Season 10 Week 3 Pre/In/Post 5/13-5/15

OL Reign 1, Portland 1

Kansas City 1, Orlando Pride 1

NC Courage 1, Gotham 1

Houston Dash 1, Racing Louisville 1

Chicago Red Stars 2, San Diego Wave 1

Angel City FC 1, Washington Spirit 1

 

OL Reign 2, Portland 1

Kansas City 1, Orlando Pride 0

NC Courage 2, Gotham 1

Houston Dash 0, Racing Louisville 1

Chicago Red Stars 1, San Diego Wave 2

Angel City FC 0, Washington Spirit 2

 

Glad to see you last two posters agree.

 

Well, we haven't had any draws yet this year, so we're definitely overdue!

Alright, for my own predictions...
RGN 1-0 POR : I think the two teams are pretty even this year, but RGN is slightly better and playing at home. It'll be a close match whatever happens; I just think it'll be more cagey instead of wide open (like 4-3)

KC 0-0 ORL : I'm not expecting much from either team at this point

NC 2-0 NJY : Gotham is still searching for any semblance of consistency, so I think NC gets back on track at home

HOU 2-1 LOU : Similar reasoning to the RGN-POR result except that these two teams are definitely weaker defensively

CHI 0-1 SD : SD gonna keep at the top of the table for a while!

LA 1-1 WAS : specifically with WAS coming from behind to salvage the draw

 

The game is at Portland.

 

...okay why TF has everyone been predicting scores backwards? Home team listed first, y'all!

Sticking with my predictions, but damn y'all are weird

 

Gotham FC vs NC Courage postponed due to COVID positive cases with NC Courage.

Breaking: Tonight’s match between NJ/NY Gotham FC and the North Carolina Courage at Red Bull Arena has been postponed due to COVID-19 protocols within the Courage’s tier one personnel.#NWSL | #YERRRR pic.twitter.com/ipqJKNgVuW

— Nets Republic (@NetsRepublic) May 14, 2022

 

To be fair, Gotham is missing a sizeable first-string contingent due to COVID as well.

NC - Bodae, Bowen, Erceg, Pickett, Pinto, Rowland, Solaun
NJY - Dydasco, Harris, Krieger, Purce

 

Best rookie I've seen this year: Savannah DeMelo of Racing Louisville. She does everything for Louisville.

 

Just watched the Washington/SD match and there's a simple reason why Washington lost: Ashley Sanchez didn't start. She's the engine that makes Washington work.

That's not taking anything away from SD which kicked Washington's too-confident backside. Christen Press, defying her genteel and stylish image, committed 5 fouls by my count and got a yellow card -- as well as the one and only goal. Lussi knocked Rodman down enough to discomfit her -- although, as always, Rodman made some extraordinary plays.

SD showed a lot of poise and grit. It was Washington that was discombobulated as the match wore down.

 

SD beats Chicago to start the season 3-0 and unquestionably topping the table...

And LA is just an enigma. They bottom out their Challenge Cup group, but in the first three matches of the regular season, they beat the two Challenge Cup finalists but lose to the only team that finished the Challenge Cup with fewer points than they did. *gestures confusedly*

 

All of the teams have player minutes management issues to deal with this week. Washington plays Portland @ Portland on Wednesday. Perhaps they thought LA was the easier game and held out Sanchez in the beginning in hopes they would not have to play her at all. If so, maybe it was a mistake. Portland will be playing on a short turn-around too, but they played Friday, not today.

I am not surprised if Lussi banged Rodman around some. Lussi is not afraid of physical contact.

 

Kudos! I am very impressed with CRS grit and determination. Made the game against SD (loaded talent) very competitive. Very close call PK for Morgan and somewhat questionable off-sides call against Aguilera could've resulted in a 2-1 victory for CRS. No Pugh, no Watt, no Woldmoe, no Gautrat, no Krueger, no Davidson, no Wright, etc. St. Georges, Cook, defensive line, etc. really stepping up! Hill, Yuki, DiBernardo, Colaprico and Mautz keeping CRS as competitive as possible. This is truly a determined team despite all the missing pieces. Again, kudos! I am so proud to be a CRS fan!

 

Lussi is indeed too physical sometimes. She had a nasty incident with CRS midfielder Danielle Colaprico a few seasons ago and Lussi was in fact suspended a game or two if my memory is recalling correctly.

 

The two expansion teams have been very impressive early on.

 

Probably, professional women's soccer in California was longtime due.