2018 Campaign Comes to a Close with Noon Match-Up at Yurcak Field
Sky Blue FC (0-17-6, 6 points) will conclude its 2018 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season on Saturday, hosting the Orlando Pride (8-9-6, 30 points) for a noon kickoff at Yurcak Field. Tickets for the match are available now online, and the first 1,500 fans through the gates will receive a Carli Lloyd bobblehead, courtesy of Brielle Orthopedics.
Saturday marks the third meeting of the season between these two clubs, with the Pride holding a 1-0-1 advantage in 2018. Their first encounter took place on June 16 at Orlando City Stadium, where the end result was a 3-2 final in favor of the home side. In a back-and-forth match-up, the Pride jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Sydney Leroux goal in the 2nd minute, but Savannah McCaskill responded for Sky Blue FC in the 16th minute to make things level again. Leroux scored a second tally in the 31st minute, but Madison Tiernan equalized six minutes later. The final goal eventually came in the 83rd minute when Alex Morgan set up a Rachel Hill game-winner.
The second time these two teams played was on August 5 at Orlando City Stadium, where another exciting encounter took place. After a scoreless first half, Marta put the Pride on top with a 51st minute finish, but a Shea Groom to Imani Dorsey goal two minutes later placed a 1-1 count on the scoreboard. In the 59th minute, a Groom to McCaskill connection gave Sky Blue FC a 2-1 advantage, but Dani Weatherholt eventually equalized in the 73rd minute. The 2-2 tally later became official following a Kailen Sheridan save of a Marta penalty kick attempt in stoppage time.
Sky Blue FC returns home to Yurcak Field on Saturday after spending its last four matches on the road. Over the past week, Sky Blue FC played a Sunday morning game at the Washington Spirit before traveling to the Chicago Red Stars on Tuesday, and the team now caps off that stretch with a third contest on Saturday in a third different state.
Orlando enters Saturday night on a five-match winless streak, including losses in its last three contests. Most recently, the Pride fell to the Chicago Red Stars on August 25 at Orlando City Stadium, 3-1.
Historically, this overall series stands at 3-2-2 in favor of the Pride, with an accumulative 1-1-1 record at Yurcak Field.
As mentioned, tickets for Saturday’s game are available now online. In addition to the first 1,500 fans through the gates receiving a Carli Lloyd bobblehead (courtesy of Brielle Orthopedics), there will be a special concert performance on the concourse before kickoff by the Grouser Girls, which is being presented by Skye Energy Drink.
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