With the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs all but out of the question, Sky Blue FC still has plenty incentive to register points the reat of the season.
Ninth-place Sky Blue FC (0-12-3, 3 points) needs to accrue nine points in its final nine games to avoid that dubious distinction. Given the abysmal results of the team, that must be considered a long shot at the present time.
As for avoiding dubious records, the 2016 Boston Breakers (3-15-2, 11 points) finished with the poorest record in the six-year history of the league. That version of the Breakers tied the 2013 Washington Spirit for the least wins in a season with three apiece.
The New Jersey side will also try to avoid setting the league mark for the most losses in a season, 16, held by the 2014 Houston Dash.
In case you’re wondering, the top four teams will qualify for the playoffs. Sky Blue FC is an astounding 25 points behind the fourth-place Chicago Stars (7-4-7, 28 points) for the final playoff spot.
Sky Blue FC is coming off a 4-0 home loss to the North Carolina Courage. It will host Portland Thorns FC at Yurcak Field Saturday at 7 p.m. Four of the squad’s nine games are at home.
Here are the worst finishes in each of the NWSL’s first five seasons:
2013 — Washington Spirit — 3-14-5, 14 points, eighth place
2014 — Houston Dash — 5-16-3, 18 points, ninth place
2015 — Boston Breakers — 4-13-3, 15 points, ninth place
2016 — Boston Breakers — 3-15-2, 11 points — 10th place
2017 — Washington Spirit — 4-13-7 19 points — 10th place
2017 — Boston Breakers — 4-13-7, 19 points, ninth place