Athletica vs. Gold Pride-July 26th P/I/P

Depending on what happens in the first two matches of the weekend, this one could be to clinch a playoff spot. It's our only home FSC television game. Let's hope they don't get lost trying to find us.

With the exception of Hope being back in goal, I don't think Jorge is going to change anything. That would mean the following lineup:

-----------------Solo------------------

McNeill----Ellertson---Larsson----Weber

---------------Fletcher----------------
Woznuk----------------------Chalupny
----------------Cinalli-----------------

---------Aluko----------Cross---------

Tancredi has been hurt again and Welsh looked like she was limping pretty badly on Wednesday night. Expect Walsh to sub in for Cross early in the 2nd half, if she doesn't start.

Facts for this game:

1) Saint Louis is the only team in the league to have never scored more than one goal in any home game. Really ladies, there isn't a one goal limit. It's okay to score two.

2) FC Gold Pride is one of only two teams to have never scored more than one goal in any road game. Keep it up for one more game please.

3) Saint Louis has scored a total of 4 goals in 7 home games. Gold Pride has scored a total of 5 goals in 8 road games.

4) Eniola Aluko has had a hand (or should I say a foot) in 10 of our 14 goals. She's scored 5, assisted on 4, and forced an own goal. Gold Pride is one of two teams she hasn't scored a goal against, the other being LA.

5) FC Gold Pride has only scored one goal total in their last 5 games, that being on a penalty kick by Tiffeny Milbrett.

6) Nobody for Gold Pride other than Christine Sinclair has scored a non-penalty goal since May 3rd when Leigh Ann Robinson scored.

7) Gold Pride is 1-5-2 on the road, while Saint Louis is 3-3-1 at home.

8) In spite of their low scoring nature, Saint Louis has tied fewer games than any other team in the league with 2.

9) Again with the 1-0 games, Saint Louis is now 6-3 in 1-0 games, while Gold Pride is 2-4 in 1-0 games.

10) Saint Louis has won both games from Gold Pride by a score of...1-0.

11) Lori Chalupny has scored two goals this season, both against Gold Pride. Also, both from long range, one on a corner kick and another on a shot at least 10 yards outside of the penalty area.

12) Hope Solo and Jillian Loyden now have a combined 8 shutouts, 2nd only to Los Angeles (LeBlanc and Henderson have 13).

13) Gold Pride has earned 13 points this season (4 against Boston, 4 against Sky Blue, 4 against Chicago, and a single point last night against LA).

1) + 9)
After the games are over, I'm completely fine with 1-0 scorelines in our favor. It's just the time before the goal and any pressure-building times from the other team from after the goal that get me frustrated/worried ^.^''

11)
I plan on making a sign saying

X-D

Your lineup looks good, though we'll see about Cross.
I'm bringing seven guests to the game. Anything to Pack the Park!

That brings us up to 38 confirmed for the Army... Huzzah!

For a minute I thought the KPLR game was THIS weekend because I thought that's what rokagrl13 said. That wouldn't make sense because FSC is showing the game this weekend and you want to get the team as much exposure as possible and avoid the conflict of 2 networks showing the same game.

Luckily the next KPLR game is August 1st.

FSC is Sunday. KPLR is Saturday the 1st. Where did I say otherwise?

I thought you were saying the KPLR game was this weekend. Sorry, my mistake.

For those who have quick eyes and want to see the entire Saint Louis/Sky Blue game from Wednesday, go to this link and then click on the video on the right side of the screen.

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sp...1E541024BA9FCF94862575FC001363FE?OpenDocument

But you must have fast eyes. The whole game, including pregame and postgame is condensed into 31 seconds.

How is Cinalli? I had to bolt after the game, but noticed she appeared to have ice on her shoulder.

Okay, just a heads-up for this game: I just watched the highlights from the last game, and you really couldn't see Laclede's Army. Everyone was bunched up near the top of the stands, and that does not appear well on camera. So, for the game on Sunday, fill in from the front of the stands.
Also, just to clear things up, I know it was mentioned that we could sit center line, but my vote is highly against that idea, I say we stay in the corner. Watch any game or set of highlights, the camera is probably showing the center line less than 25% of the time. Besides, the more exciting stuff happens around the corners anyway.

She's listed as "probable" for Sunday's game. We asked her at the season ticket party and she said that it was fine, but obviously it has been lingering for some time, so it's probably not as fine as she said.

I noticed that Kai was listed as "unavailable" for Sky Blue tomorrow. I know she was down once, but she looked pretty strong at the end of the game. I'm a bit surprised at that.

And incidently, for all you wishers and hopers, Daniela is still listed as unavailable.

Laclede's Army is going to move over a section or 2. That spot is not good for cameras. The best view for us in the section is terrible for the camera. Plus, we will triple for the game tomorrow. We will have to sit closer together anyway because it will be more crowded.

Amusing comment made by Milbrett after they lost 3-1 to Boston two weeks ago:

http://www.womensprosoccer.com/bayarea/news/general/090719-fc-gold-pride-falls-short-against-boston

"I want to take responsibility for not being able to tie up this game," said FC Gold Pride Tiffeny Milbrett. "It's not easy when you have missing pieces. Unfortunately were still a very young team and very fragile, we haven't grown enough together. I think what we see right now, is we're putting stuff together. But unfortunately luck is not with us sometimes, also we're not creating our own luck."

I think you might need to look at the birth certificates there, TM.

Sissi-42
Brandi Chastain-41 (last Tuesday no less)
Tiffeny Milbrett-36
Lindsay Massengale-32
Formiga-31
Eriko Arakawa-29

Athletica's oldest players:

Sara Larsson-30 (just turned 30 in May)
Christie Welsh-28
Hope Solo-27 (turns 28 next Thursday)

Also, Elise Weber's birthday is on Sunday. She turns 22.

Maybe she meant mentally young. They are so mentally young they may get permanently grounded by the league and sent to their rooms forever if they don't grow up fast!

Boston 0, Sky Blue 0.

Probably the best possible result for Saint Louis. Boston stays behind us at 25 points and the tie for Sky Blue means we can clinch a playoff spot with a victory tomorrow night.

So Barcellos sticks with Nikki Cross ... he mentioned her speed (to keep up with Aluko) as a main reason. Hope it works well vs the Old Pride.

Freedom did their homework, won and put pressure onto the playoff racers.

Sigh. Lucky us. Gold Pride cant score. Sinclair should have put this one into net.

Love the early pressure, pace and intensity of Athletica.

Soooooolo - great save coming from a header!

Mmmh announcers with some wisdom tonite. They are right that strikers need to put it more on the frame first before picking corners and aiming for a perfect shot. Too many chances wasted by poor shots or slow decision making. Respect to Jenn.

Hope yelling for offsides.

Lol. Hope Solo screaming to the ref at the sideline. Complaining for missing offside calls.

i think someone mic'ed Solo directly, you can hear her crystal clear!

huh ... Sarah asking for trouble.

was it really an elbow? i didn't see it...

Haha Jenn. A "funky touch" by Aluko. Really like what both teams bring to the game. Energized match compared to the letargic showing of Red Stars vs Freedom.