Tampa Bay Sun vs DC Power Preview
Date: Saturday February 14 at 7:30 pm
Upcoming Game: Tampa Bay (1-8-6, 11pts) vs. DC Power (4-6-5, 18pts)
A good Galentine’s Day in the making?
Tampa Bay now go into the next game with some momentum. No, they didn’t earn the full three points against their bogey team in Spokane. In all honesty, after the first half of this season, a draw is pretty good. Now, they’ve had a week off to look back on how they played and try to iron out some of the kinks they found in the new lineup from last weekend.
The formation the Sun used against Spokane allowed to Sydny Nasello to stay wide, and, on multiple occasions, got her in an isolated position. This is to the team’s great benefit. If they can continue to work on these patterns of play, fans should hope for even more production from what has generally been the club’s most dangerous player.
On the left side, it was Sabrina McNeill who was responsible for providing width, speed, and ultimately the crosses into the box. She did this to good effect, earning an assist on Nasello’s goal. Although the latter didn’t get any helpers on the scoresheet, she basically earned one for Madi Parsons’ goal. With offensive production lacking so far this year, these are hopefully replicable patterns.
If the coaching staff decides crosses into the box for Parsons is the way to go – or for whoever happens to be sitting behind her – then this is a good look for the team. Even better news is that they have an opponent coming up who are vulnerable. The Sun are second last in goals conceded – ahead of Fort Lauderdale – but upcoming opponents DC are also weak.
This is a good chance for Tampa Bay to build on strong play. They should hopefully be able to incorporate a few more pieces as well. With the pro debuts of Taylor Chism, Liz Beardsley and Faith Webber last week, manager Denise Schilte-Brown got to introduce some new players. The team also signed winger Maddie Pokorny on loan from NWSL side Racing Louisville.
For further signs of progress this weekend, fans will be focused on another number, one mentioned above. With 26 goals conceded, only Fort Lauderdale are below the Sun. (The south Floridians have conceded 30 as of last weekend.) Of course, it’s still a high number. Giving up the two they did against Spokane is certainly not unforgivable.
However, those were not the only big chances of the night for the visitors. Zephyr were unlucky not to go up again late in the game, only being denied by some Beardsley heroics. While Tampa Bay work on their attacking patterns, they need to shore things up at the back as well. Brooke Hendrix and Viv Bessette have not had a sophomore season at the club to match their first year.
DSB expressed frustration about defensive lapses after games in November and December. The team would, obviously, do well to focus on these parts of the game in training. DC don’t have the best record offensively, so this is yet another good chance for the group overall to build on a positive start. Basically, keep the Power to as little production as possible.
RBLR Score Predictions:
Liz: 1-0 W
JD: 2-1 W
James: 1-0 W
Yurika: 2-0 W
RBLR Score Predictions Standings:
Liz: 7
JD: 0
Yurika: 2
James: 8
