2018 Sky Blue FC season

Sky Blue FC
2018 season
President & CEOThomas Hofstetter
Head coachDenise Reddy
StadiumYurcak Field
Piscataway, New Jersey
(Capacity: 5,000)
Top goalscorerCarli Lloyd
Imani Dorsey
Katie Johnson (4)
← 2017
2019 →

The 2018 Sky Blue FC season was the team's ninth season as a professional women's soccer team. Sky Blue FC plays in the National Women's Soccer League, the top tier of women's soccer in the United States.[1] Sky Blue had a difficult season in 2018 as they finished in last place. They went 23 games without winning a game, setting the mark for the longest winless streak in NWSL history.[2] Sky Blue finally won on September 8 as they beat the Orlando Pride 1-0 in their final game of the 2018 season.[3]

There were numerous reports of off-field issues that came out after former Sky Blue player Sam Kerr spoke to the media following the Sky Blue vs Chicago game on July 7. Reports of poor management and training facilities as well as housing, travel, and transportation issues were also reported, and were believed to be contributing factors to the team's poor performance on the field.[4]

Team

First-team roster

Source: Sky Blue FC[5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Canada CAN Kailen Sheridan
2 FW United States USA McKenzie Meehan
6 FW United States USA Shea Groom
7 FW United States USA Jen Hoy
8 DF United States USA Erica Skroski
9 DF United States USA Amanda Frisbie
10 MF United States USA Carli Lloyd
11 MF Costa Rica CRC Raquel Rodriguez
13 DF New Zealand NZL Rebekah Stott
No. Pos. Nation Player
14 FW Mexico MEX Katie Johnson
16 MF United States USA Sarah Killion
17 DF United States USA Domi Richardson
21 FW United States USA Savannah McCaskill
22 DF United States USA Mandy Freeman
27 GK United States USA Caroline Casey
28 MF United States USA Imani Dorsey
29 DF Canada CAN Amandine Pierre-Louis
31 DF United States USA Christina Gibbons
73 MF United States USA Madison Tiernan

Match results

Preseason

24 February 2018 (2018-02-24) Sky Blue FC 0–1 PSU Manalapan, New Jersey
2:00 p.m. Report
  • Jean 73'
 Stadium: Sportika Sports
3 March 2018 (2018-03-03) Sky Blue FC 2–1 UNC Manalapan, New Jersey
 Report
  • UNC Goal 43'
 Stadium: Sportika Sports
10 March 2018 (2018-03-10) Sky Blue FC 1–0 WVU Manalapan, New Jersey
1:00 p.m.
Report Stadium: Sportika Sports
18 March 2018 (2018-03-18) Sky Blue FC 6–0 St. John's University Manalapan, New Jersey
2:00 p.m.
Report Stadium: Sportika Sports

Regular season

31 March 2018 (2018-03-31) 1 North Carolina Courage 1–0 Sky Blue FC Cary, North Carolina
3:00 p.m. EST
Report
Stadium: Sahlen's Stadium
Attendance: 4,078
Referee: Danielle Chesky
Assistant referees: Jennifer Garner, Jordan Davis
Fourth official: Forrest Ambrose
Man of the Match: Erica Skroski
15 April 2018 (2018-04-15) 2 Sky Blue FC 0–1 Seattle Reign FC Piscataway, New Jersey
5:00 p.m. EST McCaskill Yellow card 50' Box
Report		 Rapinoe 6' (pen.)
Dallstream Yellow card 82'		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 1,913
21 April 2018 (2018-04-21) 3 Chicago Red Stars 1–1 Sky Blue FC Bridgeview, Illinois
8:00 p.m. EST Huerta 1' (Mautz) Report McCaskill 78' (Johnson) Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 2,413
5 May 2018 (2018-05-05) 4 Sky Blue FC 2–3 Houston Dash Piscataway, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. EST
Report
Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,065
12 May 2018 (2018-05-12) 5 Seattle Reign FC 4–1 Sky Blue FC Seattle, Washington
10:00 p.m. EST Taylor 5' (Catley) Yellow card 88'
Rapinoe 38', 60' (Kawasumi)
Long 84'		 Box
Report		 Skroski Yellow card 21'
McCaskill 62' (Lloyd)		 Stadium: Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,607
19 May 2018 (2018-05-19) 6 Sky Blue FC 1–2 North Carolina Courage Piscataway, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. EST Lloyd Yellow card 15' 90+4' (Killion)
Tiernan Yellow card 85'		 Report Dunn 19' (McDonald)
Mewis 27'
Rowland Yellow card 70'		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 1,923
Referee: Danielle Chesky
23 May 2018 (2018-05-23) 7 Washington Spirit 1–0 Sky Blue FC Boyds, Maryland
7:30 p.m. EST
Report Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 2,433
26 May 2018 (2018-05-26) 8 Sky Blue FC 0–1 Seattle Reign FC Piscataway, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. EST Report Rapinoe 64' (Westphal) Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,814
2 June 2018 (2018-06-02) 9 Sky Blue FC 1–2 Utah Royals FC Piscataway, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. EST Groom 10' (Johnson)
Tiernan Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Matheson 3' (Jónsdóttir)
Freeman 85' (o.g.)		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,229
Referee: Lorant Varga
Assistant referees: Walter Heatherly,Matthew Osterhouse
Fourth official: Szczepan Dziewa
8 June 2018 (2018-06-08) 10 Sky Blue FC 0–0 Washington Spirit Piscataway, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. EST Meehan Yellow card 39'
Killion Yellow card 67'		 Report Dougherty Howard Yellow card 50'
Dydasco Yellow card 88'		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,188
16 June 2018 (2018-06-16) 11 Orlando Pride 3–2 Sky Blue FC Orlando, Florida
7:30 p.m. EST Leroux 2' (Ubogagu), 31' (Nairn) Yellow card 75'
Hill 83' (Morgan)		 Report McCaskill 16'
Tiernan 37'
Gibbons Yellow card 45+1'
Lloyd Yellow card 85'		 Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 4,445
27 June 2018 (2018-06-27) 12 Portland Thorns FC 1–1 Sky Blue FC Portland, Oregon
10:30 p.m. EST Horan 45' (Sinclair)
Salem Yellow card 90+2'		 Report Beckie Yellow card 41'
Lloyd 77' (pen.)
Freeman Yellow card 90+3'		 Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 18,237
30 June 2018 (2018-06-30) 13 Utah Royals FC 3–1 Sky Blue FC Sandy, Utah
10:00 p.m. EST Press 7'
Stengel 25' (Press), 29' (Gorry)
Tymrak Yellow card 90+1'
Jonsdottir Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Lloyd 62' (Dorsey)
Freeman Yellow card 89'		 Stadium: Rio Tinto Stadium
Attendance: 8,394
7 July 2018 (2018-07-07) 14 Sky Blue FC 1–3 Chicago Red Stars Piscataway, New Jersey
3:30 p.m. EST Dorsey 73' (McCaskill) Report Kerr 40' (Mautz), 46' (Nagasato), 63' (Nagasato) Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,846
14 July 2018 (2018-07-14) 15 Sky Blue FC 0–4 North Carolina Courage Piscataway, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. EST Lloyd Yellow card 85' Report Erceg 15' (Hamilton)
Williams 56' (Hamilton), 72' (Debinha), 89'		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,376
21 July 2018 (2018-07-21) 16 Sky Blue FC 1–2 Portland Thorns FC Piscataway, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. EST Dorsey 27' (McCaskill) Report Raso 4' (Sinclair)
Crnogorčević 7'
Christine Sinclair Yellow card 80'		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,338
Referee: Reyna Fonseca
28 July 2018 (2018-07-28) Chicago Red Stars postponed Sky Blue FC Bridgeview, Illinois
8:00 p.m. EST Stadium: Toyota Park
Note: Match postponed due to the cancellation of Sky Blue's flight to Chicago
5 August 2018 (2018-08-05) 17 Orlando Pride 2–2 Sky Blue FC Orlando, Florida
7:30 p.m. EST Edmonds Yellow card 32'
Marta 51'
Weatherholt 73'
Camila Yellow card 78'
Kennedy Yellow card 90+3'		 Report Dorsey 53' (Groom)
Groom 59' (McCaskill)
Lloyd Red card 90+6'		 Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 4,577
11 August 2018 (2018-08-11) 18 Sky Blue FC 1–2 Houston Dash Piscataway, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. EST Tiernan 64' Report Daly 7' (Ohai), 73' (pen.) Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 2,126
18 August 2018 (2018-08-18) 19 Sky Blue FC 2–2 Utah Royals FC Piscataway, New Jersey
7:00 p.m. EST Johnson 14' (Rodriguez), 48'
Killion Yellow card 39'
Lloyd Yellow card 69'
Tiernan Yellow card 76'		 Report Richardson 58' (o.g.)
Rodriguez 90+4' (Press)		 Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 3,468
22 August 2018 (2018-08-22) 20 Portland Thorns FC 2–1 Sky Blue FC Portland, Oregon
11:00 p.m. EST Sinclair 13' (pen.)
Heath 54'		 Report Tiernan Yellow card 41'
McCaskill Yellow card 67'
Johnson Yellow card 75'
Killion 84'
Hoy Yellow card 88'		 Stadium: Providence Park
Attendance: 17,986
Referee: Mark Allatin
25 August 2018 (2018-08-25) 21 Houston Dash 6–1 Sky Blue FC Houston, Texas
8:30 p.m. EST Motlhalo 22'
Latsko 48' (Huerta)
Huerta 65' (Ohai)
Daly 67' (pen.)
Hanson 88' (Simon)
Kgatlana 90' (Hanson)		 Report Dorsey 54' Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 4,257
1 September 2018 (2018-09-01) 22 Washington Spirit 1–1 Sky Blue FC Boyds, Maryland
7:00 p.m. EST Ship 71' Report Killion Yellow card 58' 87' (Tiernan) Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,461
Note: Game was postponed until Sunday, September 2 at 10 a.m. (ET) due to lightning.
4 September 2018 (2018-09-04) 23 Chicago Red Stars 5–0 Sky Blue FC Bridgeview, Illinois
7:30 p.m. EST Mautz 18' (Gilliland), 46' (Gilliland)
Kerr 64' (Elby)
White 80' (Kerr)
Vasconcelos 90+7' (White)		 Report Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 2,974
Referee: Ismir Pekmic
Note: Match was originally scheduled for July 28th, was postponed due to the cancellation of Sky Blue's flight to Chicago.
8 September 2018 (2018-09-08) 24 Sky Blue FC 1–0 Orlando Pride Piscataway, New Jersey
12:00 p.m. EST Sheridan Yellow card 32'
Lloyd 73' (Groom)		 Report Stadium: Yurcak Field
Attendance: 4,086

League table

Pos Team
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 North Carolina Courage (C) 24 17 6 1 53 17 +36 57 NWSL Shield
2 Portland Thorns FC 24 12 6 6 40 28 +12 42 NWSL Playoffs
3 Seattle Reign FC 24 11 8 5 27 19 +8 41
4 Chicago Red Stars 24 9 10 5 38 28 +10 37
5 Utah Royals FC 24 9 8 7 22 23 −1 35
6 Houston Dash 24 9 5 10 35 39 −4 32
7 Orlando Pride 24 8 6 10 30 37 −7 30
8 Washington Spirit 24 2 5 17 12 35 −23 11
9 Sky Blue FC 24 1 6 17 21 52 −31 9
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

Results summary

Overall Home Away
Pld Pts W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD W L T GF GA GD
24 9 1 17 6 21 52  −31 1 9 2 10 22  −12 0 8 4 11 30  −19

Last updated: September 8, 2018.
Source: NWSLsoccer.com

Results by round

Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324
StadiumAHAHAHAHHHAAAHHHAAHHAAAH
ResultLLDLLLLLLDLDLLLLDLDLLDLW
Position[a]—99999999999999999999999
Updated to match(es) played on September 8, 2018. Source: [6]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Honors and awards

NWSL Yearly Awards

NWSL Rookie of the Year

Player Player Statistics Ref.
United States Imani Dorsey 4 Goals; 1 Assist; 14 Appearances [7]

NWSL Team of the Year

Team Position Player Ref.
Second XI Midfielder United States Carli Lloyd [8]

NWSL Weekly Awards

NWSL Player of the Week

Week Result Player Ref
21 Won Mexico Katie Johnson [9]

NWSL Save of the Week

Week Result Player(s) Ref.
3 Nominated Canada Kailen Sheridan [10]
9 Nominated Canada Kailen Sheridan and New Zealand Rebekah Stott [11]
11/12 Nominated Canada Kailen Sheridan [12]
19 Nominated Canada Kailen Sheridan [13]
20 Nominated Canada Kailen Sheridan [14]
21 Nominated Canada Kailen Sheridan [15]
24 Nominated Canada Kailen Sheridan [16]

NWSL Goal of the Week

Week Result Player Ref.
4 Nominated United States Savannah McCaskill [17]
7 Nominated United States Savannah McCaskill [18]
8 Won United States Carli Lloyd [19]
10 Nominated United States Shea Groom [20]
11/12 Nominated United States Savannah McCaskill [21]
24 Nominated United States Carli Lloyd [22]

Player transactions

2018 NWSL College Draft

Source: National Women's Soccer League[23]
Round Pick Nat. Player Pos. Previous Team
Round 1 4 United States Michaela Abam F University of West Virginia
Round 1 5 United States Imani Dorsey F Duke University
Round 1 6 Canada Amandine Pierre-Louis D University of West Virginia
Round 2 13 United States Casey Murphy GK Rutgers University
Round 4 35 Mexico Kiana Palacios F University of California, Irvine

In

Date Player Positions played Previous club Fee/notes Ref.
December 13, 2017 Brazil Thaisa MF Iceland Grindavík Signed in offseason [24]
December 29, 2017 United States Christina Gibbons DF United States Utah Royals FC Acquired in trade for Kelley O'Hara, Taylor Lytle, and Utah's 4th overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. [25]
December 29, 2017 United States Shea Groom FW United States Utah Royals FC Acquired in trade for Kelley O'Hara, Taylor Lytle, and Utah's 4th overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. [25]
January 11, 2018 Mexico Katie Johnson FW United States Seattle Reign Acquired in trade for the rights to Caitlin Foord [26]
January 11, 2018 New Zealand Rebekah Stott FW United States Seattle Reign Acquired in trade for the rights to Caitlin Foord [26]
January 19, 2018 United States Carli Lloyd MF United States Houston Dash Acquired as part of a three team trade that also included Janine Beckie, Christen Press, Sam Kerr, Nikki Stanton and Jen Hoy. Draft picks and international roster spot were also part of trade. [27]
January 19, 2018 Canada Janine Beckie FW United States Houston Dash Acquired as part of a three team trade that also included Carli Lloyd, Christen Press, Sam Kerr, Nikki Stanton and Jen Hoy. Draft picks and international roster spot were also part of trade. [27]
January 19, 2018 United States Jen Hoy FW United States Chicago Red Stars Acquired as part of a three team trade that also included Carli Lloyd, Christen Press, Sam Kerr, Nikki Stanton and Janine Beckie. Draft picks and international roster spot were also part of trade. [27]
January 30, 2018 United States Savannah McCaskill FW United States Boston Breakers Acquired during Boston Breakers Dispersal Draft [28]
January 30, 2018 Canada Adriana Leon FW United States Boston Breakers Acquired during Boston Breakers Dispersal Draft [28]
January 30, 2018 United States Amanda Frisbie FW United States Boston Breakers Acquired during Boston Breakers Dispersal Draft [28]

Out

Date Player Positions played Destination club Fee/notes Ref.
December 29, 2017 United States Kelley O'Hara DF United States Utah Royals FC Traded to Utah Royals FC along with Taylor Lytle for Katie Johnson, Christina Gibbons, and Utah's 4th overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. [25]
December 29, 2017 United States Taylor Lytle MF United States Utah Royals FC Traded to Utah Royals FC along with Kelley O'Hara for Katie Johnson, Christina Gibbons, and Utah's 4th overall pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft. [25]
January 19, 2018 Australia Samantha Kerr FW United States Chicago Red Stars Traded to the Chicago Red Stars as part of a three team trade that also included Janine Beckie, Christen Press, Carli Lloyd, Nikki Stanton and Jen Hoy. Draft picks and international roster spot were also part of trade. [27]
January 19, 2018 United States Nikki Stanton MF United States Chicago Red Stars Traded to the Chicago Red Stars as part of a three team trade that also included Janine Beckie, Christen Press, Carli Lloyd, Sam Kerr and Jen Hoy. Draft picks and international roster spot were also part of trade. [27]
May 4, 2018 United States Erin Simon DF Waived. [29]
June 12, 2018 Canada Adriana Leon MF United States Seattle Reign Traded to the Seattle Reign for Seattle's 4th Round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft [30]
June 15, 2018 United States Kayla Mills DF Waived. [31]
July 25, 2018 United States Michaela Abam FW France Paris FC Waived. Signed with Paris FC in the Division 1 Féminine. [32]
July 25, 2018 Brazil Thaisa MF Italy A.C. Milan Waived. Signed with A.C. Milan in the Serie A. [32]
August 9, 2018 Canada Janine Beckie FW England Manchester City Transferred to Manchester City in the FA Women's Super League [33]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ SBFC's position at the end of the matchweek, not their match.

References

  1. ^ "About Sky Blue Soccer". skybluefc.com. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  2. ^ "NWSL Focus: Sam Kerr sets record in homecoming". July 8, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  3. ^ "Carli Lloyd goal gives Sky Blue first win of the season, 1-0 over Pride". September 8, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  4. ^ "Sky Blue FC created untenable player conditions for years". July 17, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  5. ^ "2018 Roster". skybluefc.com. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
  6. ^ https://nwslsoccer.com/schedule
  7. ^ Purdy, Jacqueline (September 16, 2018). "2018 NWSL Awards Finalists". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  8. ^ "2018 NWSL Best XI and Second XI announced". Nwslsoccer.com. September 20, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  9. ^ "@NWSL". August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  10. ^ "Vote: Save of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  11. ^ "Vote: Save of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  12. ^ "Save of the Week nominees: Week 11/12". National Women's Soccer League. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  13. ^ "Save of the Week nominees - Week 19". August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
  14. ^ "Save of the Week nominees - Week 20". August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  15. ^ "Save of the Week nominees - Week 21". August 21, 2018. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  16. ^ "Save of the Week nominees - Week 24". September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  17. ^ "Vote: Goal of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  18. ^ "Vote: Goal of the Week". National Women's Soccer League. May 14, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  19. ^ Gabriel, Cassidy (May 22, 2018). "Goal of the Week: Carli Lloyd". NWSLsoccer.com. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  20. ^ Balf, Celia (June 4, 2018). "Vote: Goal of the Week". NWSLsoccer.com. NWSL. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  21. ^ "Goal of the Week nominees: Week 11/12". National Women's Soccer League. June 18, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  22. ^ "Goal of the Week nominees: Week 24". National Women's Soccer League. September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  23. ^ "List: Every draft pick in the 2018 NWSL College Draft". www.nwslsoccer.com. National Women's Soccer League. January 18, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  24. ^ "SKY BLUE FC SIGNS BRAZILIAN MIDFIELDER THAISA MORENO". December 13, 2017. Archived from the original on July 25, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  25. ^ a b c d "UWSNT star Kelley O'Hara traded to Utah Royals". January 12, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  26. ^ a b "SKY BLUE FC ACQUIRES REBEKAH STOTT AND KATIE JOHNSON FROM SEATTLE REIGN FC". January 11, 2018. Archived from the original on August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  27. ^ a b c d e "Carli Lloyd traded to Sky Blue FC, Samantha Kerr to Red Stars". January 19, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  28. ^ a b c "Boston Breakers players taken in NWSL dispersal draft". January 30, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  29. ^ "SKY BLUE FC WAIVES DEFENDER ERIN SIMON". May 4, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  30. ^ "Seattle Reign acquire Adriana Leon from Sky Blue". June 12, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  31. ^ "Sky Blue FC signs Imani Dorsey to full professional contract". June 15, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  32. ^ a b "SKY BLUE FC ANNOUNCES TWO ROSTER MOVES". July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  33. ^ "SKY BLUE FC ANNOUNCES TRANSFER OF JANINE BECKIE". August 9, 2018. Archived from the original on August 9, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
Match reports (preseason)
Match reports (regular season)