An Achilles injury will keep Megan Rapinoe out of Sunday’s match between her Reign FC and Sky Blue FC. (Outfoxedmedia Photo)

By Michael Lewis

FrontRowSoccer.com Editor

If you are planning to attend Sky Blue FC’s match against Reign FC at Red Bull Arena to watch U.S. international star Megan Rapinoe play, then you will be disappointed.

The winner of the Golden Ball and Golden Boot at the recent Women’s World Cup has been ruled out of the National Women’s Soccer League match with a left Achilles injury, the league announced Friday afternoon.

Rapinoe was a vital member of the U.S. squad that won its second successive world championship and fourth in eight tries.

Sunday’s 1 p.m. game was moved from Sky Blue FC’s home venue at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. to RBA in Harrison, N.J.

Sky Blue FC officials had hoped the presence of Rapinoe, an outspoken member of the U.S. national side, would help boost attendance. Through Thursday, some 8,000 tickets had been sold for the encounter. The team’s season-high attendance at Yurcak has been 5,003.

Reign FC has 11 players on the injured list, including six on the season-ending injury list.

Those six players are:

Jasmyne Spencer (knee), a former Albertson Soccer Club standout, Taylor Smith (knee), Queens, N.Y. native and one-time Albertson SC standout Michelle Betos (right Achilles), Jaycie Johnson (right knee), Scout Watson (concussion) and Jessica Fishlock (left knee).

The five current players out include Lydia Williams (45 days, left ankle), Stephanie Cox (right calf), Rumi Utsugi (left calf), Kristen McNabb (left Soleus) and Rapinoe (left Achilles).

Sky Blue FC has two players sidelined: Mandy Freeman (right Achilles) and Madison Tiernan (left knee).

Gina Lewandowski (left foot) and Domi Richardson (left ankle) were list as questionable.

 

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.