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Knapp Notes: Nine Weeks Gone, WPS Earns Mediocre Grade
Women's Professional Soccer has played for nine weeks. Two months after the first match, things are progressing at a slow pace.
May 30, 2009 12:12:48 AM
Entering week 10 of play, Women’s Professional Soccer is about half-way done for its inaugural campaign. This weekend will wrap up the second full month of action between the seven teams. And so far it’s been… mediocre. There have been good games. There have been bad games. The strongest team has separated itself from the pack, while the other six teams… well they’re still trying to build their own identities.
Total Goals
After nine weeks, the seven WPS teams have combined for 54 goals. That’s an average of a little over seven goals per team. However, that’s not the case. The top team in the league the Los Angeles Sol has just nine goals. The Washington Freedom, who is sitting in fourth place leads the league with 12 goals. Two teams have six goals, while the bottom team, Sky Blue FC has four goals. The second half of the season should bring more goals.
First Casualty
Sky Blue FC lost he first casualty of the inaugural campaign. Head Coach and General Manager Ian Sawyers was relieved of his duties on Friday. While we may never know what exactly happened, the consensus is that there was a difference of opinion. His philosophy didn’t match that of the owners, hence he was replaced, or at least relieved. Sawyers coached Sky Blue to a 1-3-2 record under his guidance. Kelly Lindsey stepped in as interim coach last weekend and will continue that role until a replacement has been named.
A Look at Last Week
Saint Louis Athletica dazzled last week with a 2-0 win. The Washington Freedom also impressed. The Los Angeles Sol continued the domination with another win. Seventeen points leads the pack. Can anyone catch them at this point? Most importantly the teams showed that their starting elevens could see change at any time. There are plenty of players to choose from. Now it’s up to the coaches to find out who what exactly the winning combination is.
What Will Happen This Weekend?
Last weekend my predictions weren’t exactly 100 percent. I went 1-2-0 with my prediction. The Washington Freedom was the only team that came through for me with a 2-1 win over Sky Blue FC. Now this weekend, we’ll see what happens.
Los Angeles Sol even with Saint Louis Athletica
The first time these two teams met, the match ended in a scoreless draw. This week, there will be goals. The Los Angeles Sol (5-1-2) will score at least one. But Saint Louis Athletica (2-2-2) is riding a high from a two-game winning streak. They’re going to throw all they have at the Sol. I am not sure they can beat Los Angeles and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc… but they’ll at least force a draw.
Washington Freedom over FC Gold Pride.
The Freedom (2-2-3) hasn’t lost in four games. They’ll play at home and will be fired up. Washington can score goals. They lead the league with 12… so stopping them will be almost a full-time job for FC Gold Pride (3-4-1). The Bay area team won’t give up easy. The last time these two teams met, they both exploded for seven goals. Washington won that match. Don’t think FC Gold Pride has forgotten. But at the end of the day, the Freedom should pull through.
Sky Blue FC over Boston Breakers
While I, like most WPS fans, enjoy watching the Boston Breakers win… I think it’s time for Sky Blue FC (1-4-2) to get their second win. The club has had a long road trip. And well, a long week. But expect the home team to put on a show in their Rutgers debut and first ever match against the Breakers (3-2-2). It may be a low-scoring affair, but Sky Blue should earn the win. Boston won’t go down easy however.
Total Goals
After nine weeks, the seven WPS teams have combined for 54 goals. That’s an average of a little over seven goals per team. However, that’s not the case. The top team in the league the Los Angeles Sol has just nine goals. The Washington Freedom, who is sitting in fourth place leads the league with 12 goals. Two teams have six goals, while the bottom team, Sky Blue FC has four goals. The second half of the season should bring more goals.
First Casualty
Sky Blue FC lost he first casualty of the inaugural campaign. Head Coach and General Manager Ian Sawyers was relieved of his duties on Friday. While we may never know what exactly happened, the consensus is that there was a difference of opinion. His philosophy didn’t match that of the owners, hence he was replaced, or at least relieved. Sawyers coached Sky Blue to a 1-3-2 record under his guidance. Kelly Lindsey stepped in as interim coach last weekend and will continue that role until a replacement has been named.
A Look at Last Week
Saint Louis Athletica dazzled last week with a 2-0 win. The Washington Freedom also impressed. The Los Angeles Sol continued the domination with another win. Seventeen points leads the pack. Can anyone catch them at this point? Most importantly the teams showed that their starting elevens could see change at any time. There are plenty of players to choose from. Now it’s up to the coaches to find out who what exactly the winning combination is.
What Will Happen This Weekend?
Last weekend my predictions weren’t exactly 100 percent. I went 1-2-0 with my prediction. The Washington Freedom was the only team that came through for me with a 2-1 win over Sky Blue FC. Now this weekend, we’ll see what happens.
Los Angeles Sol even with Saint Louis Athletica
The first time these two teams met, the match ended in a scoreless draw. This week, there will be goals. The Los Angeles Sol (5-1-2) will score at least one. But Saint Louis Athletica (2-2-2) is riding a high from a two-game winning streak. They’re going to throw all they have at the Sol. I am not sure they can beat Los Angeles and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc… but they’ll at least force a draw.
Washington Freedom over FC Gold Pride.
The Freedom (2-2-3) hasn’t lost in four games. They’ll play at home and will be fired up. Washington can score goals. They lead the league with 12… so stopping them will be almost a full-time job for FC Gold Pride (3-4-1). The Bay area team won’t give up easy. The last time these two teams met, they both exploded for seven goals. Washington won that match. Don’t think FC Gold Pride has forgotten. But at the end of the day, the Freedom should pull through.
Sky Blue FC over Boston Breakers
While I, like most WPS fans, enjoy watching the Boston Breakers win… I think it’s time for Sky Blue FC (1-4-2) to get their second win. The club has had a long road trip. And well, a long week. But expect the home team to put on a show in their Rutgers debut and first ever match against the Breakers (3-2-2). It may be a low-scoring affair, but Sky Blue should earn the win. Boston won’t go down easy however.
- Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
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