Part 1: The 2009 draft
Part 2: Roster review
Part 3: Top 5 moments of 2009
Another week, another look back at the 2009 season. This is going to be my last look at the 2009 season unless there is a public outcry for more. After looking at the Top 5 moments of the season last week it seems only fair and balanced to look at the Bottom 5 moments as well. So without further delay, here are the moments I am sure all Freedom fans would like to forget from 2009.
5. Freedom lose league opener in LA
The Freedom were the only team in the league to maintain an existence outside of the WUSA and WPS. The coaching staff spent years looking at talent and preparing for this moment where most coaches only had months because they had just been hired. The coaches had been active in the top level amateur league and already had the foundation of a team in place. On draft day, the Freedom took most of those players, banking on our chemistry to get them through the early part of the season.
And just like in the WUSA, the Freedom had the opportunity to kick off this new league. With the deck supposedly stacked in the team’s favor, the Freedom fell flat and lost to LA in the league opener 2-0.
The reason this loss is No. 5 is because after the match, this loss certainly felt like less of a loss. Having gone six years without a pro league at home, players like Abby Wambach and Lori Lindsey were happy just to have the opportunity to play pro again in the U.S. while many others were happy to finally have the opportunity. And while that feeling was good for the first match, it was a good thing it didn’t last.
4. The Chicago Red Stars
Despite the fact they struggled against everyone else this season, the Chicago Red Stars quickly became the Freedom’s nemesis on the field. Even though the Freedom didn’t lose to Chicago at home in 2009, that fact becomes little consolation once you consider the Freedom ended both of those matches with an 11 v. 10 advantage.
In April, defender Frida Ostberg picked up two yellow cards for her rough style of play, being sent off shortly after the start of the second half. But Washington couldn’t get through the Chicago defense and wound up with a 1-1 tie. Then in June, Karen Carney received a red card for a hard foul on Abby, putting the Freedom a woman up with 30 minutes left in the match. And once again, Chicago hunkered down and preserved the scoreless tie. Once Chicago finally finished a game against the Freedom at full strength, the Red Stars won 2-1. Washington did finish the series with a 3-2 win at Chicago while trying to secure a playoff berth, but instead of posting a 1-1-2 record against them this season, it easily should have been 3-1-0. Hopefully this isn’t a pattern that will repeat again in 2010.
3. Huffman goes down for the year
I mentioned a little about this when talking about the makeup of the roster but Sarah Huffman’s injury was a huge blow to the Freedom. Going down during the first week of practice, the loss of Sarah really jumbled things up in the midfield. I am convinced that if Jim Gabarra had everyone healthy to start the season we would have seen Sonia Bompastor play defender, her position on the French national team, and we would have seen Huffman pairing with Homare Sawa, Lori and Allie Long in the midfield. Who knows if that midfield would have produced better results but losing the No. 1 overall pick from the first domestic draft the league held certainly hurts.
Here’s to hoping Sarah is recovered and ready for 2010.
2. Goalkeeping in crisis mode
During the January draft, Gabarra surprised everyone when in the fifth round he drafted the most capped keeper in U.S. history, Briana Scurry. Having pulled out of previous drafts, it seemed that Scurry was seriously considering retiring before the Freedom selected her in the draft. Gabarra drafted her as insurance in case starter Erin McLeod wasn’t quite healed from the ACL injury she suffered in the 2008 Olympics but as the season got closer and McLeod got held up on Visa issues, it became clear the backup plan would be put into effect.
Scurry started the first three games and the results were not pretty. Not that everything was her fault but when the offense had scored only 2 goals in 3 games and the defense had given up 6 in that same span, Gabarra turned to his third option, KJ Spisak. KJ would be in net for the teams first win but would give up 3 goals in the process and the following week she gave up 3 more goals in a tie against Saint Louis. Fortunately that was enough time for McLeod to get her Visa straightened and lock down the goalkeeping situation for the Freedom.
1. Playoff loss to Sky Blue FC
Using another card analogy, the deck was supposed to be stacked against SBFC as it began its playoff journey. As the last team into the playoffs, SBFC had the unfortunate task of needing to win three playoff games on the road in order to win the inaugural WPS Championship. That road began in Washington against a Freedom team they had finished 0-2-1 against during the regular season. The Freedom suffered the big blow though as Sonia missed the playoffs because of the 2009 Women’s European championship. Apparently that leveling of the field was all SBFC needed as they beat the Freedom at the SoccerPlex, making the Freedom the first WPS team to lose a playoff game at home. At least they weren’t the last.
That does it for my recap. Agree with my moments? Disagree? Let me know either by the poll or in the comments.
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