Wildcats Stun Sky Blue
Erla Arnardóttir in action
Dan Salvo - Dazzle Photography
The New Jersey Wildcats could only come up with two shots all game against Jersey Sky Blue but that was all they needed. Aimee Bresani nailed the only goal of the game off a free kick in the 89th minute and the Wildcats took advantage of Sky Blue's offensive ineptitude to claim a 1-0 victory in a battle of unbeaten W-League teams at Ridge High School.
Robyn Jones posted five saves to claim the shutout for the Wildcats, who improved to 3-0-2 for the season and took over possession of first place in the Northeast Division standings. Sky Blue held a 13-2 advantage in shots but it didn't matter as the first-year franchise fell to 3-1.
Bresani surprised Sky Blue goalkeeper Jillian Loyden as well as the rest of the people in attendance when her 40-yard free kick from the left side sailed straight into the goal. The Wildcats set up as if Bresani would serve the ball into the box but she had other ideas taking advantage of an aggressive Loyden by lining a right-footed blast under the bar.
Sky Blue dominated the play throughout but struggled to connect in the offensive third of the field. The Wildcats had the next closest chance to score when a goal by Esmeralda Negron was called back in the 24th minute due to a clear offside call.
The best chance for Sky Blue in the opening half came off a Katie Griffin volley in the seventh minute that sailed right at Jones. Sky Blue opened up play after halftime with Formiga zipping a shot wide in the 50th minute.
Sky Blue pressed later in the half and a nice combination between Formiga and Bonnie Young on the right led to Erla Arnardóttir first- timing Formiga's cross over in the 74th minute. Arnardóttir missed again in the 81st minute when she got on the end of a Lara Dickenmann pass in the box but was stuffed by a charging Jones.
Sky Blue returns to action on Tuesday, June 12 when it takes on the China Women's National Team in an exhibition game at 7:30 p.m. at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ.
|
June 9, 2007 - Ridge High School |
1 |
2 |
- |
F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey Wildcats (3-0-2) | 0 | 1 | - | 1 |
| Jersey Sky Blue (3-1) | 0 | 0 | - | 0 |
LINEUPS
NEW JERSEY WILDCATS: Robyn Jones, Aimee Bresani, Danielle McAnally (Lissette Brandão 45), Amanda Wheeler, Jessica O'Rourke, Leia Rispoli (Amber Brooks 59), Kristie Lang (Lydia Bojcun 65), Kelly Lynch (Lauren Hinkle 86), Amy Hoyer (Jen Mattison 89), Esmeralda Negron, Andrea Lopez (Caroline Tuttle 77).
JERSEY SKY BLUE: Jillian Loyden, Kim Brandão, Bonnie Young, Melissa Tancredi, Fanta Cooper, Formiga, Susanna Lehtinen (Tricia DiPaolo 64), Erla Arnardóttir, Kylee Rossi (Gina DeMaio 64), Katie Griffin, Stacy Bishop (Lara Dickenmann 45).
GOALS
NJW: Bresani 89th minute
STATISTICS
SHOTS
NJW: 2, JSB: 13
SAVES
NJW: Jones 5; JSB: Loyden 1
FOULS
NJW: 18; JSB: 19
OFFSIDES
NJW: 4; JSB: 2
CORNERS
NJW: 1; JSB: 10
GAME INFO
CAUTIONS/EJECTIONS
JSB: Tancredi 35th minute - caution
NJW: Brandao 49th minute - caution
REFEREE
Ken Henriques
ASSISTANTS
David Bahamonde, Victor Vishnakov
ATTENDANCE
644