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Sky Blue FC and Houston Dash settle for a 1-1 Draw

By Scott Sinclair

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Sky Blue FC and the Houston Dash fought to a 1-1 result last night at Yurcak field in Piscataway NJ. Despite a brilliant performance by Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Brittany Cameron, an 86th minute equalizer by the visiting Dash forced both teams to settle for one point.

“We have to find a way to push through the lack of focus at the end of games,” said Jim Gabarra, Sky Blue FC Head Coach. “We played well enough again today to come away with three points, but we did not do a good enough job of finishing our chances. As a team, we need to have a little bit better concentration to put shots on frame, as well as displaying that killer extinct to put goals away.”

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    • As has been the case for Gabarra’s team the last several weeks, his side played well and hard but just can’t seem to find much offense, despite the presence of such dangerous weapons as Nadia Nadim, Katy Freels and Maya Hayes. Thus far the New Jersey squad has only come away with the much needed three point only once this season, having to settle for four draws.

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    Sky Blue FC opened the scoring in the 11th minute of the contest off a corner kick that was sent into play by midfielder Katy Freels. The ball was placed onto the far post, where defender Kristin Grubka was awaiting. The rookie then one-timed a header to midfielder Hayley Haagsma in front of the frame, and she quickly hammered a hard shot into the back of the net to make it 1-0 in favor of the home side. The goal was the first in the professional career of Haagsma, while the assist was also the first for Grubka on her NWSL resume.

    The lead was nearly increased in the 32nd minute, as it was Freels once again who led the charge as she cut through the center of the Houston defense, causing several defenders to converge on her. As soon as that happened, Kim DeCesare looped over her into a wide open space where Freels fed her into that area. DeCesare then stepped into the ball and struck a shot that was just outside the near post.

    In the 60th minute of this match, Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Brittany Cameron was forced to make a very difficult save on a near equalizer from the Dash. Following a well-placed free kick from forward Kealia Ohai that found the head of midfielder Brittany Bock, Cameron extended to her right to punch the shot from Bock off the crossbar and keep it clean of the end line. Cameron was terrific all day for the Sky Blue, clearly playing her best game of the season.

    Houston was then given a huge chance in the 78th minute, following a whistle on top of the box for a tackle by aggressive defender Meg Morris that resulted in a penalty kick for the visiting Dash. Stepping over the try was forward Jessica McDonald. When the whistle was blown, she fired a shot towards the left netting, but Cameron again came up huge and stuffed her attempt to keep it 1-0.

    In the 86th minute of play, the Dash were finally able to level the count. After Ohai raced down the right flank, she sent a cross that was first collected and put on frame by forward Tiffany McCarty. Cameron again made an incredible diving save to keep it out of the net, but Dash striker Allie Bailey was there to put away the rebound and hang the final 1-1 tally.

    “We are so strong defensively, but we have to do a better job of putting away games,” Haagsma said after the match. “It starts in the back and goes all the way up to the front. We have to get on the same page as a team and figure out that last piece of the puzzle that we have been missing.” For Haagsma and her defensive cohorts, defense has not really been the team weakness over the first month and a half of the season. The team has simply struggled to find the net offensively and has been unable to get off to a quick start. To Gabarrra’s credit though, they have battled back and showed grit and fire, but it has not translated to a full ninety minutes.

    After its slate of games this weekend,  the NWSL will then take a break for the Group Stage of the 2015 FIFA Women’s Cup.

    Sky Blue FC vs. Houston Dash
    May 31, 2015 – Yurcak Field
    Piscataway, New Jersey

    Scoring Summary
    Sky Blue FC: 1-0-1
    Houston: 0-1-1

    SBFC 11 H.Haagsma (K.Grubka)
    HOU 86 A.Bailey

    Lineups:
    SBFC – B.Cameron (C), M.Hayes (S.Killion-81), K.Grubka, L.Cutshall, C.Levin, T.Lytle, K.Freels, H.Haagsma, K.DeCesare, S.Gordon (M.Morris-46), N.Nadim
    Substitutes Not Used: A.Bledsoe, N.Stanton, M.Waldus, L.LaBonta, T.Diederich

    HOU: B.Henninger, T.Pressley, K.Ohai, B.Bock, J.McDonald, N.Cross, M.Henderson (J.Jackson-70), C.Privett (T.McCarty-60), E.Brush, E.Masar (C), R.Axon
    Substitutes Not Used: A.Bailey, J.LaPonte, J.Day

    Misconduct Summary:
    SBFC 86 Yellow Card: K.DeCesare

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