Home vs. DC Power Preview
Date: Saturday August 24, 2024
Kickoff Time: 7:00 pm EST at Riverfront Stadium in Tampa, FL
Records: Tampa Bay Sun (1 pts 0W-1D-0L); DC Power FC (0 pts 0W-0D-1L)
Standings: The Sun are 5th in the Super League and DC are 8th.
The Sun have played their first ever game and did so with rave support in the stands! It was a packed house and all the festivities made it a true party atmosphere. The only downside was that the away team was better for large stretches. With injuries and other availability issues, that shouldn’t be too surprising. The next step will be taking what they have and winning a game. Get to Riverside Stadium at Blake High School this Saturday to help cheer them on to victory!
What did the team look like in their first ever match?
In the post game press conference, Sun manager Denise Schilte-Brown talked about the jitters her players felt when they took the field for the first time in their new colors. Whether a seasoned pro or a relative newbie, there was a lot of buildup to this game, which in turn could lead to a lot of pressure. Handling that clearly took some extra effort.
So despite all the atmosphere and excitement flowing like the waters outside it, Riverside Stadium ended up hosting a somewhat disjointed event, with injuries and cramps impacting play frequently. The Sun could not call on several of their announced signings and made another the day before the game. This followed multiple academy players being added to the roster as well.
Dallas Trinity’s domination in the first half came as an unwelcome surprise to local fans. They were frequently able to play through the Sun’s lines and create good chances. Tampa Bay keeper Ashley Orkus stood on her head at times, making incredible saves over and over to maintain a 0-0 scoreline. That Dallas could only score off a corner was shocking by itself.
Additional misfortune hit the Sun when Carlee Giammona had to come off in the first half for an injury. Schilte-Brown said after the game that her halftime speech was not a positive one. She laid down a marker and left it to her charges to rally themselves and get back into the match. All the more impressive then, that that is what they did.
Tactical adjustments allowed the Sun to absorb some of Trinity’s attacking play better and then turn that into attacks going the other way. Ultimately, Tampa Bay was able to take advantage of a corner kick as well, swinging one into the back post where it found Brooke Hendrix. Her header marked the first ever goal for the club – and sent the stands into a frenzy.
All the energy came back into the stadium and at this point acted like a propellant for the players. The supporters’ section led in chants while the rest of the stadium cheered along and the Sun were the team most likely to score late in the game. Even though they couldn’t muster it, fans left knowing there would be special moments in the future at this venue.
It was almost too much to take in at times. Between the water taxi, the atmosphere, the rally, and the debuts, there is much to stop and take notice of. Real blink-and-you-miss-it type stuff. There is a lot to work out on the field, to be sure. However, with some very unique game-day activities, women’s soccer in Tampa Bay has nowhere to go but up.
Can we get a first win in our second game?
While the Sun made their league debut on Sunday, two games had already taken place the night before. As it happens, their next opponents were the only ones to lose on the first matchday. Despite that, DC Power should not be expected to roll over on Saturday. They had a lot of good moments in their 1-0 loss to Carolina Ascent – and they’ll only want to build on that foundation.
Carolina was also able to sell out their first ever match, setting the record for a women’s professional game in the state with over 10,000 fans. This likely helped them weather the storm from DC in the first half. The Ascent were keen to build out of the back, doing so even in moments where it could’ve hurt them. The Power will be mad they didn’t inflict that pain.
DC looked at times like they wanted to play more directly, trying to find striker Jorian Baucom over the top of the opposition defense. Still, that wasn’t the only way they played. Manager Frederic Brillant, a former defender for DC United in Major League Soccer, had different ideas for creating chances. They will firstly be looking to execute better this weekend.
While the Sun have a lot of talent, the depth could again pose questions. The Power are likely also lacking in this department, with roster constructions having occurred very quickly in the build up to each team’s first game last week. The heat of August in Florida will also weigh on their legs a little more than it should the players who have experienced it since the end of June.
Turning those favorables into a win is easier said than done, of course. The Sun looked much better in the second half against Dallas. Relying on your goalkeeper to keep you in a match long enough to get that chance is not a good strategy. It should be Tampa Bay who take the game to their opponents early and with intensity. Don’t give them a moment’s peace in the first half.
If the Sun can draw DC into the middle of the field so as to isolate the wingers, Sydny Nasello and Ashley Clark-Lemieux should be able to create chances. Jordyn Listro looked to help out in possession by stepping up alongside Wasila Diwura-Soale in the preseason match against Fort Lauderdale. Doing so again will allow for these passages of play.
The final factor is who is or is not available. The Sun announced yet another signing after the weekend, bringing in defender Talia Staude on loan from the North Carolina Courage. After a sterling college career, she has had trouble seeing the pitch for her NWSL club. This should shore things up here, though, offering another option with professional experience.
Make sure you show up again to Blake High School’s stadium for another historic game. When players tire, the cheering of their fans can provide an extra boost. Sun supporters should expect there to be some fatigue at some point. If we can sing, chant, and roar them through it, we could possibly see the club’s first ever win on Saturday! Do your part!
Score Predictions from the RBLR Sun Podcast:
Liz: 1-0 W
Tom: 2-0 W
James: 3-1 W
Yurika: 2-1 W
