Sky Blue FC loses on the road to Western New York Flash, 5-2

Sky Blue FC (2-3-1, 7 points) was defeated on the road  Saturday by Western New York Flash (3-3-0, 9 points) with a 5-2 final score.

"The credit tonight must go to Western New York. They executed their game plan well and punished us for our complacency. The second half was closer to what would be considered acceptable for our standards, but we must be much better than what we showed tonight," Head Coach Christy Holly said in a statement after the game.

Holly went on to say he plans on assuring this kind of performance by SBFC never happens again by sitting down with the club and going over and analyzing the game.

Western New York first got on the board in the 6th minute with a header by Jessica McDonald after the ball came off a corner kick from Jaelene Hinkle. The Flash added another point in the 9th minute when Hinkle made a free kick, Nikki Stanton headed the ball in an attempted clearance, only to have Samantha Mewis head the ball past goalkeeper Caroline Stanley and into the back of the net.

The Flash added another point in the 23rd minute with a ball from Hinkle to Makenzy Doniak. Doniank then crossed the ball to Lynn Williams, who made the finish. Just before the first half came to an end, Hinkle took another corner kick where McDonald quickly made it past Caroline Stanley to bring the total to 4-0 for the host club.

Holly made a substitution at the half, bringing in newly-added forward Leah Galton in for her professional debut. In the 54th minute, Galton crossed to Kelley O'Hara who found the back of the net, putting Sky Blue FC on the board and giving Galton her first professional assist.

In the 60th minute, Michaela Hahn raced down the pitch and took a shot, gaining another point. Sky Blue FC scored another point in the 52nd minute when Sarah Killion successfully converted a penalty kick.

With that, Western New York Flash took the season sweep of Sky Blue FC, and ended Sky Blue FC's six-game unbeaten road streak.

Sky Blue FC Lineup: Caroline Stanley; Kelley O'Hara, Erica Skroski , Christie Rampone (C), Erin Simon; Taylor Lytle, Sarah Killion, Nikki Stanton (Kim DeCesare, 61'); Kelly Conneeney, Maya Hayes (Shawna Gordon, 24'), Tasha Kai (Leah Galton, 46').

Subs not used: Erin Nayler, Ashley Nick, Kristin Grubka, Coco Goodson

Head Coach: Christy Holly

Western New York Flash Lineup: Sabrina D'Angelo; Jaelene Hinkle, Alanna Kennedy, Abby Dahlkemper, Elizabeth Eddy; Meredith Speck (Taylor Smith, 66'), Samantha Mewis, Michaela Hahn, Makenzy Doniak (Adriana Leon, 71'); Lynn Williams (Kristen Hamilton, 80'), Jessica McDonald

Subs not used: Britt Eckerstrom, Jeon Ga Eul, Courtney Niemiec, Laura Liedle

Head Coach: Scott Vallow

Note: Head Coach Paul Riley was suspended from the game, a punishment handed down from the NWSL in regards to a post-game incident last weekend.

Misconduct Summary:

Sky Blue FC: Kelly Conheeney (Yellow, 52')

Western New York Flash: Elizabeth Eddy (Yellow, 57')

Western New York Flash: Taylor Smith (Yellow, 85')