Sky Blue FC Archives

I was really hoping to watch a victorious Chicago soccer match on Sunday, especially after being on hand to witness the Fire lose their first ever home opener at Toyota Park the night before. Not only was I looking forward to a Red Stars win because I needed my soccer spirits to be lifted after the Fire's disappointing results, but also to prove all the Red Stars haters wrong. Last week I read countless reviews on just how awful everyone seems to think the Red Stars will be this year, and it got old quick.

It turns out that the Fire weren't the only pro soccer team in Chicago to end their weekend in a disappoint, as the Red Stars lost to Sky Blue FC 1-0 with an early goal in the 6th minute from Natasha Kai.

I may be biased, but I'm really excited for the changes that Emma Hayes has made to the roster this season. Sure, we lost USWNT players, Carli Lloyd and Lindsay Tarpley. We lost a standout goalie from Sweden in Caroline Jonsson. We're all unhappy about these loses. (Well, I am mostly sad for the loss of Jonsson, but countless others are heartbroken over USWNT heroes, Lloyd and Tarpley.) But overall, I'm genuinely excited to see what our new Red Stars' players will produce this year - maybe it is the lack of familiarity that has me on the edge of my seat, maybe it's the energy I've seen in Hayes when she talks about new additions to the team such as: Kosovare Asllani, Katie Chapman, Whitney Engen, Jessica McDonald, and countless others, or maybe I'm just genuinely looking forward to a fresh start, a new season.

Oh the anticipation!

Sadly, the first game has come and gone. The Red Stars fought until the final minutes of game that I thought they clearly should have one. In my eyes, they dominated the majority of the game. Of course, not without a challenge, Sky Blue FC is a force to be reckoned with, there is no question in that. But the RS did everything they were supposed to, except... put the ball in the goal, even after collectively taking 20 shots (4 on goal) against Sky Blue.

Game Highlights:

Other thoughts on the game:

The Red Stars take on Sky Blue FC this Sunday out in New Jersey. Why not come out and see the inaugural game with the Red Stars Staff, select players and your friends at Team RS Confidential?

Where: The Globe Pub, 1934 W. Irving Park Rd.
When: Party starts at 4pm, Kickoff's at 5pm.

Come out, have some food and drinks and let's cheer on our hometown women in their first game of the year.

SUNDAY, SUNDAY, SUNDAY!...and some Fridays, Saturdays and Wednesdays too.

Your Chicago Red Stars have announced the 2010 Schedule!  Yes!

The league domination (think happy thoughts kiddies) starts Sunday, April 11th against Sky Blue FC in New Jersey.  This is going to be a ramped-up launch to the new season so catch the game on Fox Soccer Channel.  I vote calling your local watering hole to see if they are carrying the game...Small Bar, The Globe, your crazy neighbor Pavel with cable.

The home opener is the following weekend, Saturday, April 17 vs. Saint Louis Athletica @ 7 p.m.  Could be a chilly one but that's what tailgating and some pre-game footie are for.  Check out Local 134 for fan activities. 

Get excited, it's going to be a great season!  

I'm pretty excited to share this blog with you today! Reason being that I am not Nicole, My name is Katie. Nicole asked me to step in for her this weekend, seeing as I am an avid WPS fan I couldn't help but to accept the challenge. So here we go! Enjoy!

 

It started March 29th. The day that the LA Sol and Washington Freedom would open the Inaugural 2009 WPS Season. Thousands of fans, young and old, attended The Home Depot Center that day. Thousands more around the country tuned in to FSC to watch history be made. Now almost 5 months later, we sit and watch as the season comes to a close. The Sol clinched the WPS Regular Season Title, ending the season 12-3-5,earning them the right to host and play in the Championship game. But who would they play against? The Boston Breakers? Chicago Red Stars? FC Gold Pride? What about Saint Louis Athletica? Would the season end as it began with the Sol playing against the Washington Freedom? None of these teams proved they wanted the playoff spot. Out of no where came the underdog with a Cinderella story.

 

Sky Blue FC from New York/ New Jersey has battled for the right to play in today's Championship game. With the loss of 2 coaches, now on their third, player-coach Christie Rampone has led the team to a well deserved playoff spot. What was once the underdog, ending the regular season with a 7-8-5 record, is now the team to beat as they take on the LA Sol in the Championship game.

Now, I am the Chicago Red Stars "SuperFan", but I have been secretly pulling for Sky Blue to get to this point all season. Now that they are here, I proudly sat at home in my orange praying that Julianne Sitch[my coach/very close family friend] would come home with the Champion title.

As the first half whistle blew many fans sat on the edge of their seats, at the staduim and at home, wondering who would walk away champions, In the first minute of play Sky Blue FC had earned a corner. The attack had begun, this was the first sign that Sky Blue FC wasnt leaving without the trophy. 17 minutes later came the next sign when Natasha Kai sent a head ball to Heather O'Reilly, who blasted a ball to the back of the net. Only 10 minutes later the LA Sol would be left to play a player down as Allison Falk was sent off the field with a red card. A very well played half by both teams, the stats were as follows

Goals: LA 0 - SBFC 1

Saves: LA 2 - SBFC 1

Shots On Goal: LA 1 - SBFC 3

Corners: LA 1 - SBFC 2

 Second half began and Sky Blue managed to hold Marta and the LA Sol back for all 48[3 minutes of stoppage] left. Jenni Branam taking another beating, this time from Bock who recieved a yellow card for sending Branam flying into the goal. As the final whistle blew a rush of orange was on the field. The underdogs have taken the title! With a 1-0 win over the LA Sol, Sky Blue has won all 3 games in 8 days, all on the road! Heather O'Reilly was given the MVP title and trophy, but in her post game she said Rampone was the MVP, that she had gotten the team to where they were. The team stood on the stage chanting "Sky Who? Sky Blue!!" led by the one and only Natasha Kai. Stats at the end of the game are as follows

Goals: LA 0 - SBFC 1

Saves: LA 4 - SBFC 3

Yellows: LA 1 - SBFC 0

Shots on Goal: LA 3 - SBFC 5

Corners: LA 6 - SBFC 5

Red: LA 1 - SBFC 0

The team is off and celebrating, as would any team! A well deserved win for Sky Blue FC, truley a Cinderella Story with a happy ending! Congrats Ladies, enjoy it!

Congrats to all teams on your inaugural season! See you next season!

Sky Blue FC shocked the league on Wednesday when they defeated St. Louis Athletica 1-0.  The lone goal came in the 31st minute of play when Yael Averbuch found defender, Keeley Dowling at the top of the box, who hit the ball low and wide as an outstretched Hope Solo was unable to get her hands to this ball.  

Highlights from the game, including Dowlings goal can be viewed here:

St. Louis Athletica and Sky Blue FC face off tonight in the WPS Super Semifinals. You can catch the match on FSC at 6PM CT. (The game can also be followed via Match Tracker or Webcast.) The winner of this match will take on LA SOL for the WPS Championship match this Saturday, August 22nd at 4PM CT. 

Sky Blue FC defeated the Freedom 2-1 in the First Round of playoffs on Saturday, August 15th. If you weren't able to watch the game, check out the highlights below, including goals from Natasha Kai and Francielle. Sky Blue FC will now come head to head with St. Louis Athletica tomorrow in the Super Seminfinal in Fenton, MO at 7PM ET. The game will be aired on FSC.

I knew I needed to come in and help the team out and give that extra fire, that spark. Natasha Kai

Since Chicago is out of the playoffs, who are we, Red Stars supporters, supposed to support during the WPS Playoffs?  We can support LA Sol home to Marta, St. Louis Athletica- who has national team standout- Hope Solo, or Washington Freedom with goal scoring sensation- Abby Wambach.  But what about Sky Blue FC?  

This bracket depicts how the WPS Playoffs work. The Freedom play Sky Blue FC this Sunday. The winner of the First Round plays St. Louis Athletica in the Super Semifinal. Finally, the LA Sol (winners of the regular season) will be playing against the the team that wins the Super Semifinal. [Image Credit: Women's Professional Soccer]

WPS First Round

Washington Freedom 

vs. Sky Blue FC

Date: Sat, Aug. 15

Location: Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.

Tune-In: 4pm ET - FSN 

[Image Credit: Women's Professional Soccer]

I'm rather heartbroken that the Chicago Red Stars didn't qualify for a spot in the inaugural WPS playoffs, but there are still four teams left to battle it out for the championship title.  Sky Blue FC is one of these teams, and I'm excited to announce that Chicago native (Oswego to be exact!), Julianne Sitch of Sky Blue FC has agreed to do an interview with me here at Red Stars Confidential.  

In May of this year the original Sky Blue FC head coach and general manager, Ian Sawyers, was fired, while assistant coach, Kelly Lindsey stepped in as his replacement in an interim role before officially filling the role as head coach of this New Jersey WPS squad in June. (To read more on Sawyers' termination go here.)

I was just checking my twitter feed (@nikhak), and I came across a retweet from my friend @pitchinvasion, who reposted this tweet: @bdure_usat Shocker in #WPS: Sky Blue is on its third coach. Kelly Lindsey resigned yesterday; Christine Rampone will be player/interim coach.

Is it true- has Lindsey sent in her resignation already?  Why is player, Christine Rampone, stepping up to fill the position as head coach and not assistant coach, Joe Dorini?

Something doesn't seem quite right...

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It should be noted that Chicago Red Stars assistant coach, Denise Reddy, was the assistant coach to Sky Blue FC before relocating to Chicago last fall.