The 2010 Sky Blue FC season was the team's second season as a professional women's soccer team, competing in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), then the top-division tier of women's soccer in the United States.
Background
Following its inaugural season championship victory, Sky Blue FC hired Finnish manager Pauliina Miettinen as head coach on September 30, 2009.[4][5] She retained Mike Lyons from the 2009 staff as an assistant and brought in Anne Parnila and Rick Stainton as additional assistants.[6]
Expectations for Sky Blue FC were high, with Soccer America favoring the team to repeat as champions.[7]
Sky Blue FC entered the 2010 WPS Draft with the 6th, 26th, 29th, 35th, 44th, 53rd, and 62nd picks.[9][16][17][18] Sky Blue FC traded the 62nd pick to Philadelphia Independence in exchange for the rights to Jen Anzivino, which Philadelphia had picked with the 49th-overall selection.[18] Melissa Clarke, selected by Sky Blue 29th overall, would instead sign with NiceFutis in Finland's Kansallinen Liiga.[19]
On January 28, 2010, the Los Angeles Sol disbanded. The league scheduled a dispersal draft for the Sol's players on February 4, 2010.[20] Sky Blue FC had the 6th, 11th, and 22nd picks in the dispersal draft.[21]
Sky Blue FC opened the season with two victories in April, both against Chicago Red Stars, and a loss against FC Gold Pride.[28] Newly acquired midfielder Carli Lloyd broke her ankle,[29] and Sky Blue placed Lloyd on the team's 30-day injured reserve.[23][30] The team also struggled with absences from defender Meghan Schnur with a knee injury, and from Natasha Kai with a hamstring strain.[31][32]
Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was named Player of the Week for week 5 and Player of the Month for May, amassing 31 saves and two shutouts over four matches in the month.[33]
June–July: Firing the coach
Sky Blue FC players presented United States President Barack Obama with a jersey during a July 1 visit to the White House.
On June 27, Sky Blue recorded its largest win of the season by defeating first-place FC Gold Pride on the road 2–0.[34] However, the win was a rare bright spot in the mid-season months. Sky Blue fell three times to the expansion Philadelphia Independence, conceding 10 goals against three goals scored in three matches.[35]
Goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was named to the starting WPS All-Star team,[10] and three Sky Blue FC players — Natasha Kai, Laura Kalmari, and Christie Rampone — were named to the 2010 WPS All-Star Game reserves from which the two all-star teams would be selected. Kai and Kalmari were selected by the Abby Wambach-captained team, and Rampone was selected by the Marta-captained team.[36]
However, Sky Blue's misfortunes with injuries continued. During an All-Star training session in July, Bardsley injured her clavicle while leading the league with five shutouts and a 0.90 goals-against average.[10][37] Third keeper Kristin Luckenbill took over duties until Jenni Branam recovered from injury, then retired from soccer.[10]
Sky Blue FC were invited to the White House to celebrate their 2009 championship with President Barack Obama on July 1.[36]
Sky Blue struggled to score goals, and by July 19, general manager Gerry Marrone fired head coach Pauliina Miettinen and assistant coach Anne Parnila, and appointed goalkeeping coach Rick Stainton as head coach.[3][10][38]
August–September: Stoppage-time collapse
Starting goalkeeper Jenni Branam returned from injury on August 1 to make four saves in a loss to Chicago Red Stars.[39] However, she soon suffered another injury, forcing Sky Blue to play its fourth keeper Meghann Burke, signed in August as a free-agent.[10][27] Burke would hold the job until the end of the season.[10]
Needing a win against first-place FC Gold Pride on September 1 to secure the final playoff bid, Sky Blue FC took the lead on a 72nd-minute goal by Natasha Kai. However, a misplayed free kick by Sky Blue's defense in second-half stoppage time resulted in an equalizer by Gold Pride's Becky Edwards.[40] Sky Blue would not score another goal in its final two matches, ended the season with three draws, and finished three points out of fourth place to miss the playoffs.
Playoffs
Sky Blue FC did not qualify for the playoffs and were unable to defend their 2009 title.[41]
Matches
Match details from the WPS schedule or match reports, unless otherwise noted.
Stadium: John A. Farrell Stadium Attendance: 2,415 Referee: Tony Crush Assistant referees: Stanford Nagle III, Adam Brugman Fourth official: Darth Newman
Updated to match(es) played on September 11, 2010. Source: WPS standings A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Statistical summary
Sky Blue FC scored 20 goals, tied with the Atlanta Beat for the fewest goals scored on the season,[42] and conceded 31.[43] Forwards Laura Kalmari and Natasha Kai led the team in goals with five each. Heather O'Reilly led the team in assists with five. In goal, Karen Bardsley led all of Sky Blue FC's keepers with 10 starts, five shutouts, and a 0.90 goals-against average.[44]
