Photo credit: Denver Summit FC
Lindsey Heaps a late scratch in club’s second loss in three games
The story of the season needs a bit of rewriting.
For the third time in three tries, Denver Summit FC conceded first in its new home, Centennial Stadium. The results in those games have trended toward the worst. First a win, then a draw and finally, a Wednesday-night 2-0 loss to the North Carolina Courage.
The offense flowed, but stalled in the final actions again, which has become a pattern with this Summit FC team. It generated just less than 1 xG with a bevy of shots from distance that were either saved or blocked by a Courage backline particularly interested in mimicking brick walls.
Summit FC first went behind thanks to a penalty conceded by Eva Gaetino and tucked away by Riley Jackson in the 48th minute, then allowed a lofted ball in behind to find substitute and Colorado native Ally Schlegel for a relatively easy goal.
“I can’t fault the players’ endeavor and attitude and application and trying to push to get into the game and trying to get ahead,” Summit FC coach Nick Cushing said. “Then we’re 1-0 down trying to get the goal back. I think it’s the story of our season, really, that we didn’t get ahead, and then in my opinion a soft penalty, then all of a sudden you’re giving away teams something to hang onto.”
Three days ago, Boston Legacy went up a goal via the NWSL’s fourth-ever goalkeeper assist. The home game prior, the Portland Thorns opened up the scoring at the penalty spot — a call which Cushing said Wednesday night that the Professional Referee Organization ended up apologizing for giving.
The truth is, Denver’s misfortune is as much a pattern as not being able to put the ball in the back of the net. Sometimes that fits in its own category of bad luck, but even fortune runs out eventually, for better or for worse.
Summit FC took a game-high 17 shots and put six of them on net. Its six corners started and ended in the same frustrating routine, after which the ball was cleared or never touched a player at the end of the cross.
Its best chance was a Tash Flint strike from distance in the second half which looked bound for the top-right corner, but Kailen Sheridan somehow got a hand to it. A flurry of shots at the end of the first half also looked dangerous.
“I think (ruthlessness) is a key thing that we cover week in and week out, and I think this week’s a tough week. We have to keep our foot on the gas and we can’t take it off,” Flint said. “We do need to be more ruthless in front of goal. I think for me, as a player who does normally score goals, I can’t drop my head. I can’t let that affect me.”
Summit FC also felt a Lindsey Heaps-sized hole against North Carolina. After being included in the starting lineup, she became a last-minute scratch due to what Cushing called swelling in her leg, and Melissa Kössler started in her place.
Cushing said the decision to bench Heaps was made by the team doctor ahead of the match. More screenings and a diagnosis will take place on Thursday.
In the game itself, Summit FC could have used Heaps, whose chemistry with the wide players grows week by week. On numerous occasions against the Courage, balls were being played too far or too short for players, especially on the left. Janine Sonis was the affected party most often, despite the captain’s clear desire to take out her frustration from Sunday on the pitch on Wednesday.
Summit FC finishes its three-game home stand on Saturday at 2 p.m. in a rematch against the Utah Royals.
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