Conn Passion-1-NY Skyblue-0

[Frank Cunha]

The scoring woes continued for Jersey Sky Blue as the Connecticut Passion sneaked out a 1-0 victory at Drew University's Ranger Stadium. Ahna Johnson scored the only goal of the match in the 31st minute to lift the Passion into the thick of the W-League Northeast Division playoffs race while severely hurting Sky Blue's postseason hopes.

Sky Blue dominated play and held a 12-5 advantage in shots but the goals never came for a team that has struggled to find the back of the net all season long. In 10 games this season Sky Blue has managed to score just 10 goals. With the loss, Sky Blue dropped to 6-3-1 while the Passion improved to 5-2-2.

Sky Blue pressed often in the first half but couldn't find the back of the net despite earning the better chances. Jersey missed two great opportunities back-to-back in the 8th minute as Taylor Walsh volleyed a cross from Moller off the back support just wide of the upper right corner. Less than 30 seconds later, Tricia DiPaolo took advantage of a Passion miscue in the back but her toe poke glanced off the outside of the left post from 12 yards out.

In the 14th minute, Walsh got a head on a Gina DiMaio corner kick that was cleared off the line. In the 27th minute, Leah Robinson set up DiPaolo for a header over the bar from in front.

The Passion got one good chance all game and took advantage thanks to a nice cross from Nathalie Urbas, who chased a through ball down on the right side. Urbas cut to the endline and rolled a perfect ball in front for Johnson to bury first-time into the left side of the net from six yards out.

After halftime, Connecticut clearly stated its strategy dropping Urbas from forward to a defensive midfield position leaving Fortuna Velaj as the lone forward. Sky Blue held a 7-0 advantage in shots in the second half as Connecticut rarely ventured near the Sky Blue box.

Sky Blue's best chances in the second half came later as Michele O'Brien forced Connecticut keeper Nikki Weiss to make her first save of the game in the 67th minute. Two minutes later, DiPaolo stretched Weiss from the top of the box.

Weiss also handled a shot from Robinson in the 76th minute and DiPaolo went wide left in the 80th minute from 20 yards out.

Sky Blue continues its weekend tomorrow when it travels to Iona College in New Rochelle, NY to face the New York Magic at 5 p.m. in the second meeting between the two teams this season. Sky Blue returns to Drew University's Ranger Stadium on July 9 when it hosts the Long Island Rough Riders at 7:30 p.m. in the only meeting of the season between the two Northeast Division playoff contenders.



July 5, 2008 - Ranger Stadium
1
2
-
F

Connecticut Passion (5-2-2) 1 0 - 1
Jersey Sky Blue (6-3-1) 0 0 - 0


LINEUPS
CONNECTICUT PASSION: Nikki Weiss, Megan Ashworth, Robyn Decker, Courtney McMahon (Kristen Forster 61), Mallory Smith, Lisa Burbige, Kate Macauley, Ahna Johnson, Maggie Westfal, Nathalie Urbas, Fortuna Velaj.
JERSEY SKY BLUE: Jillian Loyden, Kim Brandão, Sarra Moller (Ashlyn Brantley 77), Lauren Ebert, Kelly Eagan (Jaime Komar 52), Marisa Brown (Christy Zwolski 45), Gina DeMaio, Leah Robinson (Kim Bonilla 86), Taylor Walsh (Amélie Mercier 70), Domenique Esposito (Michele O'Brien 45), Tricia DiPaolo.

GOALS
CP: Johnson (Urbas) 31st minute


STATISTICS
SHOTS
CP: 5; JSB: 12
SAVES
CP: Weiss 3; JSB: Loyden 1
FOULS
CP: 4; JSB: 5
OFFSIDES
CP: 1; JSB: 3
CORNERS
CP: 5; JSB: 5


GAME INFO
CAUTIONS/EJECTIONS
none
REFEREE
Hossam Saad
ASSISTANTS
T.J. Zablocki
Ashraf Kamel
ATTENDANCE
221