SKY BLUE FC 1 - 1 FC GOLD PRIDE

It took a while but Sky Blue FC finally found the back of the net for the franchise’s first goal ever. Local girl Heather O’Reilly(pictured above bottom) did the honors connecting in the later stages of the second half to help Sky Blue FC salvage a 1-1 draw with FC Gold Pride at TD Bank Ballpark.
Sky Blue FC didn’t lack quality chances in the match with the first coming in the 17th minute. Collette McCallum drove in a short corner kick that was met by the head of Keeley Dowling but her attempt bounded off the top of the bar and over the goal.

FC Gold Pride’s goal in the 33rd minute came thanks a couple of fortunate deflections. A short corner kick from Tiffany Weimer deflected back to defender Carrie Dew(pictured above top), who hit a shot from the top of the box that took a deflection into the lower left corner of the goal past Sky Blue FC keeper Karen Bardsley.Four minutes after the opening goal, the visitors threatened again but Bardsley did well to kick away a shot from Christine Sinclair as the Canadian international broke into the box.

Sky Blue FC had the better of the play in the second half culminating with O’Reilly’s goal. Natasha Kai and FC Gold Pride keeper Nicole Barnhart were involved in a big collision in the box but the loose ball was cleared out. One minute later, Kai laced a shot from outside the box that just deflected wide right.In the 62nd minute, Sarah Walsh laid off a nice pass for O’Reilly but Barnhart was on point with a diving save at the near post.
Sarah Walsh set up the play for O’Reilly, who was serving as the team captain in the absence of injured defender Christie Rampone. O’Reilly burst into the box and rolled a right-footed shot into the lower left of the goal from 10 yards out.

FC Gold Pride's best chance of the second half came in the 86th minute when Eriko Arakawa hooked a shot just over the bar from outside the top of the box.

LINEUPS:

SKY BLUE FC: Karen Bardsley, Anita Asante, Meghan Schnur, Keeley Dowling, Julianne Sitch, Jen Buczkowski, Kelly Parker, Heather O’Reilly-Captain, Collette McCallum (Yael Averbuch 66’), Natasha Kai, Sarah Walsh (Kacey White 88’)
Head Coach: Ian Sawyers

FC GOLD PRIDE: Nicole Barnhart, Rachel Buehler, Leigh Ann Robinson, Kristen Graczyk (Kandace Wilson 82’), Carrie Dew, Tina DiMartino (Brandi Chastain 72’), Leslie Osborne, Formiga, Tiffany Weimer (Tiffany Milbrett 75’), Christine Sinclair, Eriko Arakawa
Head Coach: Albertin Montoya