May 7, 2011
The WNY Flash had another impressive and very entertaining 3-1 win over Sky Blue FC last evening at Sahlen's Stadium. Marta had a goal, 2 assists, and countless breathtaking moves. US Women's National Team Forward Alex Morgan added a goal and an assist and Flash captain Caroline Seger had the other goal for the Flash.
The Flash move to 3-0-1 on the season and lead WPS in points (10), goals for per game (2.5), and are tied for second in goals allowed per game (1).
The Flash also boast 3 of the top 5 goal scorers early in the season with Christine Sinclair leading the league with 4 goals and Marta and Morgan tied for second with two other players with 2 goals a piece. Marta and Morgan are tied for second in the league with 2 assists each.
And you have yet to get to players like Becky Edwards, Brittany Bock, Ali Riley, Whitney Engen, and the rest of the Flash players that put in hard work all night long to allow the attacking trio of the Flash to produce.
The scary part for the rest of the league is that the Flash aren't firing on all cylinders yet and may not for a while. Marta has played in only two and a half of the Flash's four games. Christine Sinclair missed last night's match and won't be available for next week's match versus Boston due to green card paperwork commitments this week and Canadian National Team commitments next week. And then you have the USWNT players in Morgan, Engen, and goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris who have been commuting back and forth between NY and Florida for USWNT selection camp.
Monday is a big day for those three players, and Yael Averbuch who won't join the Flash until her World Cup run is over, as the USWNT World Cup roster will be announced.
My guess is that the rest of the league would like to see all four Flash players make the roster. The more that get passed over by Pia Sundhage and her staff, the worse it will be for the other five WPS teams and the better for the Flash and their fans.
News & Notes:
- Devo's match day story today is about Rhinos defender and captain Troy Roberts. Troy the lone really veteran player that returns from last year's squad.
- Inside Minnesota Soccer.com has the story that Puerto Rico United is struggling big time and is trying to figure out a wat to stay afloat financially.
- The Original Winger had not one , but two galleries of cool pictures of Jeld-Wen Field in Portland. The Timbers also have a jet sporting their colors now thanks to thir sponsorship deal with Alaska Airlines.
- It's Called Football talks about supporting your local club.
- The USWNT is putting in work ahead of the World Cup.
- LA hosts NY tonight at 11pm on FSC. There are a ton of story lines with this one including Juan Pablo Angel facing his old club.
- And finally, this one goes out to Sam.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to news@soccersam.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
