NWSL expansion club still a work in progress
Improvements small as the losses mount
Bay FC keep insisting they are better every game. Some of that can be seen with the naked eye; they are more cohesive than in their first game and have better players available such as Racheal Kundananji.
But results just aren’t the National Women’s Soccer League expansion team’s way. They have improved since a 5-2 loss in Kansas City on April 20 or even the heart-breaking 3-2 loss to Houston in the March 30 home opener, but even Saturday’s structurally well-played match in NWSL-leading Orlando ended in a 1-0 loss.
“We played an excellent team coming to Orlando, and playing in their home stadium is always very difficult, flying across (to) the East Coast,” head coach Albertin Montoya said. “I was very happy with our performance. Especially in the second half, I told our team … we can hold our heads up high, and that I have no problem with the game we had.”
Not every good game is going to be a win, but not only are Bay FC (2-7-0) failing to close out games — a problem early in the season — now they’re losing games early or are unable to rally.
Every mistake is costly and they don’t have the chemistry or structure yet to respond, or better still, avoid mistakes altogether. The losing streak is at five and Bay FC sit ahead of only fellow expansion squad Utah in the standings about one-third of the way through the season.
While the defense took some forward steps against the hottest team in the league Saturday, the offense fell short. Bay FC’s habit of possessing in its defensive third of the field didn’t allow much room to even attempt scoring chances until the second half.
It’s the first time Bay FC have been held scoreless this year, despite having a full, healthy offensive lineup. Tess Boade, who has found success in the midfield, captained for the second time while filling some of the void from Alex Loera — out for the season with a torn ACL — and generating the attack forward for the strikers.
Possession still isn’t where
Montoya has advertised it would be. His team has lost that battle in four games and while he’s said it’s going to take time for the system to work, Bay FC have seven losses in nine games and an incomplete system.
The inconsistency has been noticed among the league, too.
“We didn’t really know how they were going to come out, so we were kind of prepared for anything,” Orlando defender Kylie Strom told reporters after Saturday’s match. “They’ve pressed in certain games and they’ve sat back in certain games. So they sat back a bit. I think we probably could have been a little more patient in our attack, but we found ways to break them.”
No one expected Bay FC to challenge for a championship in their first season, but there was hope for a competitive team. They have the talent to make that possible. Kundananji is often the best player on the field. Asisat Oshoala has shown flashes of brilliance. Boade has been a breath of fresh air in the midfield and on attack. Defensively, Caprice Dydasco has had huge moments, Savy King is coming around in her rookie season, and Kayla Sharples is having a breakout season.
However, there is a moment in seemingly every game that turns Bay FC from being in a match to completely losing the plot.
Deyna Castellanos has struggled to gain consistency as the No. 10 — the offensive midfielder — despite having two goals as she adjusts to the NWSL from Europe. Jen Beattie has been a step slow at times. Scarlett Camberos, who has been struggling with injuries, is still without a goal. Emily Menges has been a liability in multiple games.
Many of Bay FC’s signings were high-reward options from other leagues who are going to take time to adapt to the NWSL. Kundananji and Oshoala have seemingly done that. Princess, though she has had some moments of elite possession and offensive creation, is just 20 and it shows. The Scottish-born Beattie is 32 and has never previously played in the NWSL. Castellanos has misjudged the speed of many top midfielders on defense.
Bay FC will continue to play fun soccer and can keep fans engaged for a full game, but until they fix their issues, it’s not going to amount to wins. Bay FC have a clear vision of what they want to be. And they’re stubbornly sticking with it, struggling to turn that approach into wins while running out of time to contend for a playoff spot.
Reach Marisa Ingemi: marisa.ingemi@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @marisa_ingemi