Sky Blue FC will try to secure its first win of the season against FC Kansas City Sunday. (Photo by Mike Gridley, ISI Photos, courtesy of Sky Blue FC)
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Sky Blue FC will seek its first victory of the season and its home-opening win since the inaugural National Women’s Soccer League season in 2013 Sunday, when it hosts two-time league champion FC Kansas City at Yurcak Field.
The Jersey side enters the match at 0-1-1 with one point against KC for the 6 p.m. kickoff on the Rutgers University campus.
“We are looking forward to getting back on home soil and playing in front of our fans in New Jersey for the first time this season,” Sky Blue FC head coach Christy Holly said. “As a club, it is very important to us that we give our home fans a very enjoyable season, and that all begins with a good performance on Sunday.”
After two consecutive road matches to start the season, Sky Blue FC returns home before hitting the road again for its next two games. The New Jersey club will look to rebound from a 1-0 loss at the Boston Breakers last weekend. The visitors created a handful of early but goalkeeper Abby Smith acquitted herself well. The lone score came in the 37th minute as Rose Lavelle fed a through-ball into the right side of the penalty area that was finished by Natasha Dowie.
The loss snapped a 12-game streak in which Sky Blue FC had not been shut out.
FC Kansas City enters the match on the heels of a 1-0 road loss to the Chicago Red Stars last weekend. U.S. international Julie Ertz scored the lone goal. KC opened the season by defeating the Breakers at home, 2-0.
Sky Blue FC also will seek its first win over FC Kansas City at Yurcak Field, as the visitors hold a 3-0-2 record in matches in New Jersey. The all-time series stands at 5-2-3 in favor of Kansas City, which also took the 2016 series (1-0-1).
