Sky Blue FC and Seattle Reign battle it out. Photo by Kim Racon.
The crossbar at both ends of the field was the difference maker Sunday night at Yurcak Field, as Sky Blue FC and Seattle Reign FC battled to a scoreless draw. Sky Blue and the Reign rattled the woodwork in the first half, but neither side crossed the goal line.
Sky Blue nearly went ahead in the 12th minute. Taylor Lytle ripped a shot off the bar, with play leaving Reign keeper Hope Solo out of position. Sky Blue were unable to reach the rebound right away, allowing Solo to get back into position and make the save.
Five minutes later, Kim Little got through, finding Jess Fishlock near the six-yard box. Fishlock’s shot hit the underside of the bar, but failed to cross the goal line. There were frenetic moments for Sky Blue in defense, but Erica Skroski cleared.
In the 35th minute, Sky Blue had another chance when Leah Galton, on her first career start, used her speed to beat Elli Reed and make a run down the left side. She played a cross for Kelley Conheeney who was unable to put a solid touch on Galton’s ball. Galton had a great chance on goal herself in the 56th minute, played by Skroski, but Solo saved. Natasha Kai was unable to convert the deflection.
Erin Simon crossed a shot into the box in the 68th minute, where Kai’s header hit Kelley O’Hara. O’Hara collected, fired, but the near-goal was disallowed as the flag was up for offside.
To honor the victims from the shooting in Orlando last weekend, Sky Blue held a moment of silence during pre-game ceremonies as well as a 49-second applause in the 49th minute that were observed perfectly by both sets of fans.
The draw was the third straight for Sky Blue (2-3-4, 10 pts) who head to Washington next weekend. The Reign (3-3-3, 12 pts) are at Kansas City next Saturday.
Photo by Kim Racon.
Sky Blue FC
