The Sky Blue FC of the National Women’s Soccer League announced today that Maya Hayes is expected to miss 2-4 weeks as a result of an MCL sprain she suffered last weekend during the team's 5-2 loss to the Western New York Flash in Rochester, New York.
Hayes, 24, suffered the injury in the first half against Western New York on Saturday night, in the 24th minute. The New Jersey native and former Penn State star has made five starts over six appearances during the 2016 NWSL season, registering a team-leading two goals during 355 minutes of play.
Sky Blue dealt a major blow
The injury is a major blow to both Hayes and the Sky Blue. For a team that has struggled to score, losing one of their few offensive threats casts a dark cloud. The team travels to Chicago to face one of the league's top defensive teams in the Red Stars and then returns home to face the struggling but potentially dangerous FC Kansas City on June 11th. If she takes the full four weeks to heal, she will miss matches against the Seattle Reign and the Washington Spirit, not a stretch the team can afford to be without her.
Throughout this young season, Hayes' speed has served her well on both ends of the field, as she's been able to weave her way through defenses and been able to drop back and aid her own defensive mates. However, she has also taken a pounding, as she has been a marked target for the opposition. Against the Flash on May 7th, she was taken off the field after absorbing a blow to the head. She was cleared to come back in, but moments later she was taken down again as a result of an overly aggressive challenge. The MCL sprain seems to be a culmination of the beating she has taken.
What Now?
For head coach Christy Holly, the injury to Hayes means he must again juggle his lineup and try to find some scoring punch. The easiest and best way to replace Hayes is to move Kelley O'Hara from her fullback position to full time striker. O'Hara is easily the best player on the Sky Blue squad and at times has been a one-woman show, so putting her in a position that best utilizes her all around talents should be the first step in alleviating the loss of Hayes. Newly arrived rookie Leah Galton is another option for Holly. Galton was a thorn in the side of Western New York last week and quickly demonstrated a tenacity the team has been lacking. If Tasha Kai had been more consistent this season she'd be an option at striker, but as it is right now, she's best suited to a midfielder role.
Losing one of his few scoring threats during a difficult stretch of opponents is yet another challenge to the usually calm Holly. His squad is coming off a blowout loss to the Flash in which, O'Hara and Galton aside had few bright spots. How he chooses to compensate for her loss against Chicago may be a blueprint to how he proceeds against Kansas Cty, Seattle, and the Spirit.