After conceding two first-half goals, Bay FC battled in the second half but ultimately could not earn a draw with the Chicago Stars, falling 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
“Anyone at any given point in time can come out and get a great performance, and [the Chicago Stars] did,” said Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya after the game. “They’ve got pace up top, and they capitalized for their chances, and we didn’t.”
Here is what we learned from the game:
Bay FC punished for casual play
Coming into a home game against the struggling Chicago Stars it looked like everything was lined up for Bay to claim three points at PayPal Park.
However, Sunday’s match again showed how important it is to play the game and not expect victory.
The Stars entered the match winless in their first three games, having only scored one goal while allowing six. Their game plan from the start was to soak up Bay’s pressure and attack on the counter.
“I think if you’re not getting your countermeasures right, you can get hurt. Or giving the ball away maybe too easily, or just in expansive shape, and they took advantage of that,” noted centerback Abby Dhalkamper.
Bay FC came out flat and had several casual passes intercepted by Chicago. Some led to goal scoring opportunities.
“In the first half, we actually were moving the ball too slowly, from side to side and through the middle,” Montoya conceded after the loss.
Chicago’s struck first five minutes into the game building up an attack from the back. They faced little resistance as the ball found its way out wide to the Stars’ Jameese Joseph. The midfielder saw her teammate Ludmila unmarked and about to race behind the Bay FC defenders and lofted a perfectly timed ball right into her path.
Ludmila found herself one-on-one with Bay keeper Jordan Silkowitz. Ludmila dribbled around her and then slotted her ball home for the early advantage.
The second goal was started by a too-casual touch by Bay FC wide back Alyssa Malonson in the midfield. Malonson coughed up the ball relatively easily at midfield to Chicago’s Joseph who immediately dribbled into the attack, facing little resistance. This time, Joseph picked out Ludmila with a sharp pass on the ground as Ludmila entered the box. The Chicago forward wrongfooted Bay FC defender Abby Dhalkamper several times before placing a shot into the far net for a far-too-easy goal.
Despite all the mistakes and easy giveaways in the midfield, Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya chalked it up as a poor game and not a systemic issue with the team.
“You’ve got to give credit to Chicago,” said Montoya. “They made us pay for it, right? And that’s something that we know that’s not typically what those players do. So I’d like to think that this is a one-off.”
Bay FC unable to pull off one of their patented comebacks
Last season, Bay FC became known as the comeback kids, often falling behind early and earning dramatic ties or wins. When Caroline Conti scored a 58th minute penalty kick, it looked like Bay FC was once again going to come from behind and get a positive result.
“This team has always showed that character in that fight,” said Montoya. “We never put our heads down. We were frustrated because we know we’re much better.”
Racheal Kundananji once again was the most impressive offensive threat with much of the attack going through her feet. She set up the first penalty kick and almost another opportunity.
In the 92nd minute, Kundananji got free out wide left and crossed the ball into Penelope Hocking. However her shot went just wide of the goalpost.
Right before the final whistle, Bay FC had their best chance to tie the game when Hocking once again found herself alone in the box. Unfortunately she was unable to put her shot on target and it skied over the bar.
Bay FC could not get the second goal to hit the back of the net and had to settle for the disappointing loss.
Conti’s confidence converting Penalty Kicks
One of the bright spots in the game was watching Bay FC forward Caroline Conti score her first-ever NWSL goal in the second half.
In the 58th minute a handball was called on Chicago defender Maitane Lopez on a shot by Kundamaji inside the box. Surprisingly, the penalty kick was taken by Conti, who had never scored a goal in the league and was facing former USWNT great Alyssa Naher from the spot.
“When it comes to penalty kickls, no one takes it better than her,” explained Montoya. “It’s actually quite impressive. So it was a no brainer.”
Conti showed little fear going up against Naher. She blasted her PK to the left side of the goal, and her teammates mobbed her to celebrate.
“It means a lot, and to have my teammates rush to me immediately,” Conti recalled after scoring and giving her team hope. “It literally meant the world to me.”
Crowds continue to loudly support Bay
Despite an unusual start time of 4 pm on a Sunday, 12,320 Bay FC fans came out to support their home side. They were loud in their support and quick to cheer on the team for any spectacular play. As Bay went for the tie late in the match, many organic ‘Bay FC’ chants filled the stadium.
The fans continued support will be essential to push the Bay FC players to new heights in their second season.
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Next weekend Bay FC travel to the East Coast to take on the North Carolina Courage on Saturday April 19, at 4 pm PDT.
