Sky Blue FC hope to celebrate a few goals and a victory Sunday. (Jeffrey Auger Photo)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – While she did not make the final three players in FIFA’s best women’s player in the world balloting, Sam Kerr will try to make history Sunday.

She will try to become the first player in National Women’s Soccer League history to score 17 goals in a season when Sky Blue FC host the first-place North Carolina Courage in the team’s home season home finale at Yurcak Field Sunday at 6 p.m.

The Australian international is tied with Kim Little (2014) with 16 goals apiece.

Sky Blue FC (9-11-2, 29 points) already has been eliminated from playoff contention while the Courage, directed by Long Island resident Paul Riley is seeking to win the league championship.

“We are looking to put on a show this weekend for our extremely loyal fanbase that has always stuck with us,” Sky Blue FC assistant coach David Hodgson said. “We want all of our fans to leave proud on Sunday after our final home game of the season. We are very respectful of North Carolina, and they are a solid team that deserves to be where they are. However, we are in no mood to see them win the Shield on our home pitch. We look to give them every bit of effort that we have.”

This weekend marks the third meeting of the season between Sky Blue FC and the Courage. The two clubs split matches in North Carolina, and Sunday will be their first game of the season in New Jersey.

In their first encounter, the Courage claimed a 2-0 result in May, with Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan recording 11 saves. The 11 saves were the most by a Sky Blue FC netminder since the NWSL was founded in 2013. These teams met for a second time in July with an 84th-minute game-winner from Maya Hayes to Sam Kerr giving Sky Blue FC a 1-0 road.

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.