Match Preview: Sky Blue FC vs. Washington Spirit

Sky Blue FC vs. Washington Spirit

Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex; Boyds, Maryland

May 23, 2018

7:30 p.m. ET

Watch: go90 or NWSLsoccer.com

Sky Blue FC (0-5-1, 1 point) will return to National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) action on Wednesday night when the club hits the road to take on the Washington Spirit (1-5-2, 5 points) for a midweek showdown at Maureen Hendricks Field Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Maryland. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and fans can watch on go90 or NWSLsoccer.com.

Sky Blue FC comes into the match-up off a 2-1 loss to the top-ranked North Carolina Courage on Saturday evening. Carli Lloyd scored the lone tally for the New Jersey side off a set-piece in added time. Raquel Rodriguez put the ball into play with a short pass to Sarah Killion, who laid it off for Lloyd. The captain hammered her shot into the upper right side of the net to convert her first goal of the 2018 campaign. The goal was also voted the NWSL Goal of the Week.

The Washington Spirit also enters the contest following a Saturday night loss. The Spirit hosted the Portland Thorns and were defeated 1-0 by the visitors. A 68th minute goal from Ellie Carpenter would prove to be the difference in this match. On the scoring sequence, Tobin Heath crossed the ball from the right side of the field into the box and found Carpenter on the far post for the one-time finish. Carpenter is now the youngest player to score in NWSL history at 18 years old.

Wednesday will mark the first of three meetings between Sky Blue FC and the Washington Spirit during the 2018 NWSL regular season. Washington has won the last four games against the New Jersey club, outscoring Sky Blue 13-6.

Spirit midfielder Rose Lavelle could potentially see her first minutes of the 2018 campaign after being removed from the injury report. The Spirit have been shutout in its last three games, and Lavelle could help give the offense some momentum.

Sky Blue FC is still in search of its first win of the season. Forwards Katie Johnson and Savannah McCaskill lead the squad with two goals apiece, but the team has only scored five goals so far this year. However, Sky Blue FC has scored at least one goal in the past four contests.

Sky Blue FC will then return home on Saturday to host Seattle Reign FC at Yurcak Field for a 7 p.m. kickoff.

INJURY REPORT

Sky Blue FC

QUESTIONABLE: Christina Gibbons (right calf strain), Rebekah Stott (right groin strain)

Washington Spirit

OUT: Cali Farquharson (left tibial stress injury – D45), Cheyna Matthews (pregnancy), Arielle Ship (right ACL recovery – D45)