NFL
By: Ashmere Prasad
12 games into the NWSL season and BAY FC currently holds the 10th spot in the standings with twelve points. Although their record does not show it, the team has put on some exciting competitive matches. Let’s review the start of their inaugural season.
Bay FC lost Alex Loera to a torn ACL in a 2-1 loss to the San Diego Wave in April, only six games into the season. Loera was traded to Bay FC from the KC Current in exchange for cash and was the first player signed in Bay FC’s history. This was a fairly significant loss for a team working on different rotations. Loera played center midfield which is a position that truly orchestrates the middle of the field. They play offense and defense and must have the stamina to create plays for the offense but also avoid any energetic breakaways for the defense.
Tess Boade has done a spectacular job dropping down and managing the middle to replace Loera. If you recap the first five starts and Boede’s profile on ESPN, you will see she is listed as a forward. But, with a new team comes new rotations as I previously said and Boade has dominated her new role entirely.
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Bay FC faced the Chicago Stars at Wrigley Field (yes, the baseball field in Chicago), making history yet again. They left with a 2-1 victory, and the match set an NWSL attendance record of 35,038 fans for the first NWSL match played in an MLB venue.
One thing you can guarantee when you attend a Bay FC game is the support from the fans. PayPal Park averages around 14,000 fans a match and the league has taken notice of the support.
“This is the most insane environment. We’re getting a reputation across the league as this is the hardest place to come play. And we can’t thank our fans enough…And we just want to start getting them wins because they deserve it.” (Boede after the loss to Gotham FC 0-2).
Coach Albertin Montoya has repeatedly said he “does not expect the team to lose to the same team twice”. So far so good. Bay FC has faced two teams twice, the SD Wave and the Chicago Stars and are 1-1 against both. If you have the chance try to attend an NWSL match this summer. 14 games remain in the season (excluding the break for the Olympics), leaving a chunk of time for teams to turn things around. I suspect one of those teams to be Bay FC simply based on the energy from the fans and the talent from the players on the roster. Regardless of their record Bay FC will be a tough team to beat.
