Photo credit: Denver Summit FC
Nick Cushing: “I’m used to winning. … I take it personally that we have another game where we dominate (but don’t win).”
Denver Summit FC is becoming a creature of habit.
For the second straight home match at newly-opened Centennial Stadium, the team came back to rescue points, though Sunday night was only a 1-all draw against Boston Legacy. Like in plenty of matches this season, Denver could have and probably should have come away with all three points after creating the majority of chances.
But it took a masterclass from Boston keeper Casey Murphy for Legacy to come away with a result. Her only fault was allowing a goal from the spot, though she guessed the direction correctly.
She finished with six saves and an assist on the night.
Summit FC coach Nick Cushing was dejected after the match in a way he hasn’t been all season. He’s in an unfamiliar place, at least in his women’s managerial career.
“I’m used to winning. And what I like about winning is that the mentality when you’re on top is that you kill,” Cushing said with an almost eagerly desperate tone. “That’s why the teams that are up top (are up there). I’m used to having a team that up at the top, and that’s why I take it personally that we have another game where we dominate (but don’t win).”
Boston opened the scoring in the 34th minute with the help of a goalkeeper assist and a VAR review. Murphy lobbed a bomb down the middle of Denver’s high line, then Sammy Smith took a couple of touches and buried it between Abby Smith’s legs. It was initially called offside, but the goal was given after review.
Janine Sonis tied it up in the 72nd minute after her cross to Tash Flint from the right resulted in Flint being pulled down while trying to get a head to it. Sonis stepped up and slotted it into the upper right corner. Murphy guessed the right direction but couldn’t get to the ball in time.
It was Sonis’ seventh goal of the season, putting her level with a few players for fifth in the league in scoring this year. She’s also in a small club of players to go 3-for-3 from the spot this year. Not bad for a left back.
“It means a lot to me that the team has faith that I’ll put the ball in the back of the net when we draw penalties,” Sonis said. “… I’m glad I’m contributing in that way, but selfishly, I would rather win than score a goal. I’m happy with the season I’m having and I think this is the most consistent season I’ve had. But at the end of the day, I’d trade it all in to be up in the top four (of the NWSL table).”
Denver has two more opportunities to right the ship at home in the coming week, albeit against top competition. That seems to be where Summit FC shines the most, though, and tends to make more of its ability to generate chances at will.
First will be against the North Carolina Courage on Wednesday at 8 p.m., which sits in seventh in the NWSL table as of Sunday evening. Then a rematch against the third-place Utah Royals on Saturday afternoon.
It will be interesting to see the battle continue between Melissa Kössler and Olivia Thomas for who takes their chances and becomes the starter in ink. Kössler got the nod on Sunday for her first start since the July 4 loss to the Kansas City Current.
She was lively in the first half and was a bit unlucky not to score. Her best chance was midway through the first half, when Murphy got a paw to a good strike by Kössler.
“MK is pushing hard. She’s trained really well. Her and Liv are really competing for the No. 9 shirt,” Cushing said. “… We’ll look at the recovery of the players, see who’s where and we’ll look at not just the No. 9, but across the team to put a team out (that can win). It gives me confidence that we’re in another game where we compete against an NWSL team where we should win.”
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