PHF Roundup: Season Eight, Week Ten
Recapping a game between the Connecticut Whale and Montreal Force as well as the PHF's All-Star Game in Toronto.
Pumpkin Spice Latte season must have come early, because there were so many players serving double nutmegs this weekend. Just before the first half of this Mountain West clash ended, Christen Press flicked the ball through the legs of Elizabeth Ball, and then through the legs of Adrianna Franch, and finally in the corner of the net for one of the prettiest goals on the weekend.
And Press wasn't the only World Cup star to have a big night in Sandy. In just the 9th minute of the match, Christine Sinclair did what Christine Sinclair does and effortlessly arced the ball over and behind Nicole Barnhart to open the scoring for the visitors. The score stayed level until the 87th minute, when Lindsey Horan capitalized on a poorly defended set piece to put the Thorns ahead (this goal was also credited as a Becky Sauerbrunn own goal). As regulation ended, it was another set piece that leveled the scoring, as Kelley O'Hara served a soaring through-ball for Rachel Corsie to finish, equalizing for the Royals.
Adrianna Franch was one of only two members of the 23-player squad at the World Cup to see zero minutes of playing time during the tournament, which makes us even more grateful for the NWSL so that we have opportunities beyond the tournament to see her brilliance in action. In the dying minutes of the match, Utah came charging, and Franch fended off Katie Stengel with some incredible saves in stoppage time to preserve a point on the road for the Thorns.
It seemed like the sun was finally shining upon the visage of Sky Blue FC, with necessary personnel changes happening and their first pair of consecutive wins in more than a year. But even with another valiant performance and a couple of powerful saves from Kailen Sheridan, they couldn’t hold on for a third.
The Pride's largest home crowd in more than two years (welcoming back the likes of Ali Krieger, Ashlyn Harris, and Marta) buoyed the home side to a much-needed win after weeks of on-and-off form. Marta and newcomer Claire Emslie linked up well, and Chioma Ubogagu had some solid breakaways and ohhh-so-close looks. But it was Marisa Viggiano, the rookie, who scored a rocket in the 23rd minute for the only goal of the match and three points for the Pride.
Another sellout crowd for a World Cup welcome back match as 5,500 supporters packed the Maryland SoccerPlex to welcome the Washington Spirit's World Cup players home. A few of the bleachers emptied at halftime due to weather, but those who stayed past the heat and lightning delay were rewarded with some thrilling moments from both sides.
Jordan DiBiasi, working to cement her status as one of the league's top attacking threats, opened the scoring for the Spirit just after halftime with a powerful header off a Dash defensive error. It took just a few minutes for the Dash to respond, with a waltzing interplay from Rachel Daly to Sofia Huerta, Huerta to Kristie Mewis for the well-slotted equalizer. Despite some solid creative work from Andi Sullivan and a good ball from Cheyna Matthews, it was Amber Brooks who go the go-ahead goal for the Dash in the 72nd minute. Houston did what Houston does and conceded a late penalty, but then Jane Campbell did what Jane Campbell does and blocked Mallory Pugh's equalizer, securing the victory for the away team.
Both the Dash and the Spirit have midweek matches, and with a match on Sunday, Houston has a whopping six points on the line this week.
We'll talk about the record-shattering attendance numbers at the Geek in a minute (the largest crowd ever for a women's soccer event in Chicago); let’s talk about what happened on the pitch first. The Courage midfield came out swinging with Jessica McDonald and Debinha working to create chances from the start. It was the Brazilian World Cup star who found Lynn Williams in the 30th minute for a goal not even Alyssa Naeher could save. The Red Stars responded seven minutes later as Arin Wright served a beauty for Vanessa DiBernardo.
Both sides put on a show in the second half, World Cup hero Crystal Dunn came off the bench for the Courage and helped control the pace of the attack in the final third, but it would not be enough. In the 58th minute, Sam Kerr thoroughly disrespected Abby Erceg and Stephanie Labbé with a truly diabolical double-nutmeg goal that secured three points for the Red Stars.
(Photo: Chicago Red Stars)