Sky Blue FC stretching long for a playoff berth

Defending Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) champion Sky Blue FC has continued to put forth solid soccer in Piscataway during the 2010 summer campaign. Recently-promoted head coach Rick Stainton believes his team’s late-season adjustments have led to a more exciting brand of soccer.

"We’re becoming more confident on the ball,” Stainton said. “Our possession is technically much sharper. It all intertwines and the more possession you have, the more dominant you can be. When you’re on your heels less and on top of our opponents, it’ll help with results.” Sky Blue scored an important 1-0 win on Aug. 22 against the Philadelphia Independence because of a phenomenal Yael Averbuch volley from 15 yards out. It brought the squad into a virtual tie with the Washington Freedom, holding a game in hand. The result set up an all-important showdown with the Freedom on Aug. 28, as the final playoff spot remained up for grabs. A late Freedom goal in the 84th minute knocked off Sky Blue 2-1. As of Sept. 2, Sky Blue’s record was 7-10-5, with two games remaining to catch the Washington Freedom for the last playoff slot.

Hawaiian native Tasha Kai and Finnish international striker Laura Kalmari pace the squad with five goals each, with Brazilian midfielder Rosana adding three tallies on the year.

East Brunswick High School product Heather O’Reilly dons the prestigious No. 9 and leads the team with four assists on the season. The former University of North Carolina star has also been prominently featured on the U.S. National Team.

“Heather is an ultimate competitor,” Stainton said. “She gives 100 percent all the time and has an incredible, motivating attitude. It spreads to her teammates in training sessions because she works so hard and is always looking to improve herself. On the field, she is quite versatile and we use her up top because of her speed.”

Stainton believes that the key to success in the goal department is having a back line that can get possessions going.

“Defensively, we’re a very strong team,” Stainton said. “We’re able to build our offense by having a successful defense in important spots.”

On Aug. 26, Sky Blue made another change to its roster. Coaching shifts have been common for the squad (Stainton is the fifth head coach in 14 months), but this time assistant coach and veteran defender Jennifer Grubb moved onto the active roster. Grubb was a three-time All-Star in the now-defunct WUSA for the Washington Freedom.

In ’09, defender Christie Rampone served as the head coach and captain of the title-winning team. This season, she remains one of the anchors of a Sky Blue back four that allowed 28 goals in its first 20 games.

“Christie is a pure leader,” Stainton said. “Through her experience, soccer intellect and personality, people migrate to her. She’s a consummate professional and when she speaks, the team listens.”Sky Blue has been hit with the injury bug between the pipes this season, as starting goalie Karen Bardsley fractured her collarbone during All-Star training. After posting a 0.90 goals against average through 10 games, she was sidelined for the rest of the season. However, Jenni Branam returned from a fractured patella to take her spot and shut out the Independence.

“Jenni has an aggressiveness in goal that allows us to have the backfield pushed up,” Stainton said. “She’s so good with her feet in the area and made two or three key saves against Philadelphia. The organization itself is considered to be based in Piscataway because the team plays its home games at Yurcak Field on the Busch Campus of Rutgers University. It is considered one of the premier college soccer facilities in the region.

“The facility in terms of the field is incredible and one of the best in the league,” Stainton said. “For the setting that we’re in, it’s a great playing surface. Our fans are bench-side and everything is so tight-knit with the energy they bring.”

As for a mental approach on the pitch while in a playoff race, Stainton tries not to remind the group about potential scenarios.

“I kind of let that stuff sit,” Stainton said. “I’d be naïve if I didn’t think they knew the current status. My job is to emphasize our strengths, make sure they’re out there to play and don’t overanalyze the game.”

For more information about Sky Blue FC or the WPS, visit www.womensprosoccer.com/ny.