Playoff spot up for grabs as Washington Freedom host Sky Blue Saturday

By Joe Dougherty

For several games in the final stretch of the WPS regular season, it appeared both the Washington Freedom and New Jersey’s Sky Blue FC were going out of their way to miss the playoffs.

But when the two teams meet Saturday at the Maryland SoccerPlex (7 p.m.), the Freedom and Sky Blue will have a bit more confidence. The two sides appear to have played their way back into good form, with Washington in particular peaking at a crucial time.

Washington (6-8-7, 25 points) and Sky Blue (7-9-4, 25 points) are deadlocked in the fourth and final WPS playoff spot, with Sky Blue having the advantage of a game in hand.

The Freedom enter Saturday’s match on a four-game unbeaten streak (2-0-2), including last week’s 2-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars. Sky Blue arrives at the SoccerPlex having defeated the Philadelphia Independence 1-0 on Sunday, but just a week earlier fell badly at the Boston Breakers, 4-0.

Washington and Sky Blue have met twice this season, both in New Jersey and both ended in ties: 0-0 and, most recently on August 11, 1-1.

The match will affect more than Freedom and Sky Blue, however. A Washington win will essentially eliminate Chicago from post-season play, puts pressure on the Atlanta Beat to win its last four games, and pulls the Freedom to within a point of third place Boston.

“For us and the league it really is, up to now, the biggest game of the season,” Freedom Coach Jim Gabarra told the Potomac Soccer Wire Friday.

Gabarra is pleased with his team’s recent performances, particularly the team’s defending. “I think defensively we’re playing very well, collectively, better than we have in two years.”

Washington had one of the league’s top goalkeepers in Canadian international Erin McLeod. But McLeod tore a knee ligament in a loss to FC Gold in July, and was replaced by 2010 acquisition Ashlyn Harris, who joined the Freedom from the St. Louis Athletica when that team shut down early in the year.

“Ashlyn has been great for us in net, and we are getting better each and every day,” Gabarra said. “Our defense is starting to gel in back, and but we need to keep pushing ourselves and make sure we are consistent from start to finish.”

Harris, who earned the shutout in last weekend’s win over Chicago, made several crucial saves to preserve the win and help solidify a defense that had struggled with five straight losses in July.

“Confidence is something I don\'t lack,” Harris said after Chicago match. “I hold everyone to a high standard. It was unfortunate that Erin went down, and I\'m just here to step up and bring my passion to this team. We are all fighting for each other.”

Gabarra said Ashlyn will again start in goal, behind defenders Rebecca Moros, Cat Whitehill, Nikki Marshall and Becky Sauerbrunn.

Midfielder Sonia Bompastor returned to Washington Thursday night after competing for the French national team, but Gabarra will not make a decision on starting the speedy attacker until he talks with her later today.

Londoner Anita Asante will gain start as a defensive midfielder along with Allie Long, while Sarah Huffman – who earned two assists and provided a second-half spark in the win over Chicago – will team up with Bompastor or Japanese international Homare Sawa as the two attacking midfielders.

Lene Mykjaland is expected to start as the withdrawn forward, with Abby Wambach serving as the deeper target player.

Gabarra expects Sky Blue to field its tradition 4-5-1 alignment, in which the two outside midfielders often serve as wings. But from both meetings this season with Sky Blue, Gabarra has seen space his attacking midfielders can exploit.

“When we started this season our goal was to win the WPS title, and we know that is still possible, Wambach said. “The match against Sky Blue is such an important game for our team. This league is so competitive, and you have to fight for every point. Once you\'re in the playoffs anything can happen.”

Seeing Pink

Washington will be in an unusual home uniform Saturday, as the players will don a special pink kit in conjunction with Puma’s partnership with WPS and Project Pink to raise funds and awareness in the fight against breast cancer.
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About the Author:

Joe Dougherty is a long-time player, coach and soccer columnist in Northern Virginia. He played his rec and travel soccer with Braddock Road Youth Club, where he also coached and served as tournament director. Joe also coached with McLean Soccer Club, Great Falls Soccer Club, VISTA and VSA. He currently coaches the Arlington Chaos U11 girls teams. Joe has written frequently about soccer in The Connections Newspapers and Journal Newspapers, and is excited to be a member of the Potomac Soccer Wire team. He lives in Haymarket with his wife and three kids, two of which play travel soccer with VSA. The third is a budding gymnast aiming to follow in Paul Hamm’s footsteps. Joe has a USSF “C” license and holds the NSCAA National Diploma. Joe can be reached at joedoc2112@gmail.com.