Bay FC dug a big hole, conceding two early goals to the Seattle Reign. However, the home side had an inspired comeback to tie the game before a late Seattle goal ultimately led to a 3-2 defeat on Saturday evening at PayPal Park.
Here is what we learned from the game:
Poor start put Bay FC on back foot
For the second game in a row, Bay FC conceded an early goal. On Wednesday against Gotham FC, the visitors scored in the second minute. On Saturday, Seattle scored twice within the first ten minutes. Without the heroics of goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz it could’ve been even worse.
“Disappointed and frustrating day again,” said Bay FC head coach Emma Coates after the game. “One of the messages to the girls is we just can’t start games like that. You know, you get put on the back foot straight away.”
In the fifth minute, Seattle winger Maddie Dahlien hit a cross from the end line that found teammate Mia Fishel right in front of the near post. Fishel redirected the ball underneath onrushing Bay FC goalie Jordan Silkowitz and into the net for an early 1-0 deficit.
A few minutes later, Bay FC’s Caroline Conti and Claire Hutton got caught deciding who had control of the ball just outside the penalty box, and Seattle’s Dahlien picked the ball up. Her shot required a full-length stretch from Silkowitz.
Bay’s goalkeeper came up big again a minute later when, on a free kick, Silkowitz was able to tip past the bar a shot from the Reign’s Maddie Mercado eight yards from goal.
But Silkowitz could not stop another mistake by the Bay FC defensive line a minute later when the ball squirted past Bay defenders Aldana Cometti and Sydney Collins, landing at the feet of Maddie Dahlien, leaving her one-on-one with Silkowitz. Dahlien made no mistake, delivering a shot outside Silkowitz’s grasp, and Bay FC quickly fell behind 2-0.
“To start this game going two-nil down, the Gotham game starting going one-nil down, both too early goals, you’re almost making the job harder than it already is,” Coates explained. “I think that’s the biggest lesson over this week.”
Hannah Bebar steps up for Bay FC
Just when things looked bleak, Bay FC midfielder Hannah Bebar stepped up. First, she huddled up the team after Bay conceded the second goal.
“I think it was a good reset point for us because that first 10 minutes just simply wasn’t our standard, and I think it was. I mean, we just looked around at the group, and I said a few words. Kept it short. I was just like, this isn’t our standard, isn’t good enough.”
Beber then stepped up, literally to give the team belief.
In the 13th minute, with the Reign defense dropping off her, expecting a pass, she dribbled towards the goal and unleashed a shot from just outside the penalty box that rocketed into the upper-left corner, quickly cutting the deficit to 2-1.
“I think the energy when I saw it go in the back of the net was electric,” said Bebar. “I’m not the type of player who is necessarily going to be shooting from that range. But I saw an opportunity.”
Bebar noted that Bay FC’s roster is very much a work in progress and includes many young players. As one of the longest-tenured players on the club, she is accepting that she needs to be a leader for it to succeed.
“I feel like we have such a good group of people and players in this team that I just want to continue to drive our standards and help in any way I can,” Bebar explained. “So stepping into that role today was an honor for me for sure, and I want to do what’s best for the team.”
Bay FC once again falls victim to VAR
Another nice buildup by Bay FC appeared to tie the game up 10 minutes later.
Bay’s Kennedy Fuller dribbled down into the penalty box and attempted a shot from distance that was partially blocked and ended up in the middle of the box. The ball bounced around; Seattle defender Jordyn Bugg made a defensive play, but Dorian Bailey stole it. She quickly fired her shot on target. It was partially handled by Reign keeper Claudia Dickey, but it had enough power to make its way into the net.
But once again, VAR struck against Bay FC, and the goal was disallowed because Bailey was judged to be offside in the buildup, despite a defender touching the ball while she was back onside.
After the game Coates was at a loss for words about the call and the repeated VAR calls that continue to cost Bay FC valuable points as they fight to move up the standings.
“I just don’t understand the rules anymore, frankly,” said Coates. “If you look at the IFAB rules, the way that the referees make the decision around a deflection versus a clear play for the ball to play a player on-side for me is unclear. I just feel really hard done by now. We’ve had, I think, three goals this season ruled back by, frankly, decisions that are so minute, and that is killing the game, in my opinion. And again, I’m probably frustrated because I feel that we get lots of things going against us.”
Brilliant Bay FC free kick ties the game
After controlling most of the possession through the second half, Bay FC finally tied the game off a beautifully executed set piece in the 75th minute.
With the ball about 35 yards from goal, Fuller set up as if she was going to deliver a long ball into the box. However, she went with a square pass to Bebar. Meanwhile, Keira Barry, who had originally stood with Fuller at the ball, had snuck out wide. When Bebar got the ball, Barry was able to run into the box and received a pass from Bebar, unmarked. Barry then curved her shot past Dickey and into the net to tie up the game.
Although it appeared to be a set play, Bebar and Barry explained that the coaching staff encourages the players to be creative on free kicks to create scoring opportunities.
“I didn’t necessarily know the ball was going to Hannah. But as soon as I saw Hannah pick up the ball, I knew that ball was going to space,” explained Barry about her thought process after she received the pass. “And then I see the keepers over to one side. So I just thought, why not?”
It was a brilliant moment of team play from Bay FC, and it made it seem as if the home side were going to come back and win.
Reign substitution decides the game
Back level, Coates brought in two players to help Bay FC get the win and three points. In the 82nd minute, Bay added a double substitution with Cristina Girelli coming in on the attack and Abby Dahlkemper on the defense.
But it was the Reign’s substitution three minutes later that ultimately decided the game.
Seattle’s Jess Fishlock came into the game in the 85th minute, and it immediately paid dividends when, on the ensuing possession, A long ball by Seattle’s Emeri Adames over the top found Fishlock, who had snuck inside the defense of Dahlkemper. With a step on the defender, she secured possession and fired her shot past Silkowitz, allowing Seattle to regain the lead.
“When I saw the ball go over the top and Jess had got half a yard in front, I was just like, this is either a goal or a penalty because she’s that type of player,” said Reign head coach Laura Harvey. “However many years she’s been at this club now, 14th season is it? She’s done things like that so often.”
The goal took the air out of Bay FC, and Seattle killed off the remaining time to earn a victory.
Despite loss, NWSL Playoffs a realistic goal for Bay FC
After battling back from the early deficit, the loss was difficult to accept, but it leaves Bay FC firmly in 14th place and with a daunting climb to a playoff position. Despite recent setbacks, the team is only five points out of the playoffs, and Coates is trying to keep her team focused on the end goal.
“We focus on what we can control, and just keep keep stacking those bricks, “said Coates. “That was a comment Jordan made after the Gotham game. Just got to keep stacking the bricks, keep building, and you know, at some point, I believe we’ll be unstoppable. We’re just at the start of our journey.”
Hannah Bebar also echoed her coach’s comments and noted that she is already focusing on the team’s next game on the road and getting a positive result against the Chicago Stars on Sunday, August 9th.
“This league moves so fast, things change so fast,” explained Bebar. “The table is going to change so much now into the end of the season. So it’s just focusing on what we can control.”
