Renegades Stop Sky Blue with Shutout Victory
Sky Blue's Michele O'Brien challenges Danielle Kot
Lauren MacIver connected in the first half and Mary Therese McDonnell added a second-half score as the Boston Renegades knocked off Jersey Sky Blue 2-0 in a W-League Northeast Division contest at Drew University. With the win, the Renegades made up for a season-opening 1-0 loss to Sky Blue.
With the result, both teams left the game with a 2-1 record.
The game started out on an ominous note as Sky Blue midfielder Erica Stewart went down with a serious knee injury just three minutes into the game. Moments later, as Stewart was being tended to, lightning appeared in the sky and the game had to be delayed for 40 minutes as the teams took shelter.
MacIver got Boston on the board when she volleyed home from the top of the box in the 19th minute. Allison Martino sent a corner kick into the box from the right side and Sky Blue keeper Jillian Loyden came out to box the ball away. The clearance went straight to MacIver and her volley found the right side of the goal.
The teams traded chances later in the half as Loyden tipped over a 30-yard free kick from Laura Robinson in the 39th minute before Sky Blue's Leah Robinson just missed getting on the end of a cross from Domenique Esposito four minutes later.
In the second half, Sky Blue got forward more but couldn't put on the finishing touches. Esposito couldn't finish a dangerous cross from Yolanda Odenyo in front of the goal in the 60th minute and Burke did well to touch wide a nice chance from Odenyo off a great feed from Carolyn Blank four minutes later.
Boston took a commanding lead against the run of play in the 71st minute. Blank poorly planned backpass in the midfield was stolen by McDonnell and she raced into the box before beating a helpless Loyden to double the lead.
Sky Blue returns to action next Saturday night for the second game of a five-game homestand. Jersey will host the New York Magic at 7:30 p.m. at Drew University.
|
May 31, 2008 - Ranger Stadium |
1 |
2 |
- |
F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Renegades (2-1) | 1 | 1 | - | 2 |
| Jersey Sky Blue (2-1) | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
LINEUPS
BOSTON RENEGADES: Meghan Burke, Rachel Lim, Danielle Kot, Therese Lückner, Mary Therese McDonnell, Katie Bethke (Stephanie Gilkenson 87), Allison Martino (Kelsey Hood 56), Laura Robinson (Rachel Smith 78), Lauren MacIver, Gabriela Demoner (Jamie Craft 66), Ashlee Pistorius (Marcy Gans 77).
JERSEY SKY BLUE: Jillian Loyden, Sarra Moller (Christy Zwolski 77), Bonnie Young, Lauren Ebert, Fanta Cooper, Marisa Brown (Taylor Walsh 56), Erica Stewart (Leah Robinson 3, Carolyn Blank 59), Gina DeMaio, Domenique Esposito (Jaime Komar 84), Michele O'Brien, Yolanda Odenyo.
GOALS
BR - MacIver 19th minute
BR - McDonnell 71st minute
STATISTICS
SHOTS
BR: 7; JSB: 8
SAVES
BR: Burke 2; JSB: Loyden 4
FOULS
BR: 4; JSB: 4
OFFSIDES
BR: 5; JSB: 1
CORNERS
BR: 4; JSB: 1
GAME INFO
CAUTIONS/EJECTIONS
None
REFEREE
Michael Deering
ASSISTANTS
Stan Grabowski
Ashraf Kamel
ATTENDANCE
522