Kerr Ties NWSL Single-Season Scoring Record as Sky Blue FC Defeats Boston 1-0

After last week's historic come-from-behind victory at Yurcak Field, Sky Blue FC (9-9-2, 29 points) only needed one tally to earn a 1-0 win against the visiting Boston Breakers (3-10-7, 16 points) on Saturday night. Sam Kerr scored the game-winner in the 5th minute of action, tying the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) record for most goals in a single season at 16. Sky Blue FC has four games remaining this season for Kerr to try and beat former Seattle Reign FC midfielder Kim Little's record set back in 2014.

The New Jersey club got off to a quick start, scoring the lone goal of the match in the 5th minute. The sequence started with Nikki Stanton winning possession of the ball in her own defensive half. After seeing that Breakers goalkeeper Abby Smith was playing far off her line, Stanton played a long ball forward between two Boston defenders and into the path of a sprinting Kerr. Smith attempted to clear the ball away with her feet, but missed, giving Kerr an easy open-net finish and the 1-0 lead.

Both sides held their ground for the rest of the match, and the result remained at the final whistle. Sky Blue FC netminder Kailen Sheridan earned her third shutout of the 2017 campaign, recording two saves in the match.

Stanton earned her fifth yellow of the season in the 57th minute and will be suspended for Sky Blue FC’s next game due to yellow card accumulation.

Sky Blue FC is on a two-game win-streak and will continue to make a playoff push next Sunday, September 3, when the club hits the road to take on FC Kansas City. The New Jersey side currently sits in 5th place in the NWSL table and is only three points shy of playoff contention. With only four games remaining this season, each match will need to be treated as a must-win if Sky Blue FC hopes to make a playoff appearance for the first time since 2013.

NWSL Match Report

Match: Sky Blue FC vs. Boston Breakers

Date: August 26, 2017

Venue: Yurcak Field; Piscataway, New Jersey

Attendance: 2,244

Weather: 73 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary:

BOS: 0 | 0 - 0

NJ: 1 | 0 - 1

5 NJ Sam Kerr (Nikki Stanton)

Lineups:

NJ: Sheridan, Skroski, Freeman, Richardson, Mills (O’Hara-59), Lytle, Stanton, Killion, Corboz (Hayes-87), Kerr, Tiernan (Meehan-74)

Subs not used: Casey, Rodriguez

Game Day Coach: David Hodgson

BOS: Smith, Purce, King, Oyster, Chapman, Salem, Weimer (Andrews-57), White, Leon (Elby-70), Stengel (Dowie-77), Onumonu

BOS: Smith, Purce, King, Oyster, Chapman, Salem, Weimer (Andrews-57), White, Leon (Elby-70), Stengel (Dowie-77), Onumonu

Subs Not Used: Prudhomme, Frisbie, Lavelle

Head Coach: Matt Beard

Stats Summary: NJ / BOS

Shots: 12 / 12

Saves: 2 / 7

Corner Kicks: 6 / 3

Fouls: 10 / 4

Offside: 4 / 2

Misconduct Summary:

57 NJ Nikki Stanton (Yellow Card)

60 BOS Adriana Leon (Yellow Card)

90 BOS Julie King (Yellow Card)

Officials:

Referee: Christina Unkel

Assistant Referee 1: Amanda Ross

Assistant Referee 2: Trent Vanhaitsma

Fourth Official: Joe Zawistowski