After a season full of losing points late in games, Bay FC finally turned the tables at PayPal Park against the Houston Dash thanks to veteran striker Cristiana Girelli’s 89th-minute goal and goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz’s ten saves on Sunday afternoon.
I think we needed today,” said Bay FC head coach Emma Coates after the game. “If I’m honest, three points on the board, clean sheet. I think the latest goal we’ve scored this season. Sometimes attacks win games, sometimes defense and goalkeepers win games. And I just want to shout out Silky today. I thought she was world class for us.”
With Houston and Bay battling back and forth in a scoreless game, Girelli was sprung loose on a breakaway in the 87th minute and was fouled by the Dash’s Maggie Graham. On the ensuing free kick about 25 yards from goal, Bay FC’s Keira Bailey placed a shot that bounced off the left goalpost and back in front of goal. Girelli was first to the rebound and slotted the ball into an empty net for a 1-0 lead that Bay did not relinquish.
“I’ve been waiting for a long time for this goal,” Girelli explained, her first goal ever for Bay FC. “I’m really happy first of all for the team, for the points because we needed it. To be able to do it in front of our amazing fans is incredible and amazing.”
It was Bay FC’s latest goal this season in a game and felt like a possible turning point for the club as it looks to climb the standings into a playoff spot with ten games remaining in its NWSL season.
Bay started out brightly in the game and almost scored in the 12th minute when a mistake in the Dash back line left Karlie Lima one-on-one with Houston goalkeeper Jane Campbell. However, Campbell made a terrific save to deny the goalscoring opportunity.
Two minutes later, Bay FC goalkeeper Jordan Silkowitz made two beautiful saves herself on Houston shots from Linda Ullmark and Kiki Van Zanten. It was just the start of Silkowitz’s heroics to keep her team in the game.
In the 39th minute, Silkowitz got big on a Houston Dash breakaway to deny Kate Faasse just in front of goal. And then, just before the halftime whistle, Faasse once again got on the end of a long pass just in front of the Bay FC goal. Silkowitz denied her again from close range.
In the 51st minute, Silkowitz tipped a shot wide from Houston’s Danielle Colaprico and out of bounds. Then, on the ensuing corner kick, Silkowitz saved a point-blank header from Leah Klenke.
Bay FC’s goalie added one more remarkable fingertip save in the 76th minute when she pushed a shot wide by the Dash’s Clarissa Larlsey.
“Silky stood up there were some real nice defensive actions that kept us in the game,” noted Coates.
All of Silkowitz’s work paid off when Girelli’s late goal finally gave Bay FC their first victory since July 18th.
“I’m super proud for the girls and for the fans and for everyone for sticking with us while we’ve been in this sort of sticky period,” noted Coates after Bay had only picked up one point in their last five games. “But honestly I’m so confident we’re building something really special. I’m really confident we’re building something that’s going to last and sustain.”
With the win, Bay FC now stand six points behind the eighth-place Seattle Reign. Next up is second-place Washington Spirit on the road Sunday, August 30th.
“We got Washington next week, and the outcome we want is go there, get three points, come home, and just continue building on this,” explained Silkowitz. “But obviously, three points at home, coming off of kind of a rougher spell of results for us, is huge momentum.”
