Coach Lisa Cole and the Breakers face Sky Blue FC Wednesday night in the first all-NWSL preseason game. (Photo copyright Meg Linehan for www.womens.soccerly.com)
SOMERVILLE, Mass. – With only 18 days for the season to begin for the Boston Breakers and Sky Blue FC, the two teams will face each other tonight at 6:15 p.m. ET at Dilboy Stadium in the first-ever meeting of two National Women’s Soccer League teams.
With both teams still considering roster options ahead of the April 5 deadline, each is likely to experiment with combinations on the field in this preseason match. Both teams’ U.S. and Canada national team allocations are on the rosters, so the fans who brave the chilly spring temperatures are sure to catch at least a few minutes of action from Leroux, Rampone, Schmidt, and the rest.
Sky Blue FC coach Jim Gabarra spoke with The Equalizer’s Dan Lauletta ahead of traveling to Boston.
“I think it’s a great opportunity for both teams and all the players that are involved to test yourself against the level of teams (in NWSL),” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for both of us. We’re looking at evaluation and trying to get some continuity among players.”
There are some notable omissions from both teams’ rosters: both teams are still without their Mexican allocated players. Breakers communication director Ryan Wood tweeted that Cecilia Santiago and Anisa Guajardo would be available in April for the team. Additionally, Boston is still awaiting the arrival of Kyah Simon. For Sky Blue, first round draft pick Lindsi Lisonbee-Cutshall is not making the trip with the team.
The projected rosters for both teams are listed below.
Boston Breakers
Goalkeepers: Vikki Alonzo, Colleen Boyd, Adelaide Gay
Defenders and midfielders: Cat Whitehill, Julie King, Kia McNeill, Rhian Wilkinson, Jennifer LaPonte, Bianca D’Agostino, Heather O’Reilly, Lisa-Marie Woods, Mariah Noguiera, Joanna Lohman, Kate Russell, Shawna Gordon, Monique LaMotte, Andrea Rodrigues, Libby Guess
Forwards: Katie Schoepfer, Lianne Sanderson, Adriana Leon, Sydney Leroux, Jo Dragotta, Jasmyne Spencer, Kate Howarth
Sky Blue FC
Goalkeepers: Ashley Baker, Brittany Cameron
Defenders and midfielders: Brittany Bock, Melanie Booth, Coco Goodson, Caitlin Foord, Kendall Johnson, Taylor Lytle, Manya Makoski, Kelley O’Hara, Christie Rampone, Sophie Schmidt, Madeleine Thompson
Forwards: Danesha Adams, Rachel Breton, Lisa De Vanna
Additional reporting by Dan Lauletta.
