In a means, the primary a part of Gotham’s season ended Saturday, with a 2-1 win over Bay FC at Sports activities Illustrated Stadium, with a veteran and a newcomer — Esther González and Geyse, respectively — staging a comeback after they fell behind within the twelfth minute.
González capitalized on a Thirtieth-minute turnover by Bay in entrance of the web.
Geyse created simply sufficient area off a protracted move to attain early within the second half. And when Bay couldn’t equalize throughout the ultimate 35-plus minutes, that’s how Gotham entered a virtually six-week break for worldwide video games.
When the season resumes Aug. 1, they’ll possess the ultimate playoff spot, staring down a easy path to the postseason event and an advanced one to get again to the levels they reached — the championship and the semifinals — the final two years.
Gotham’s victory Saturday marked simply the second time all season they’ve gained consecutive NWSL matches.
However this early-season slate was at all times going to be about adjusting.
About tweaking the lineup to accommodate new gamers after the offseason exits.
About ready for star Rose Lavelle to return after which ready for her to get again to the beginning lineup, which occurred Saturday.
They nonetheless introduced again González, whose aim Saturday gave her a league-high 10 this yr, and Lavelle and Emily Sonnett and loads of different stars, however a piece of the superteam from 2024 departed — after which star defender Tierna Davidson tore her ACL in April.
“It was always going to be a process of adaptation, but at the same time, we know this league,” head coach Juan Carlos Amorós stated postgame. “We’ve to compete. We’ve to win. … I would really like us to have extra factors on the desk. I feel that’s the identical with the group of gamers.
“But then also looking at … we have a lot of young players in the roster at the moment that they’re getting experiences. Experiences like [Saturday] are invaluable. You can’t get them if you don’t live them.”
Amorós, so far, has been compelled to experiment. He was compelled to plug new gamers into new spots and see what may stick.
Geyse, a 27-year-old on mortgage from Manchester United, deposited her second tally of the marketing campaign to provide Gotham the lead.
Additionally they used six rookies Saturday, together with midfielder Sarah Schupansky, who deflected a Bay move close to the web that went proper to the foot of González for the equalizer.
“We’ve never really been a team with many rookies over the past few seasons, but it’s kind of a breath of fresh air in the locker room, off the field and on the field,” midfielder Nealy Martin stated.
Gotham additionally shifted rookie Lilly Reale outdoors from her pure place of heart again, and earlier this week, she earned her first call-up to america girls’s nationwide group for its upcoming coaching camp.
After arriving at UCLA forward of Reale’s sophomore yr, Bruins coach Margueritte Aozasa plugged her into the middle again spot and watched her function the Bruins’ defensive anchor, however throughout her remaining season in 2024, Aozasa sensed that Reale was able to assault extra.
She knew that Reale would by no means say she was bored, however generally Aozasa would assume, “Oh man, she wants to make it interesting. She’s gonna go try to dribble 50 yards.”
And most occasions, Aozasa advised The Submit on Friday, “she was successful, so couldn’t really blame her.”
There have been loads of rising pains for Gotham.
There may very well be others after the season resumes, too, and that’s the chance with changing lineup items.
However for every thing that went improper over the primary three-plus months of the season, Gotham’s work on the defensive construction has paid off, Martin stated. The chaos of all of the offseason adjustments has began to calm.
Now they’ve to attend — greater than a month’s price of it — for an opportunity to show a two-match burst into extra.
