# 2020 Sky Blue FC season

The 2020 Sky Blue FC season was the team's 11th season as a professional women's soccer team, and their eighth season as a member of the National Women's Soccer League.
The season was originally scheduled to begin on March 18, 2020. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the start date was delayed. Preseason matches were cancelled on March 12 and on April 4 it was announced that a moratorium on training would continue through May 5, 2020. On April 24, the NWSL announced the moratorium on training would be extended through May 15. The start date of the season was further shifted to an indeterminate point, with the league promising to "include an appropriate preseason training period" before launching the season. Small group training resumed on May 25, and on May 27 the NWSL announced that the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup would mark the league's return to action following the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament was hosted in Utah from June 27 to July 26.
On June 22, 2020, the NWSL confirmed that the regular season had been cancelled and the Challenge Cup would act as the 2020 season. Sky Blue finished the preliminary round as the seventh seed before ultimately being eliminated in the semi-finals by the Chicago Red Stars.
On August 25, the NWSL announced that the season would continue with a Fall Series beginning on September 5. Per the rules of the series, Sky Blue played four matches as part of a three-team regional pod with the Chicago Red Stars and Washington Spirit. Sky Blue ultimately placed fourth in the Fall Series.

## Team
### First-team roster

    As of November 16, 2020
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | CAN | Kailen Sheridan |
| 3 | DF | USA | Caprice Dydasco |
| 4 | MF | USA | Paige Monaghan |
| 5 | MF | USA | Nicole Baxter |
| 7 | MF | USA | McCall Zerboni |
| 8 | DF | USA | Erica Skroski |
| 10 | MF | USA | Carli Lloyd |
| 11 | FW | USA | Mallory Pugh |
| 12 | DF | USA | Gina Lewandowski |
| 13 | GK | BIH | DiDi Haracic |
| 14 | MF | USA | Kenie Wright |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 15 | DF | MEX | Sabrina Flores |
| 16 | MF | USA | Sarah Woldmoe (captain) |
| 17 | DF | USA | Domi Richardson |
| 21 | GK | USA | Mandy McGlynn |
| 22 | DF | USA | Mandy Freeman |
| 23 | FW | USA | Margaret Purce |
| 24 | DF | CMR | Estelle Johnson |
| 25 | FW | USA | Ifeoma Onumonu |
| 28 | MF | USA | Imani Dorsey |
| 35 | GK | USA | Megan Hinz |

### Challenge Cup roster

On June 23, 2020, Sky Blue announced their twenty-six player roster for the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup. In the same announcement, the club confirmed that three players contracted to the club (Carli Lloyd, Caprice Dydasco, and Mallory Pugh) had been left out through injury. On June 26, Madison Tiernan was also ruled out of the tournament with an injury.
| Squad no. | Name | Position(s) | Date of birth |
| Goalkeepers |||||
| 1 | Kailen Sheridan | GK | (1995-07-16) July 16, 1995 (age 29) |
| 13 | DiDi Haracic | GK | (1992-04-12) April 12, 1992 (age 32) |
| 21 | Mandy McGlynn | GK | (1998-11-03) November 3, 1998 (age 25) |
| 35 | Megan Hinz | GK | (1995-12-04) December 4, 1995 (age 28) |
| Defenders |||||
| 2 | Kaleigh Riehl | DF | (1996-10-21) October 21, 1996 (age 27) |
| 8 | Erica Skroski | DF | (1994-02-14) February 14, 1994 (age 30) |
| 12 | Gina Lewandowski | DF / MF | (1985-04-13) April 13, 1985 (age 39) |
| 15 | Sabrina Flores | DF / MF | (1996-01-31) January 31, 1996 (age 28) |
| 22 | Mandy Freeman | DF | (1995-03-25) March 25, 1995 (age 29) |
| 24 | Estelle Johnson | DF | (1988-07-21) July 21, 1988 (age 36) |
| 26 | Chantelle Swaby | DF | (1998-08-06) August 6, 1998 (age 26) |
| Midfielders |||||
| 5 | Nicole Baxter | MF | (1994-05-12) May 12, 1994 (age 30) |
| 6 | Jennifer Cudjoe | MF | (1994-03-07) March 7, 1994 (age 30) |
| 7 | McCall Zerboni | MF | (1986-12-13) December 13, 1986 (age 37) |
| 9 | Nahomi Kawasumi | MF / FW | (1985-09-23) September 23, 1985 (age 39) |
| 14 | Kenie Wright | MF | (1997-08-22) August 22, 1997 (age 27) |
| 16 | Sarah Woldmoe (captain) | MF | (1992-07-27) July 27, 1992 (age 32) |
| 17 | Domi Richardson | MF | (1992-10-18) October 18, 1992 (age 31) |
| 18 | Cassidy Benintente | MF / DF | (1994-06-12) June 12, 1994 (age 30) |
| 19 | Elizabeth Eddy | MF | (1991-09-13) September 13, 1991 (age 33) |
| 23 | Margaret Purce | MF / FW / DF | (1995-09-18) September 18, 1995 (age 29) |
| 73 | Madison Tiernan | MF | (1995-07-03) July 3, 1995 (age 29) |
| Forwards |||||
| 4 | Paige Monaghan | FW / MF | (1996-11-13) November 13, 1996 (age 27) |
| 20 | Evelyne Viens | FW | (1997-02-06) February 6, 1997 (age 27) |
| 25 | Ifeoma Onumonu | FW | (1994-02-25) February 25, 1994 (age 30) |
| 28 | Imani Dorsey | FW / MF / DF | (1996-03-21) March 21, 1996 (age 28) |
* ↑ denotes season-ending injury.

### Coaching staff

    As of June 16, 2020
| Position | Staff |
| Head coach | Freya Coombe |
| Assistant coach | Rebecca Moros |
| Assistant coach | Becki Tweed |
| Goalkeeper coach | Dean O'Leary |
| High Performance Coach | Philip Congleton |
| Technical Advisor | Marcia McDermott |
| Head physio | Joelle Muro |

## Competitions
### Overview

| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % |
| NWSL Fall Series | September 5, 2020 | October 10, 2020 | Matchday 1 | Fourth place | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 050.00 |
| Challenge Cup | June 30, 2020 | July 22, 2020 | Preliminary round | Semi-finals | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | −2 | 016.67 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 13 | −3 | 030.00 |
Last updated: October 17, 2020 Source: Competitions

### Preseason

Preseason training and matches were originally scheduled to take place beginning on March 28, but on March 12 all preseason matches were cancelled.

#### Matches
### National Women's Soccer League
#### Regular season
##### Matches

The regular season schedule was announced on February 25, 2020. However, following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the regular season was eventually cancelled and replaced by the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup.

#### Fall Series

On September 1, the NWSL announced a partial schedule for the NWSL Fall Series. The full schedule was subsequently announced on September 3.

##### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Portland Thorns FC (C) | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 3 | +7 | 10 | Community Shield |
| 2 | Houston Dash | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 7 | +5 | 9 | Runners-up |
| 3 | Washington Spirit | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | +1 | 7 | Third place |
| 4 | Sky Blue FC | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 6 | |
| 5 | North Carolina Courage | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 10 | −2 | 5 | |
| 6 | Chicago Red Stars | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 | |
| 7 | OL Reign | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | −2 | 4 | |
| 8 | Orlando Pride | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 8 | −3 | 2 | |
| 9 | Utah Royals FC | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | −5 | 2 | |

##### Results by matchday

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Stadium | A | A | H | H |
| Result | W | L | L | W |
| Position | 1 | 5 | 6 | 4 |

##### Matches
### Challenge Cup
#### Preliminary round
##### Standings

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 1 | North Carolina Courage | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | +6 | 12 |
| 2 | Washington Spirit | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | OL Reign | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | 5 |
| 4 | Houston Dash | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 4 |
| 5 | Utah Royals FC (H) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | −1 | 4 |
| 6 | Chicago Red Stars | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 4 |
| 7 | Sky Blue FC | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 4 |
| 8 | Portland Thorns FC | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | −1 | 3 |
* 1 2 Chicago Red Stars won the tiebreaker against Sky Blue FC on fewer yellow cards (1 to 4).

##### Results by matchday

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Stadium | N | N | N | N |
| Result | D | L | W | L |
| Position | 5 | 8 | 2 | 7 |

##### Matches

Sky Blue were originally slated to play the Orlando Pride as part of the preliminary round of the competition. However, on June 22 it was reported that several of Orlando's players and staff had tested positive for COVID-19 and that Orlando would be withdrawing from the competition. A revised schedule was subsequently announced on June 23.

#### Knockout round
##### Semi-finals
## Squad statistics
### Appearances

    As of match played October 10, 2020
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Player | Challenge Cup | Challenge Cup | Fall Series | Fall Series | Total | Total |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Player | Apps | Starts | Apps | Starts | Apps | Starts |
| 1 | GK | | Kailen Sheridan | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 9 |
| 2 | DF | | Kaleigh Riehl | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | FW | | Paige Monaghan | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 10 |
| 5 | MF | | Nicole Baxter | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | | Jennifer Cudjoe | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 7 |
| 7 | MF | | McCall Zerboni | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 8 | DF | | Erica Skroski | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| 9 | MF | | Nahomi Kawasumi | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| 11 | FW | | Mallory Pugh | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | | Gina Lewandowski | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 |
| 13 | GK | | DiDi Haracic | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | DF | | Sabrina Flores | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 10 | 7 |
| 16 | MF | | Sarah Woldmoe | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 10 |
| 17 | MF | | Domi Richardson | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 6 |
| 18 | FW | | Mikaela Howell | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 19 | MF | | Elizabeth Eddy | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
| 20 | FW | | Evelyne Viens | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 |
| 22 | DF | | Mandy Freeman | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 23 | MF | | Margaret Purce | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 9 |
| 24 | DF | | Estelle Johnson | 6 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 8 |
| 25 | FW | | Ifeoma Onumonu | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 9 |
| 28 | FW | | Imani Dorsey | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 7 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 6 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 10 |

### Goals and assists

    As of match played October 10, 2020
| No. | Nat. | Pos. | Player | Challenge Cup | Challenge Cup | Fall Series | Fall Series | Total | Total |
| No. | Nat. | Pos. | Player | Goals | Assists | Goals | Assists | Goals | Assists |
| 25 | | FW | Ifeoma Onumonu | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 4 | | FW | Paige Monaghan | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 23 | | MF | Margaret Purce | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | | MF | Nahomi Kawasumi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | | FW | Evelyne Viens | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | | MF | McCall Zerboni | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 11 | | FW | Mallory Pugh | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | Own goals | 1 | – | 0 | – | 1 | – |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 4 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 10 | 6 |

### Shutouts

    As of match played October 10, 2020
| No. | Nat. | Player | Challenge Cup | Fall Series | Total |
| No. | Nat. | Player | Challenge Cup | Fall Series | Total | 1 | Kailen Sheridan | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 13 | | DiDi Haracic | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 3 | 0 | 3 |

### Disciplinary record

    As of match played October 10, 2020
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Player | Challenge Cup | Challenge Cup | Fall Series | Fall Series | Total | Total |
| 23 | MF | | Margaret Purce | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | | Jennifer Cudjoe | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | | McCall Zerboni | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | | Sarah Woldmoe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | | Estelle Johnson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | | Evelyne Viens | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | FW | | Ifeoma Onumonu | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | FW | | Paige Monaghan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | | Domi Richardson | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | DF | | Erica Skroski | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 0 |

## Transfers
### 2020 NWSL College Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Pos. | College |
| 1 | 5 | Evelyne Viens | FW | South Florida |
| 2 | 11 | Kaleigh Riehl | DF | Penn State |
| 3 | 20 | Amanda McGlynn | GK | Virginia Tech |
| 4 | 29 | Chantelle Swaby | MF | Rutgers |

### Transfers in

| Date | Player | Pos. | Previous club | Fee/notes |
| January 16, 2020 | Mallory Pugh | FW | Washington Spirit | Trade for draft slots. |
| January 17, 2020 | Ifeoma Onumonu | FW | OL Reign | Trade for rights to Julia Ashley. |
| February 11, 2020 | Evelyne Viens | FW | USF | Draft pick. Two-year deal. |
| February 11, 2020 | Kaleigh Riehl | DF | Penn State | Draft pick. One-year deal. |
| March 2, 2020 | McCall Zerboni | MF | North Carolina Courage | Trade for rights to Hailie Mace. |
| March 7, 2020 | Margaret Purce | FW / MF | Portland Thorns FC | Trade for Raquel Rodriguez. |
| June 12, 2020 | Mandy McGlynn | GK | Virginia Tech | Draft pick. One-year deal. |
| June 18, 2020 | Jennifer Cudjoe | MF | Asheville City SC | Short-term contract. |
| June 18, 2020 | Nicole Baxter | MF | Asarums IF FK | Short-term contract. |
| June 18, 2020 | Cassidy Benintente | MF / DF | Asarums IF FK | Short-term contract. |
| June 21, 2020 | Sabrina Flores | DF / MF | Sevilla | Signed two-year deal. |
| June 22, 2020 | Chantelle Swaby | DF | Rutgers | Draft pick. Short-term contract. |
| October 2, 2020 | Mikaela Howell | FW | | Short-term contract. |

### Transfers out

| Date | Player | Pos. | Destination club | Fee/notes |
| January 8, 2020 | Raquel Rodriguez | FW | Portland Thorns FC | Trade for Margaret Purce. |
| January 18, 2020 | Amandine Pierre-Louis | DF | FC Metz | Waived. |
| February 7, 2020 | Jen Hoy | FW | | Retired. |
| September 1, 2020 | Madison Tiernan | MF | | Retired. |
| September 4, 2020 | Cassidy Benintente | MF | | Retired. |
| September 4, 2020 | Chantelle Swaby | DF | | End of contract. |
| November 12, 2020 | Jennifer Cudjoe | MF | Racing Louisville FC | 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft |
| November 12, 2020 | Kaleigh Riehl | DF | Racing Louisville FC | 2020 NWSL Expansion Draft |

### Loans out

| Start date | End date | Pos. | No. | Player | Destination club |
| August 1, 2020 | November 30, 2020 | MF | 19 | Elizabeth Eddy | Vittsjö GIK |
| August 15, 2020 | December 31, 2020 | MF | 9 | Nahomi Kawasumi | INAC Kobe Leonessa |
| August 28, 2020 | February 28, 2021 | FW | 20 | Evelyne Viens | Paris FC |
| September 18, 2020 | February 28, 2021 | DF | 2 | Kaleigh Riehl | Paris FC |

### New contracts

| Date | Player | Pos. |
| January 13, 2020 | Sarah Woldmoe | MF |
| January 22, 2020 | Estelle Johnson | DF |
| January 27, 2020 | Nahomi Kawasumi | MF |
| January 29, 2020 | Gina Lewandowski | DF |
| February 3, 2020 | Paige Monaghan | MF |
| February 6, 2020 | Erica Skroski | DF |
| February 13, 2020 | Imani Dorsey | MF |
| February 20, 2020 | Elizabeth Eddy | MF |
| February 26, 2020 | Domi Richardson | DF |
| August 28, 2020 | Jennifer Cudjoe | MF |
| September 4, 2020 | Nicole Baxter | MF |

## Awards
### Team

* Most Valuable Player: Kailen Sheridan
* Player's Player: Kailen Sheridan
* Unsung Hero: Sarah Woldmoe
* Defender of the Year: Gina Lewandowski
* Newcomer of the Year: Margaret Purce

#### Challenge Cup

* SBFC Most Valuable Player: Kailen Sheridan

### NWSL Challenge Cup

* Golden Glove: Kailen Sheridan

### 2020 NCAA Woman of the Year Award
#### Nominated

* Evelyne Viens
* Kaleigh Riehl