Raquel Rodriguez scored Sky Blue’s lone goal. (Photo courtesy of Sky Blue FC)
TACOMA, Wash. – No matter what coast Sky Blue FC is, it just can’t seem to buy a win in the National Women’s Soccer League.
This time the New Jersey club could not an early one-goal lead and suffered a 2-1 defeat at Reign FC. Sky Blue FC (2 points) fell to 0-3-2.
Jodie Taylor scored the game-winning goal in the 78th minute.
Costa Rican international Raquel Rodriguez tallied her second goal of the season to put Sky Blue on top 0-1 in the 10th minute. A giveaway for Reign FC in the back put the ball at the feet of Savannah McCaskill, allowing her to slip the ball off to captain Sarah Killion. Killion sent a cross at the far-left post to Rodriguez, who finished it with an easy volley past Reign goalkeeper Michelle Betos, a graduate of the Albertson Soccer Club.
Reign FC equalized in the 13th minute after Theresa Nielsen sent a corner into traffic and was headed in. After review, the official scoring decision was an own goal by Julie James.
The second half started off with a big save from Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Didi Haracic, stopping a low shot to near post by Darian Jenkins. In the 78th minute, Shea Groom sent in a cross that was deflected off Paige Monaghan’s foot towards Haracic who made a diving save but Jodie Taylor was in the right spot to put away the rebound.
Sky Blue FC returns home to face the Portland Thorns Saturday, May 25 (6 p.m. ET) at Yurcak Field. The team will have a short break during the FIFA window and return to action on Saturday, June 15, (10 p.m. ET) to face the Utah Royals at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah.