San Diego v Gotham
Lots of intrigue in this game. Both teams have USNT players out, from Stanford. NY took the championship, the Wave, the Supporters Shield last year and the tourney pitting these two against each other to start this season. Each coach has been coach of the year in the league. Gotham gave up a late goal off the head of Morgan, she is out his game, to lose the preseason trophy. Sheridan had been with Gotham, but taken away.
Berger gets rid of one just ahead of the two offenders closing on her. NY with a short pass, Jones fouls near midfield. Williams reels in a loose ball, cross field and it’s coming full circle to the next touchline, it is lost in their offensive third. Williams goes 1 v 1, winning a corner, the first at 7’. Played into the area by Gotham and out, then back in and again in Stevens shoots as falling back so the ball went up and over. Williams goes end line and touches it a bit too far, goal kick. McKaskill for Coloprico and it is too much ahead of her target, a deep throw coming out for Gotham. McKaskill feeds the attacking player, first time shot at the GK. Hiaat over the top for Williams, it bounces around then driven out by Gotham, Wave throw. Ryan for Sheehan back to her, finds it’s way to Esther and a long hopeful shot is well wide. Sheridan out of her area seeks Jones on the wing, but well too strong, Gotham throw. NY gives away 70 or so yards all under pressure, Esther wins a challenge to get it over the half, there it is lost. Wave playing with it in the back gets it to Sheridan and after a number of passes not out of her half, will be now after a foul by Williams on Jones. Brunhina finds Esther, she leads Stevens again high, leaving her feet it is well off the mark as she does not get over it. Ryan a good shot, nice power from 25+ yards, but right at the GK. I am liking the distant shots, not liking the in close ones not even being on frame. Sheehan on the receiving end of a ball with a player on her back, goes in again beats a pair, it goes up field for a Martin throw. Sheehan, a nudge of a ball in by Brunhina and it is headed just high, off the top of the crossbar for a goal kick, best threat of the first 24’. Stevens atones for the past shots, Williams goes end line, sends it back in the 18, not 6 box, Sheehan holds it, lays it back to Niswonger and buries it, you see the GK cover the shot after it is beyond her. Lundkvist cautioned for grabbing Ryan as she went to pass her at 31’. Gotham having issues with the press cannot get it forward, Shaw applies all but deadly pressure but a Gotham ball, that is lost in their defensive third and the Wave again have the ball going forward. San Diego with better possession but not getting on goal, they will if this keeps up. McKaskill with a shot that curls far off the goal. Pressure again causing problems, Shaw for Jones but the GK covers it up. The Wave are having their way on offense as Shaw again sends one to the foot of Jones, Berger, off her line off her arm and out for a corner. Fouled in their defensive third Gotham with the DFK. Lost and Colorprico sends it in Hiaat gets it and Colorprico fouled in her defensive end. Martin holds well, drops it back, pressure causes a clearance that goes out of play. Shaw looks forward, Esther breaks it up and out for a throw. From the top of the area, this should lead to a ball inside, foul called and Gotham has a kick. Esther called for a foul at midfield. McKaskill with a DFK the line set at the 18, headed out by Sonnett, further out by Brunhina, Sheridan way off the line sends it in Gotham gives up a throw, it goes back again to Sheridan, NY now pressing, they do in their offensive end and Jones at the edge of the area, first ball in blocked, next taken away. Esther on target to chip Sheridan she has it no issues. Missed ball then a misplayed ball have the GK forced again to get rid of I fast. Esther with room gives to Sheehan, now next side to Hiatt, Sheehan gets it, leads Esther, called off. In extra time Gotham caution issued to Esther.
For the half, the home team must get on goal, Gotham cannot have all that pressure and need for the first time of the season to find the back of the net twice in a game. Adding to the pregame intrigue now is that, yes #13 scored as in their last meeting but this one wears the colors of Gotham.
Lavelle and Sanchez in, Stevens and Jones out, both players replaced were very active, Stevens with the goal. Early pressure has Berger with a difficult ball to her and she goes to Sheehan, covered and she gets fouled. Haait with a poor pass out has it blocked deep in their defensive third and Gotham has a deep throw in their defense. Esther for Martin, pops loose goes in and then stolen by San Diego. McKaskill cannot get the ball, Sonnet does, her clearing ball crossed the line, a shot in close to the goal for the Wave and another a bit further away. Berger with a pair of saves set up by Shaw to Edmond for Doniak. Lavelle goes outside, back to Brunhina and her foray off the head of Williams over the net. Sonnett puts it out to relieve pressure, it worked as the Wave play into their half, but right back to the end line and in, Gotham has it but loses it when regained at midfield. Lavelle outpaces defender and falls at the top of the area. Esther on a first time shot, off the bar from the left hand of Sheridan from Sonnett, are they never getting that elusive 2nd goal? They have been taking too many touches, passing on shots, but not today for Gotham but the frame of the goal hurts them. Sheridan again comes up big, Lavelle to her left gets the ball and it gets smothered by Sheridan. Lead well by Sheehan, taken off her chest, the toe poke did not do it. Again in on goal, Sheridan steps up and grabs it. Sheehan with a foolish deep foul in the defensive third of the Wave with numbers forward, Caloprico down for a time, now up. Lavelle for Williams, her shot in close is blocked. NY holds again as Ryan holds and loses it under no pressure. The looks are coming for Gotham, they are taking them but not tucking them away. In on goal again but offside are Gotham. Calopricio out, and a long free kick for the Wave goes off Berger then the post, thus far the MVP is the goal, no denying Sanchez. Feeling the pressure Hiaat plays it out of touch. A loose ball in the 6 not good but Berger cleans it up. Long high cross by the Wave easily grabbed by Berger. A 64’ again off a corner the Wave get a goal off a header Lundkvist, her mark on the wrong, not goal side of her. Sanchez a ball in but offside. Had Gotham put away but one of the many chances early this half, this game has a totally different complexion. Berger is down. Hiaat with a pass to a covered player, Gotham recovers, then lose it as they again pass to a marked player Ryan takes the legs out in frustration of another and is cautioned, now a trio of Bats on a yellow, with a foolish foul. Torpey in Lundkvist out. The 8 players out for the Wave are on camera, a loss of star power here but they look strong enough on the field. Ali has a go from inside the 18 as Niswonger cannot set on a ball but it goes wide, Morgan gives a yell from the stands. Lavelle finds Esther forward for Williams, off her head but Gotham gets the throw. Sheridan goes up for the ball gets that and her teammate. Dunn in for Esther at 76’, a mix of like for like as Crystal is very flexible and the caution. Past Gotham player Sheridan out of her area, gets Williams a bit but all are ok and it is a goal kick. Gotham with a series of passes going nowhere then lost for a throw. Lavelle for Williams well beyond the area not much on it and right at Sheridan. Gotham with too many passes in the same ten yards, lose it again. Great ball movement from McKaskill for Carousa, Berger grabs it and calls out for offside. Ryan down holding her left leg. Lopez for Ryan at 83’. Sanchez seeks out Carousa, nods it up but Berger has it. Sheridan at the top of the 18 steals one from Williams. Sheehan plays on in to nobody, Torres in for Bruninha at 86’. Dunn and Sonnett miscommunicate and the Wave with the throw at midfield, sliding tackle by Torres and the Wave another throw from 15 yards. Torres for Williams again she is too long and Sheridan grabs it up. Sanchez wins a corner at 89’, there is some extra time. McKaskill makes no mistake gets on it and hauls it in. Again inside the area, the Wave with a throw with seconds left in regulation time. Sanchez into the area, seeks Shaw, played out by Gotham, another corner with 6 minutes of extra time. Headed wide of the goal and Shaw is down. Shaw back to the ground. At 95’ Lopez cautioned for tripping a player about 40 yards out. Sanchez over the ball, the line set at the 18, Berger goes up gets the ball and run into in the midsection, her knee was not up, this is a perfect example of why to do just that, she was hit by her teammate with an opponent right behind her. Next ball in, no player nearby but again no leg up for Berger