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Goal.com's WPS Player Of The Week: Karen Bardsley, Sky Blue FC
Sky Blue FC keeper Karen Bardsley stopped everything in her path to spoil the opening of Atlanta Beat's KSU Soccer Stadium.
May 10, 2010 2:15:00 PM
By Giovanni Albanese Jr.
Entering Sunday’s match between Sky Blue FC and Atlanta Beat, there was a lot of talk regarding both sides. For Sky Blue FC, the talk was focused on the team acquiring India Trotter mid-week, or that Tasha Kai would be out a second straight game with a hamstring injury; for Atlanta, it was all about the luxurious new WPS-formed, soccer-specific KSU Soccer Stadium.
One topic not discussed leading into the match was Sky Blue FC keeper Karen Bardsley’s shutdown ability between the pipes.
After 13 saves, getting a clean sheet, notching a road win and single-handedly jumping the team into second place in the WPS standings, there’s much to talk about.
"Karen was absolutely unbelievable tonight," said Sky Blue FC coach Pauliina Miettinen after the team’s 1-0 win over the Beat. "She made so many amazing saves and really kept us in the match. As a team, it gives you a huge confidence boost when you know that you will get such a high level of play by your goalkeeper."
Bardsley gave Sky Blue FC that high level of play for the entire 90 minutes because, well, she had to. For that, and her achievements, Bardsley is week five's Goal.com WPS Player of the Week.
"One of my biggest goals is to stay focused for 90 minutes," Bardsley said. "Atlanta was really coming at us in the second half, and I knew that I would have to keep the switch turned on.”
Ninety minutes of out-of-this-world goalkeeping is why Bardsley is this week’s Goal.com WPS Player of the Week.
Atlanta Beat coach Gareth O’Sullivan simplified the game of soccer after the match: “It’s about putting the ball in the net.”
In front of 7,248 fans in the inaugural game at KSU Soccer Stadium, the Beat did put the ball in the net, just not past Bardsley. Leigh Ann Robinson attempted to head the ball back to keeper Brett Maron but it went awry and fell into the gaping net for the game’s lone goal.
And despite 25 shots at net, 15 on target, as well as 15 corner kicks, the Beat could not figure out a way past Bardsley. Ramona Bachmann, the Beat’s star striker in the making, undoubtedly left the field with the most frustration, ripping eight shots, five on target, without a finish.
“I had many chances today, and I think we played really well,” said Bachmann. “I had four (quality) chances tonight, and I missed (all) four.”
Sure enough, Bardsley won’t be forgetting the opening of KSU Soccer Stadium.
"Tonight was just an amazing night," Bardsley said after the game. "From the fans to the facility itself, it was just an amazing environment."
Who knows, maybe her next visit to Kennesaw, Georgia’s, state-of-the-art soccer park will be to dazzle the crowd at the WPS All Star Game on June 30.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
One topic not discussed leading into the match was Sky Blue FC keeper Karen Bardsley’s shutdown ability between the pipes.
After 13 saves, getting a clean sheet, notching a road win and single-handedly jumping the team into second place in the WPS standings, there’s much to talk about.
"Karen was absolutely unbelievable tonight," said Sky Blue FC coach Pauliina Miettinen after the team’s 1-0 win over the Beat. "She made so many amazing saves and really kept us in the match. As a team, it gives you a huge confidence boost when you know that you will get such a high level of play by your goalkeeper."
Bardsley gave Sky Blue FC that high level of play for the entire 90 minutes because, well, she had to. For that, and her achievements, Bardsley is week five's Goal.com WPS Player of the Week.
"One of my biggest goals is to stay focused for 90 minutes," Bardsley said. "Atlanta was really coming at us in the second half, and I knew that I would have to keep the switch turned on.”
Ninety minutes of out-of-this-world goalkeeping is why Bardsley is this week’s Goal.com WPS Player of the Week.
Atlanta Beat coach Gareth O’Sullivan simplified the game of soccer after the match: “It’s about putting the ball in the net.”
In front of 7,248 fans in the inaugural game at KSU Soccer Stadium, the Beat did put the ball in the net, just not past Bardsley. Leigh Ann Robinson attempted to head the ball back to keeper Brett Maron but it went awry and fell into the gaping net for the game’s lone goal.
And despite 25 shots at net, 15 on target, as well as 15 corner kicks, the Beat could not figure out a way past Bardsley. Ramona Bachmann, the Beat’s star striker in the making, undoubtedly left the field with the most frustration, ripping eight shots, five on target, without a finish.
“I had many chances today, and I think we played really well,” said Bachmann. “I had four (quality) chances tonight, and I missed (all) four.”
Sure enough, Bardsley won’t be forgetting the opening of KSU Soccer Stadium.
"Tonight was just an amazing night," Bardsley said after the game. "From the fans to the facility itself, it was just an amazing environment."
Who knows, maybe her next visit to Kennesaw, Georgia’s, state-of-the-art soccer park will be to dazzle the crowd at the WPS All Star Game on June 30.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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