Sky Blue Starts The 4th NWSL Season With Several New Faces.

The historic 4th season of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is finally upon us. No domestic women’s soccer league has reached for season, and the NWSL is hoping to prove it has staying power. This season, our own Erica Ayala will be following Sky Blue FC. Here is a breakdown before tonight’s match against two-time defending regular season champions, the Seattle Reign.

In the offseason, Sky Blue has experienced almost every change imaginable, but Holly and returning players are eager to move forward. Sky Blue will begin the 2016 season without five players from last season, this includes Caitlin Foord, who was not listed on the 2016 roster. However, the story for the new season may be all the additions to the roster. With a team looking to crack into the playoffs for the first time in two years, the stage is set for some new faces to have an immediate impact.

Midfielder Sarah Killion is excited to see Sky Blue players break through in the upcoming season, “I see a ton of potential. I think that this team has a lot of talent, a lot of underrated talent too. I think that there are girls that are so hungry to make a name for themselves.”

As Sky Blue prepares for the first match of the season against Seattle, we take a look at the new editions to the club.

Coaching Staff

Christy Holly named Sky Blue FC Head Coach (Sky Blue FC)

Head Coach Christy Holly has now completed his first college draft and preseason at the helm. Now begins his journey to prove he’s done so successfully. We spoke to Holly earlier this month regarding his expectations, “the biggest challenges that we face is that we have so many new faces.” Holly and his staff must work to develop a culture that will allow the team to thrive.

Holly may be the new Head Coach, but he is not new to Sky Blue. Holly has worked on the SBFC coaching staff during the programs run in the NWSL. Holly undoubtedly can build a new foundation that is well informed by the history of the New Jersey team.

To that end, former Sky Blue keeper Jill Loyden also joined the coaching staff. Former US National Team player and New Jersey native is tasked with leading the netminders Caroline Stanley and Caroline Casey. The Caroline’s are both new to Sky Blue, and Loyden will work to prepare them both for the upcoming season. Paul Grier was also added in the offseason. Grier has 14 years of domestic and International coaching experience that he brings to Sky Blue FC.

2016 College Draft

2016 College Draft Picks Rodriguez, Casey and Skoroski are joined by Christy Holly (left) and Tony Novo (right). Photo Credit: Sky Blue FC

Sky Blue snagged four players from the 2016 College Draft, including the 2nd Overall pick Raquel Rodriguez, fresh off her national title with Penn State. The midfielder had quite a year. In addition to her title and going 2nd in the NWSL draft, Rodriguez had an impressive year with the Costa Rican National Team. Rodriguez recorded the first goal in the history of the women’s program. The 2015 Hermann Trophy winner joined Sky Blue last week in preparation for the season.

Leah Galton of Hofstra University was selected 13th overall by Sky Blue. The England native registered 122 points for Hofstra, a program record. Galton also tied the all-time record for assists (26) and ranks 2nd in goals (48). She is also the only athlete to win three consecutive Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year honors. The forward will officially join the club upon graduation from Hofstra in May.

Erica Skroski from Rutgers University was the 3rd pick for the club in January. The defender from Rutgers will begin her professional field at Yurcak Field, home to Rutgers Women’s Soccer and Sky Blue FC. The senior helped lead the Scarlet Knights to the NCAA College Cup Semifinals, the most successful run in program history.

Sky Blue also acquired All-American goaltender Caroline Casey from the College of William & Mary. Casey started every game of she college career and posted 301 saves (2nd all-time), 29 shutouts (3rd all-time) and 48 wins. The 2015 CAA Defensive Player of the Year posted 86 saves, 11 shutout and a .088 Goals Against Average in her final season. Casey will vie for a starting role against free agent Caroline Stanley.

Free Agency

Caroline Stanley joins SBFC from Seattle Reign. Stanley made one appearance with Seattle last season, and hopes to make a case to be the starting keeper in New Jersey. Stanley played one year at The University of Missouri before transferring to the University of Southern California. Over her USC career, Staley recorded 10 shutouts and 221 saves. In her senior year, she posted a .086 Goals Against Average.

In addition to Stanley, Holly acquired two familiar names to the New Jersey based squad. Midfielder Ashley Nick returns to Sky Blue after splitting the 2015 season with the Western New York Flash and the Houston Dash. Nick played her first two years in the NWSL with Sky Blue.

Kai and Rampone celebrate during preseason. Photo Credit: Robyn McNeil

Tasha Kai has also returned to Sky Blue. The Hawaiian forward led Sky Blue to the WPS Championship in 2009. Kai joins Christie Rampone as the only active SBFC players from the 2009 roster. Kai has been away from the game for a while, but she is a player who can win fans over with her energy on and off the field. Having her and Sam Kerr up front should make for an exciting style of play.

Open Tryouts

Two additional players were added to the 2016 through open tryouts. Defender Erin Simon from Syracuse University hopes to gain minutes, especially when key players like O’Hara and potentially Rampone are away for National Team duty. Although she finished her college career on defense, Simon is a natural forward. Although transitions from offense to defense do not always pan out, such was not the case with Simon. Regardless of the position she occupies on the field, Simon appears to have leader qualities, and can read the game well.

Another player who worked her way onto the roster is Saddle River native Danielle Schulmann. Schulman recorded minutes with the University of Maryland and Seton Hall University before settling at UCONN. In her last season with the Huskies, Schulmann earned New England Women’s Player of the Year honors. She led the team with 10 goals, seven assists and 27 points in 2013 as a redshirt senior. Schulmann found her way on the Portland Thorns preseason roster last year, she was described by AllWhiteKit as, “A spiky attacker who plays with a mean streak and is fearless in the air and tough in the tackle. Displays good off the ball movement to get into scoring positions.” Schulmann has found a home with Sky Blue for now. However, with draft pick Leah Galton set to join the club upon graduation, she will have to make a case to stay.

New Jersey native, midfielder Kelly Conheeney, will join Sky Blue FC for the regular season. The Virginia Tech alum has suffered from concussion symptoms for a number of years, but hopefully can be back to full form for the season. Conheeney ranks top ten in four single season categories, and seven individual career records. She tops all players in game winning goals (14), points (75) and ties for all-time multiple goal games (5).

One Common Goal

Photo Credit: Northern Football + Robyn McNeil

As far as the common goal for the first game, Holly was rather clear, “nothing less than a win.” Sky Blue will be tested right away, as they face Laura Harvey and the two-time Regular Season Champions, the Seattle Reign. The Reign are undefeated at home in 22 games. The two teams faced off last September to end the regular season. Nadim scored in the 6th minute for New Jersey. Sky Blue held the lead going into the 91st minute, but Jess Fishlock scored late to draw the tie and protect the record.

The first game against a side like the Reign will be a good test for Sky Blue FC, in a media release, Holly commented, “We know that we have a big challenge ahead of us in Seattle. We certainly respect them, but we do not fear them. We look forward to putting the correct foot forward and building on this for the rest of the season.”

Now that the team is together, save draft pick Galton, it is time for Sky Blue to show the league what type of team they intend to be this season. “We’re all in, it’s all about our belief in each other” said returning defender Maya Hayes, “and this coaching staff has done a great job to really instill that and keep the standard and uphold that standard, literally from day one. That’s going to be our M.O, to really come in and make our mark and show that we’re a force to be reckoned with.”

Kick-off is set for 7:00pm EST. The match will streamed live via YouTube. Fans can also attend a viewing party hosted by The Football Factory at Legends.

Sky Blue 2016 Roster

GOALKEEPERS (2): Caroline Casey, Caroline Stanley

DEFENDERS (7): CoCo Goodson, Kristin Grubka, Maya Hayes, Kelley O’Hara (FP-USA), Christie Rampone (FP-USA), Erin Simon, Erica Skroski

MIDFIELDERS (7): Kelly Conheeney, Shawna Gordon, Sarah Killion, Taylor Lytle, Ashley Nick, Raquel Rodriguez (INT’L-CRC), Nikki Stanton

FORWARDS (4): Kim DeCesare, Tasha Kai, Sam Kerr (INT’L-AUS), Danielle Schulmann

*Leah Galton will join the club upon completion of her degree at Hofstra University, listed as out of market until then.

Follow Erica Ayala on Twitter @elindsay08