Sky Blue FC, FC Kansas City battle for draw result

Sky Blue FC (2-3-3, 9 points) faced off against FC Kansas City (1-4-3, 6 points) on Saturday, June 11 in New Jersey. The game saw a familiar face, Sam Kerr, back on the pitch after time on the injured list.

Both teams did well in keeping the other from scoring more than one goal, but SBFC Head Coach Christy Holly was not satisfied with the result.

"It is a bit frustrating that we did not take the full three points tonight. We had some really good moments, and our consistency continues to improve overall. Our team has been putting in better performances with each passing week, and that is a measure of where they are and where they want to be," Holly said in a statement.

Part of Holly's frustration comes from a controversial no-call by the referee in the first half. In the 15th minute, Erica Skroski sent in a cross to Kim DeCesare, whose header goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart just managed to get a fingertip on. The slight deflection caused the ball to bounce off of the crossbar and into the goal before its spin bounced it back out, allowing Barnhart to jump on it. Replays on the game's stream showed that the ball was fully across the goal line, but the lack of goal-line technology resulted in the referee's call standing.

With that no-goal in the 15th, the first goal of the night came from FC Kansas City in the 27th minute off the foot of Shea Groom with an assist by Erika Tymrak.

In the 30th minute, Sky Blue FC reciprocated when Sarah Killion converted a penalty kick awarded when Heather O'Reilly took down Kelley O'Hara in the box.

After their goals, both teams attempted to gain the lead but were unsuccessful.

Holly brought in Leah Galton and Tasha Kai, and finally in the 75th minute he brought in Kerr. Kerr made her first appearance on the pitch after seven months on the injured list while she was recovering from off-season foot surgery.

Next week Sky Blue FC is once again at Yurcak Field, facing off against Seattle Reign FC for Pride night. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. EST.

Sky Blue FC Lineup: Caroline Stanley; Kelley O'Hara, Christie Rampone (C), Kristin Grubka, Erica Skroski; Raquel Rodriguez, Sarah Killion, Shawna  Gordon (Leah Galton, 57'), Kelly Conheeney; Taylor Lytle (Sam Kerr, 75'), Kim DeCesare (Tasha Kai, 67')

Subs not used: Caroline Casey ,Erin Simon, Coco Goodson, Nikki Stanton

Head Coach: Christy Holly

FC Kansas City Lineup: Nicole Barnhart; Alexa Newfield (Frances Silva-57), Becky Sauerbrunn, Brittany Taylor, Alex Arlitt; Desiree Scott, Yael Averbuch, Mandy Laddish; Erika Tymrak (Tiffany McCarty-75), Shea Groom (Caroline Kastor-87), Heather O'Reilly

Subs not used: Cat Parkhill, Lo'eau LaBonta, Katie Bowen, Brianne Reed

Head Coach: Vlatko Andonovski