shots in the first five minutes. However, none of them troubled Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.

In the 11th minute, the Sol nearly went ahead when midfielder Aly Wagner served a long ball into the box that troubled Sky Blue FC ‘keeper Jenni Branam, who was able to push it out of harm’s way at the last possible instant.

Kai provided the home side with a number of close chances including the best opportunity of the game in the 15th minute. Kai ran onto a ball through from Kacey White and rolled a tantalizingly slow shot past LeBlanc and off the left post.

After the teams traded chances for the better part of 30 minutes, Sky Blue nearly jumped on top just before the interval when Rosana uncorked a right-footed blast that went just wide of the goal and the teams headed to the locker rooms in a scoreless deadlock.

The second half belonged to the home team; Sky Blue FC outshot the Sol by a 7-2 margin, but was unable to get a shot past LeBlanc, who recorded her league-best eighth shutout. Sky Blue FC's best chances of the second half came off a shot by Kai in the 55th minute that went just wide left and a delicate chip from substitute Collette McCallum in the 72nd minute that floated just over the crossbar.

For the match, Sky Blue FC held a 14-5 advantage in shots and controlled much of the play. Both goalkeepers - Branam of Sky Blue FC and LeBlanc of the Sol - finished the game with three saves.

Lineups:

Sky Blue FC – Branam; Dowling(Captain), Asante, Rampone (Captain), Schnur; O'Reilly(Captain), Averbuch, Rosana (McCallum 60'), Parker; Kai, White.


Los Angeles Sol - Karina LeBlanc; Keri Sanchez, Allison Falk, Martina Franko, Stephanie Cox; Camille Abily, Shannon Boxx ©, Aly Wagner, Aya Miyama, Brittany Bock, Marta.

FYI: Yes the Sol did not make any substitutions even though it was clear some of their players were tired from the 60 mins mark. With their tough schedule who knows what Coach Rodgers is thinking!