Lehtinen, Formiga Lift Sky Blue
Susanna Lehtinen and Formiga accounted for all three goals as Jersey Sky Blue struck three times in the first half and held on for a 3-0 victory over the New York Magic at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University.
Lehtinen posted two goals and an assist and Formiga accounted for a goal and two assists as Sky Blue improved to 2-0 in the regular season. Jillian Loyden and Erin Guthrie split the shutout in goal as Sky Blue recorded its second clean sheet of the season while outshooting the Magic 22-2.
Sky Blue returns to action tomorrow when they host the Northern Virginia Majestics at 5 p.m. at Ridge High School in Basking Ridge, NJ.
Sky Blue started off slow with Katie Griffin providing the chances but not being able to connect. In the 11th minute, a Formiga steal led to a nice ball behind by Casey Nogueira. Griffin ran onto the ball and her volley attempt from the top of the box bounded off the bar. Six minutes later, Griffin again came close but her 12-yard shot from a Lehtinen feed went over the bar.
As the half went on, Formiga started to assert herself more and that led to a flurry of three goals in 12 minutes. In the 26th minute, the Brazil international put together a tremendous effort stealing the ball in the midfield and floating a perfect diagonal ball to a wide open Lehtinen, who volleyed over charging Magic keeper Staci Self for the easy finish.
In the 30th minute, Formiga added a goal of her own. Lehtinen swerved a cross in from the right side and Griffin appeared to have a chance for the header but the ball cleared her and went to Formiga, who flew in at the far post to poke a volley into the left side of the goal from close range.
After Griffin was stuffed by Self in behind in the 35th minute, Sky Blue added a third goal three minutes later thanks an easy finish off another great Formiga pass. This time Formiga sent Lehtinen behind on the right side and she capped a 50-yard unchallenged run with an outside of the right foot finish under a charging Self.
Self foiled Nogueira with a nice diving save in the 41st minute as Sky Blue took a 3-0 lead into halftime.
The visitors made a number of substitutions at halftime including the regular season debut of Canadian international Melissa Tancredi, who came on for Formiga in the center of the midfield. The former Notre Dame All-American had one of the best efforts of the second half for Sky Blue as her volley off an Erla Arnardóttir feed landed inside the far post but the flag was up for offside.
Substitute Gina DeMaio provided the other two good chances for Sky Blue after halftime as Magic defender Liz Allan deflected her shot just wide in the 86th minute and she also missed just wide left from 20 yards two minutes later.
|
June 2, 2007 - St. John's University |
1 |
2 |
- |
F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Magic (1-3) | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
| Jersey Sky Blue (2-0) | 3 | 0 | - | 3 |
LINEUPS
NEW YORK MAGIC: Staci Self, Sade Ayinde (Ashley James 61), Eleri Earnshaw, Libby Kimmett (Marta Anderson-Winchell 39), Kimberly Williams, Liz Allan, Katherine Galanek (Robin McCullough 45), Callie Lanphier, Christina Rizzi, Alyssa Hanson (Jessica Hewins 51), Noel Meeke.
JERSEY SKY BLUE: Jillian Loyden (Erin Guthrie 45), Kim Brandão, Becky Edwards (Gina DeMaio 57), Nikki Krzysik, Stephanie Logterman, Erla Arnardóttir, Tobin Heath, Susanna Lehtinen (Melissa Tancredi 45), Formiga (Kylee Rossi 45), Katie Griffin (Stacy Bishop 57), Casey Nogueira (Elisabeth Redmond 45).
GOALS
JSB: Lehtinen (Formiga) 25th minute
JSB: Formiga (Lehtinen) 29th minute
JSB: Lehtinen (Formiga) 37th minute
STATISTICS
SHOTS
JSB: 22; NYM: 2
SAVES
JSB: Jillian Loyden 0, Erin Guthrie 0; NYM: Self 8
FOULS
JSB: 3; NYM: 3
OFFSIDES
JSB: 4; NYM: 1
CORNERS
JSB: 5; NYM: 3
GAME INFO
CAUTIONS/EJECTIONS
None
REFEREE
Hayden Cust
ASSISTANTS
Declan Reidy, Carlos Garcia
ATTENDANCE
82