With a roster boasting such talents as Kelley O'Hara, Nadia Nadim and Christie Rampone, excitement was high for the Sky Blue FC in 2015. However, a sobering 5-8-7 record ensued, and now longitme coach Jim Gabarra has departed leaving the team in unchartered waters.
Earlier on Tuesday, the team announced that it would be naming its new Head Coach on Wednesday via conference call at 3:30pm. While it's not right to speculate on who will take the reigns, whomever it is must energize a squad that was slow to start in many of its games and then learn how to finish when they have a lead.
There is plenty to build on however, and it starts with the dangerous trio of forward Nadia Nadim and Sam Kerr and midfielder Katy Freels. Nadim and Kerr tied for the team lead in goals with six while the ultra talented and fiesty Freels added five. Nadim boasts great speed to get behind a defense and was often the recipient of clutch passing by Freels. Midfielder Sarah Killion, the second overall selection in the 2015 draft played well down the stretch and fellow rookie Kristin Grubka helped anchor a solid defense that also includes O'Hara, Rampone and Lindsi Cutshall.
In goal, Brittany Cameron emerged as the vocal leader of the team and made some highlight reel saves. However, she plays with a reckless abandon and this cost the team in several key matches. Cameron likes to come out of the box and challenge the attacker, but this leaves her vulnerable and out of position. Backup Aubrey Bledsoe was selected by the Orlando Pride in the expansion draft, so it's Cameron and nothing else.
As the team looks ahead to naming their new coach, they can then turn their and the fans' attention to Friday's NWSL draft in which they hold the third overall selection. There are several possibilities to choose from, although Virginia defender Emily Sonnett probably will be selected by Portland with the first overall choice. After Sonnett, the draft can go in any number of choices. Looking at the two positions of most need for the Sky Blue, there are some solid choices:
Raquel Rodriguez, Midfielder, Penn State
After leading the Nittany Lions to the Championship, the Costa Rica native will look to begin her U.S pro career. Much like Freels, "Rocky" brings a tenacious and fiery presence to the midfield and would give the new HC some flexibility, perhaps allowing Freels or Killion to play up with Nadim or Kerr (once she recovers from her foot injury). Rodriguez plays a solid technical game, at times looking like a woman amongst girls, and has the one of the best chances to make an immediate impact.
Makenzy Doniak, Midfielder,Virginia
Although she suffered through an injury plagued 2015, she still scored 64 goals in her Cavalier career and should be amongst the first three names called in Friday's draft. She brings a wealth of international experience from the U20 team, so she's battle tested which bodes well for whomever selects her. When healthy, she has the uncanny ability to penetrate defenses with ease.
Carson Pickett, Midfielder/Defender, Florida State
While not a top five talent like Rodriguez or Doniak, Pickett is a versatile player and the best left-sided player available in the draft which would prevent the team from having to rush Kerr back into the lineup. Playing 103 career games for the Seminoles, she collected 9 tallies and 31 assists during her time in Tallahassee and would be the next in a line of talented Florida State players into the pros.
Abby Smith, Goalie, Texas
More of an option in the second round, in which the Sky Blue currently hold the thirteenth spot, Smith is easily the best of the twenty keepers available for selection. The 2015 athletic All Big-12 selection led the conference in saves (96) and saves per game (5.33) and holds the all-time Longhorns record for career shutouts and saves and brings international experience as the U20 keeper and the U23 USWNT. Selecting Smith would provide the Sky Blue with a young netminder to develop and perhaps competition with Cameron for the number one job.
While the coaching announcement is the big news looming ahead, the team needs to choose wisely with the third selection and pick a player who can step right into the lineup. Adding another defender like a Cari Roccaro also makes a lot of sense, especially with Rampone's age and the loss of Cami Levin in the expansion draft.