For the Western New York Flash, their 2015 season took a huge hit when star Abby Wambach opted to end her professional soccer career. Wambach was to be one of only five players the Flash retained from a disappointing 2014 campaign. And while Western New York management put as positive of a spin on Wambach’s announcement as they could, it no doubt sent shock waves through the organization.
Oct 26, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; United States forward Abby Wambach (20) prior to the CONCACAF Women’s Championship against Costa Rica at PPL Park. Team USA won 6-0. Mandatory Credit: Derik Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Wambach’s decision has been heavily discussed already, so no need to really dwell on it, except to say her loss leaves a huge void in the leadership department.
The Flash underwent a massive rebuild in the off season and were by far the busiest team as they made the following moves:
Waived Midfielder Courtney Wetzel, Defender Teijan Allen, Goalie Lydia Williams (Sept 12)
Acquired Defender Whitney Engen and Midfielder Becky Edwards from the Houston Dash for Carli Lloyd. (Oct.16)
Acquired Midfielder Jordan Angeli from Washington for Angela Salan and Katherine Reynolds. (Oct.21)
Acquired Midfielder Amber Brooks from Portland for Kathryn Williamson (Nov. 6)
Signed Defender India Trotter (Nov. 10)
Acquired Goalie Chantel Jones from Washington for Kelsey Wys. (Nov. 13)
Acquired Midfielder Elizabeth Eddy from New Jersey for Samantha Kerr (Nov 24)
Signed International Forwards Camilla Kur-Larsen (Denmark) and Ajara Nchout Njoya (Cameroon)
Acquired Defender Toni Pressley from Washington for the rights to Estella Johnson.
In addition to the new faces, the Flash also acquired six picks in the draft, holding the 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th, 18th and 21st picks. With those picks they selected Defender Abby Dahlkemper, Midfielder Samantha Mewis, Forward Lynn Williams, Defender Jaelene Hinkle, Defender Tatiana Coleman and Goalie Sabrina D’Angelo. Coleman opted to play overseas, although the Flash will still hold her rights.
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Position Outlook: Goalie:
Sabrina D’Angelo, DiDi Haracic, Chantel Jones
As the most experienced of the three, one would expect Jones to be the number one goalie. Last season, she started five games for Washington, making 22 saves over 450 minutes. In 2013, Jones started in four games and picked up a 1-0 shutout win at Chicago. She has the burning desire to prove herself as a true number one, a fact not lost on HC Aaron Lines “She’s been blooded into the professional game, has proven that she can play in this league and is looking for the opportunity to be the number one goalkeeper.” However, in their first preseason game, Jones did not play as D’Angelo and Haracic split duties in goal. D’Angelo enters her professional career as a highly decorated collegian, as she earned All-SEC honors every year at South Carolina and, in her rookie season, was honored as the SEC Freshman of the Year and Co-Defensive Player of the Year. She displays tremendous athleticism and quick reflexes in goal and has international experience as well. D’Angelo is a member of the Canadian National Team pool. At the youth level, the ‘keeper started her international career with a bronze medal at the 2008 CONCACAF U-17 Championship and later won gold during the 2010 tournament. In 2012, D’Angelo represented Canada at the U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup after winning the silver medal at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
Haracic was waived back in September and was invited back to camp, although she does not really figure to be in the mix, perhaps more destined for the reserve squad. Although I like what D’Angelo brings, I suspect in the end Jones will get the nod as the number one.
Skyscraper Blues
Position Outlook: Forwards:
Kristen Hamilton, Camilla Kur-Larsen, Ajara Nchout Njoya, Pia Rijsdijk, Jasmyne Spencer, , Lynn Williams
With the departure of Wambach, this position is a mess that will slowly sort itself out. Njoya and Larsen are yet to arrive in camp, Hamilton and Rijsdijk are non roster invitees. Both Njoya and Larsen have the ability to provide instant offense, as they are two young, dynamic players. Njoya will not be joining the Flash until after the World Cup, but Lines is excited to see her talents on display: “Ajara is a player that we expect to learn a lot in the Women’s World Cup and return to the Flash hungry to help her team.” Larsen will however, be with the Flash for the entire season. Spencer and Williams are slowly developing some nice chemistry up top for the Flash as they each tallied a goal in the preseason opener. Williams hold the Pepperdine University records for goals (24) and game winning goals (15). In addition to soccer, she also was a track star and both she and Spencer have the pure speed to break through defenders and the ability to send the ball into net with one touch. A quartet of Williams, Spencer, Njoya and Larsen, while young, has the ability to be very deadly. By the end of the season, I would not be surprised if Williams turned out to be the star of this group and the teams’ leading scorer. She is one to watch.
Position Outlook: Midfield
Jordan Angeli, Amber Brooks, Dominika Conc, Becky Edwards, Samantha Mewis, Mami Yamaguchi
Yamaguchi and Conc are non roster invitees. Mewis is the star of this group. She wrapped up her collegiate career at UCLA with statistics ranking her in the Top 10 of UCLA’s all-time records, including 9th in goals (31), 2nd in assists (32) and 6th in points (94). In 2014, Mewis won the Honda Award, presented by the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) to the top female soccer player and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”. She tallied the first goal in the preseason opener against West Virginia and had numerous opportunities before that, first carrying the ball through three Mountaineer defenders before trying her hand at a shot from 20-yards out. Edwards was also solid against the Mountaineers, as she, along with Mewis and Brooks are developing a nice chemistry in the middle. All three have the ability to supply instant offense or drop back and provide solid defensive support. Mewis is the sniper of the three, but she may prove to be equally valuable drawing in defenders and then setting up Williams or Spencer.
Position Outlook :Defenders
Megan Brigman, Abby Dahlkemper, Kristen Edmonds, Whitney Engen, Jaelene Hinkle, Shanna Hudson, Haley Palmer, Toni Pressley, Chelsea Stewart, Brittany Taylor, India Trotter
This is by far the best and deepest unit on the team. Edmonds slid over to forward against West Virginia and scored, displaying versatility. Trotter has no professional experience, but is tenacious and is exactly the type of player this team wants. Brigman and Hudson are non roster invitees, but are good reserve squad candidates. Engen returns to the Flash where she began her pro career in 2011 and went on to not only lead the team to the title, but also was named WPS Defender of the Year and was on the league’s Best XI.She will join the team once the World Cup has ended.
A four-year letterwinner at UCLA, Dahlkemper started all but one game throughout her collegiate career. In her junior season she was honored as a finalist for the MAC Hermann Trophy and in her senior year was a semifinalist for the coveted award. Dahlkemper earned NSCAA All-American honors all four years at UCLA, joining U.S. Women’s National Team midfielder Lauren Holiday as the only Bruin to accomplish that feat. Dahlkemper earned numerous additional accolades throughout her four years, including All-Pac-12 First Team and NSCAA All-Pacific Region honors each year. In her senior year, Dahlkemper was honored as the Pac-12 Defender of the Year and, the year prior, was named the NSCAA Scholar All-America Player of the Year.Though a defender, she has the ability to contribute on the offensive end. Dahlkemper totaled five goals and 10 assists through her 93 games with the Bruins, and she set up college teammate Mewis for an attempted goal against West Virginia but the shot went wide. Both she and Taylor showed instant chemistry.
Hinkle has the chance to be the hidden gem of the group. Against West Virginia she provided consecutive assists, feeding both Spencer and Williams the ball from the left side which is most likely her spot on the defense. The assists were nothing new for the two time All-American, as Hinkle totaled nineteen while at Texas Tech.
The final squad should be Hinkle, Dahlkemper, Edmonds, Pressley, Trotter, Taylor and Engen .
Final Outlook
With only four players back from 2014, the Flash are in complete rebuild mode. While one preseason game a season does not make, HC and GM Aaron Lines has to be encouraged by what his draft class showed. Bringing in vets like Brooks, Edwards and Engen will help the overall youth on the team. Williams, Spencer and Mewis will provide electricity while a great group of defenders will hold down the back end. Much hinges on who emerges as the number one in goal as it’s Jones’ desire and experience against D’Angelos’ grit and ability. Developing immediate chemistry amongst every unit will go a long way in easing the loss of Wambach as she was the glue that held the team together. I think the Flash are a year away from truly contending but with all the young talent on hand, fans should be exited. They are not ready to overtake the top three (KC, Seattle and Portland), but I see no reason they cannot rise to fourth or fifth.
Come on Flash fans, tell me what you think!
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