Sam Kerr and Kelley O’Hara to Hold Dual Captainship After Injuries Sideline Christie Pearce
Sky Blue FC (7-9-2, 23 points) will return to National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) action on Saturday night, hosting Seattle Reign FC (7-5-6, 27 points) at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. Kickoff for the match is set for 7:00 p.m. ET, and fans can purchase tickets online or by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849).
With the announcement on Friday that defender Christie Pearce was ruled out for the remainder of the season due to accumulative injuries, Sky Blue FC will see Sam Kerr and Kelley O’Hara hold dual captainship for the New Jersey club over the remainder of the 2017 campaign, beginning on Saturday night.
This home fixture marks the third meeting of the season between Sky Blue FC and Seattle, and it is the first time during the 2017 campaign that the two clubs will square off in New Jersey. After drawing 1-1 on NWSL Opening Weekend back in April, an epic seesaw match-up resulted the second time they met at Memorial Stadium in July. After Reign FC ran up a 4-0 advantage, a resilient Sky Blue FC side battled all the way back to level that contest at four goals apiece as the game headed into the final minutes. Unfortunately for Sky Blue FC, a Megan Rapinoe finish in the 87th minute shifted the lead back in favor of Seattle, which held on to claim the 5-4 result.
Both Sky Blue FC and Reign FC will be missing key players on Saturday night. While Pearce will miss the rest of 2017 for Sky Blue FC, Seattle will be playing without Rapinoe on Saturday as she continues to rehabilitate a left knee meniscus tear. Forward Leah Galton and defender Erin Simon will also sit out Saturday night for Sky Blue FC, as will midfielder Diana Matheson for Reign FC.
Historically, Seattle leads this series with a 4-3-5 overall record, including a 2-1-2 advantage in New Jersey.
Tickets for Saturday night’s match are available now online or by calling 888-SBFC-TIX (888-723-2849). For all of the latest news on Sky Blue FC, visit the team online and follow us on social media: @SkyBlueFC
