[2022-03-19] [NWSL Challenge Cup] Angel City FC vs. San Diego Wave

[hermionesviolin]

My partner was an early adopter of Angel City FC, so we watched their inaugural game versus San Diego Wave last Saturday -- initially in large part because we have an inside joke about Alex Morgan (who's on San Diego Wave), but it was the inaugural game for both teams, who are the two new expansion teams this season, so that was cool in and of itself.

I learned that I don't know a lot about how soccer works -- apparently watching the first 6 episodes of Ted Lasso didn't prepare me much? ;)
Like, I have some familiarity with American football, which Thom tells me is "a game of inches," whereas soccer is "the beautiful game."

Christen Press is very impressive, though it was actually Savannah McCaskill who scored the first goal.

Edit: Edited to add this from an SB Nation fan post:

their new squad — who it should be said waited until the last possible moment to begin warmups, in true LA fashion — with many anxious to see LA native Christen Press take the field for the first time in person.

Press nearly blew minds early, showcasing her soul-snatching ability to weave through a defense, and came within inches of finding the back of the net with a rocket from yards outside the box. The goal that ACFC did score was a perfect example of how the team will likely want to play throughout the campaign. Defender and captain Ali Riley made her way up the pitch along the side of the pitch, and put a perfect ball into the box, finding a leaping Savannah McCaskill for the first goal in club history.

/edit

DiDi Haračić (the goalkeeper) is also impressive.

Jun Endo was the person I could most consistently pick out on the field, but Madison Hammond is also very cute.  I mean, there are a lot of very attractive people on the team -- see this promotional IG post, for example.

Kaleigh Riehl scored the first goal for San Diego Wave -- with her chest!

San Diego felt like the stronger team, but I think I'm contractually obligated to root for Angel City.

Because they're a West Coast team, game times are definitely not always optimized for my sleep schedule.  I was looking at the schedule and was reminded that Kansas City has a team; I thought of you, mayhap.

***

Yesterday, my partner posted in a Discord:

Googling this morning, it sounds like Boston has 2 pro women’s sports teams (since both pro women’s lacrosse teams seem to have silently folded): the Boston Renegades (gridiron/American football) and the Boston Pride (hockey). The hockey season is over, but the Renegades have 3 home games in Revere this spring, if anyone wants to join me for one.

[...]

Anyway, I was just thinking about how terrible Boston is for women’s sportsball and decided I should maybe get out and support local teams.

cadenzamuse, are you still a Boston Pride hockey fan?

Comments

[meat_and_breath]

You are not, in fact, contractually obligated to root for ACFC. I think our relationship is strong enough to handle being a mixed faith family.