Without three of his best players in the starting lineup against the visiting Chicago Red Stars, Albertin Montoya had a choice. Either tweak his tactics to shore up his team’s deficiencies or have them carry on playing the same expansive soccer that has also left them vulnerable in the back.
True to his form all season, the head coach opted for the latter even if it ultimately cost him in the end. But don’t mistake his decision for pure naivete. For Bay FC are still a young expansion team aiming to win hearts. Knowing that over 14,000 fans had turned up to PayPal Park for a primetime NWSL game, he chose to entertain rather than win at all costs.
“I don’t know how long (our fans) will stay with us,” Montoya said after a 2-1 defeat on Sunday. “But from the feedback we’re getting, people are enjoying the way we play.”
“Every time we’re out there, it’s an exciting game where anything can happen,” he said. “But the fans do deserve a win.”
Tess Boade, who wore the captains armband in place of star playmaker Deyna Castellanos, opened up the scoring in the 7th minute without so much as taking a shot. Instead, Red Stars and USWNT starting goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher booted the ball right at her as she was pressing, ricocheting it back into the net.
But as the game wore on and the hosts didn’t add to the lead, the visiting team started finding success with balls over the top in behind Bay FC’s high line. Penelope Hocking struck back in the 30th minute, which evened the score. Rather than boo or jeer their team, the home crowd applauded to encourage the players to keep fighting.
“[Conceding goals] is obviously the elephant in the room,” Boade said. “We’re a new group and that’s where it’s showing.”
At the half, the game was as deserved a 1-1 draw as it could get, with both teams enjoying an equal amount of possession and scoring chances. Bay FC forward Princess Marfo particularly shone bright as a power dribbler in her second start of the season.
However, in the 62nd minute, the Ghanaian took one too many touches on the ball inside her own half and turned it over to the Red Stars in front of goal, which resulted in the second score courtesy of Ally Schlegel.
Chicago had a chance to push the lead even higher in the 80th minute when Mallory Swanson stepped up to take a penalty. The crowd jeered so loud that the star national team player didn’t even hear the referee’s whistle to start. When she finally did shoot, backup goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland guessed right and saved it. PayPal Park hasn’t erupted like that in a long time.
“We’re a team that likes the ball,” Rowland said. “Sometimes there are moments we concede because we try to over-possess, but the consensus within the group is we’d rather do that than to play more straight forward.”
Castellanos eventually did enter the contest in the 66th minute, but Racheal Kundananji and Asisat Oshoala remain sidelined until next week’s game in Orlando, Montoya said. In their place, the likes of Caroline Conti and Jamie Shepherd got their first extended run in the team.
“They played with their hearts out today,” Montoya said of the youngsters who stepped up. “We’re just not clicking like we’re used to.”
Boade said the team has been leaning on its NWSL veterans during rough patches like these to keep things in perspective. Defenders Jenn Beattie, Caprice Dydasco and Emily Menges have been reminding the group not to get too low since there is still a long season ahead, she said.
Sunday’s loss leaves Bay FC in 12th out of 14th place in the table. In a span of one week, they played and lost to three opponents in San Diego, Portland and Chicago.
Bay FC’s negative goal differential and most goals conceded in the league are fitting of their league position. On the flip side, they are scoring as much as any of the top six contenders, which provides the team hope, Montoya said.
With still a majority of the season left to go, the team is by in no means out of contention. The fans have shown a willingness to be patient, but there are limits. You can play all of the nice passes all you want, but what good does it do if you’re at the bottom of the table?
About the Author: Kevin V. Nguyen is a business and sports journalist. He has covered soccer for The Guardian, The Sacramento Bee, and The San Francisco Standard. Follow him on X/Twitter @KevinNguyen_89
