Sky Blue tees off with a win over visiting Red Stars

Defending WPS champions Sky Blue FC fought through some jitters to take a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars in their season opener April 11th at Yurcak Field. A goal in the 6th minute by forward Tasha Kai proved to be the last word, with keeper Karen Bardsley recording the shutout in her first start with the Central Jersey team.

“As a team, expectations are high, and I think that contributed to the fact that we were a little bit nervous out there,” Sky Blue FC head coach Pauliina Miettinen said after the match. "(We) have to be a little bit more willing to move along the field and make ourselves available.”

On the 6th minute tally, midfielder Heather O’Reilly settled a ball at the top of the box to feed a streaking Kai in the center of the field. Kai, the leading scorer in last summer’s campaign, needed just one touch to find an opening and struck the ball past Chicago goalkeeper Jillian Loyden to make it 1-0.

That early notch did calm the nerves of the home team a bit, and the technical focus of the match quickly intensified on both sides. The Red Stars were able to put together some offensive runs immediately after that first tally, but solid play from the Sky Blue FC back line and Bardsley cleared away any danger.

The best scoring opportunity for the visitors came in the 39th minute when Chicago’s Julianne Sitch put a hard strike on a side volley towards the net. The SBFC defense was able to deflect the attempt away for a corner kick, which resulted in a close punch from Bardsley.

Sky Blue FC looked to regain control of the momentum at the start of the second half. At the 64-minute mark, O’Reilly sprinted with the ball down the right flank and once again found Kai in the center of the field. The “Flyin’ Hawaiian” one-touched the feed, but Chicago was able to just keep the ball from finding the back of the net.

Miettinen made her first substitutions of the evening in the latter portion of the second half, first bringing Brazilian playmaker Rosana on for midfielder Yael Averbuch in the 65th minute, and then Swedish forward Jessica Landstrom for Kai in the 72nd minute.

Landstrom quickly made her presence felt and created a 1v1 opportunity in the 75th minute, where a hard-struck ball was just turned away by Loyden. The final change of the night by Miettinen brought on defender Danielle Johnson for Keeley Dowling.

In the closing minutes Chicago fought to gain the equalizer, but the SBFC defense was able to maintain its position.

Saint Louis Athletica and the Boston Breakers also notched victories on Sunday, bringing Sky Blue FC into a three-way tie for first place with three league points for each of the 1-0-0 teams. Next up for Sky Blue, after press time, is a Saturday April 17th tilt versus league-leading scorer Marta and FC Gold Pride (0-1-0) in San Francisco at 10 PM EST.

The team returns to Piscataway on Saturday, May 1st, hosting FC Gold Pride. As part of the May 1st engagement, fans will have the exclusive opportunity to have their photo taken with Rosana and Marta. For more information on that significantly limited ticket package, call 1-888-SBFC-TIX.