| Sky Blue FC | Game Total | Portland Thorns FC |
| 1 | Goals | 0 |
| 10 | Shots | 7 |
| 31:23 | Time of Possession | 39:01 |
| 45% | Time of Possession % | 55% |
| 493 | First Touches | 693 |
| 267 | Passes | 468 |
| 54% | Pass Completion % | 68% |
| 31 | Number of Pass Strings | 61 |
| 4.8 | Average Pass String Length | 6.2 |
| 10 | Longest Pass String | 25 |
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If you had a clutch of Sky Blue FC and Portland Thorns players in your lineup for the double week, you probably ended up very happy, as most involved put up some pretty hearty numbers. Other double gamers like Diana Matheson and Lori Lindsey of Washington also fared pretty well. A handful of single gamers, most notably Abby Wambach, AD Franch, and Lauren Cheney, also raked in the points, but going heavy with two-gamers seemed like the strategy for a winning round five.
There’re no double game clubs to worry about for the next few weeks, which should make things a little easier. Not making things easier this week is bye weeks for WNY and Chicago, meaning fantasy owners will have to do without Abby Wambach and Lori Chalupny among others. For the four clubs playing on Sunday, squad rotation also becomes a worry, as coaches try to save legs after having played on Thursday. I’d be especially wary with Sky Blue FC playing a moribund Seattle side that doesn’t look too likely to win any time soon.
Round six also brings the first wave of position changes this season. Besides having a handful of new defensive options, you’ve also got some more potent midfield ones as well, including Christine Sinclair and Lauren Cheney. Stephanie Ochs has been playing forward the past few games but played on the wing most of the season before then and is listed as a midfielder but will likely be moved back to forward after round ten if she continues partnering Tiffany McCarty up front.
Fantasy Rankings by Team for Round Six
1. POR
2. SBFC
3. FCKC
4. BOS
5. SEA
6. WSH
GK
Cameron (SBFC) – Loyden looming, but difficult to see her giving way in such a winnable matchup. Another clean sheet a distinct possibility.
LeBlanc (POR) – Thorns will have point to prove, and Washington offense probably not putting up four goals again, especially on short rest.
Barnhart (FCKC) – Past round’s horror show defensively not her fault but be wary against a potent Boston attack.
Phillips (BOS) – Has value as one of few non-allocated goalkeeping options but not the best matchup against powerful FCKC offense.
Harris (WSH) – Probably going to make a lot of saves, but Spirit will be big underdogs against angry Portland team.
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Maryland has three teams in the Women’s Premier Soccer League this year, all competing in the league’s South Atlantic Division. It looks to be a tough division given that it includes ACF Torino USA, who won the Northeast Atlantic Conference’s South Division last year while playing as the Maryland Capitols, plus two teams that played in the WPSL-Elite last year, the ASA Chesapeake Charge and the Philadelphia Fever. Since they’re in the same division, each team will have a home-and-home series with the other. Conveniently, there’s not a lot of travel involved for that. The Chesapeake Charge are based south of Baltimore, while ACF Torino plays in the Washington, DC, suburbs, and the Lions Swarm play in Calvert County in southern Maryland. Let’s look at the teams in order of seniority.
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| FC Kansas City | Game Total | WNY Flash |
| 1 | Goals | 2 |
| 14 | Shots | 15 |
| 37:08 | Time of Possession | 37:00 |
| 50% | Time of Possession % | 50% |
| 632 | First Touches | 646 |
| 388 | Passes | 402 |
| 61% | Pass Completion % | 62% |
| 63 | Number of Pass Strings | 57 |
| 4.6 | Average Pass String Length | 5.1 |
| 10 | Longest Pass String | 10 |
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| Portland Thorns FC | Game Total | Chicago Red Stars |
| 2 | Goals | 0 |
| 15 | Shots | 9 |
| 44:01 | Time of Possession | 29:36 |
| 60% | Time of Possession % | 40% |
| 727 | First Touches | 544 |
| 446 | Passes | 263 |
| 61% | Pass Completion % | 48% |
| 58 | Number of Pass Strings | 28 |
| 5.6 | Average Pass String Length | 4.4 |
| 15 | Longest Pass String | 9 |
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| Seattle Reign FC | Game Total | Sky Blue FC |
| 0 | Goals | 2 |
| 4 | Shots | 22 |
| 38:09 | Time of Possession | 37:23 |
| 51% | Time of Possession % | 49% |
| 650 | First Touches | 595 |
| 430 | Passes | 375 |
| 66% | Pass Completion % | 63% |
| 71 | Number of Pass Strings | 57 |
| 4.9 | Average Pass String Length | 4.8 |
| 13 | Longest Pass String | 14 |
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| Boston Breakers | Game Total | Washington Spirit |
| 1 | Goals | 1 |
| 8 | Shots | 9 |
| 32:16 | Time of Possession | 41:45 |
| 44% | Time of Possession % | 56% |
| 555 | First Touches | 674 |
| 319 | Passes | 437 |
| 57% | Pass Completion % | 65% |
| 50 | Number of Pass Strings | 65 |
| 4.2 | Average Pass String Length | 5.1 |
| 11 | Longest Pass String | 12 |
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Lindsey (left) and Lohman (right) were the two goal-scorers on the evening, while Sanderson (center) contributed an assist
The Washington Spirit tried a new formation and started their top free agent signing for the first time. The result was their best game of the season, but it still wasn’t enough to overcome the Boston Breakers, and they had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
The usual starting formation had been a 4-2-3-1:
McCarty
Ochs – Matheson – Wells
Roberts – Lindsey
Toulouse – Gayle – Huster – Krieger
Harris
For this match, and with free agent Candace Chapman able to play for the first time this season, it was a 4-4-2:
Ochs – McCarty
Wells – Lindsey – Roberts – Matheson
Gayle – Huster – Chapman – Krieger
Harris
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After what can only be described as an indifferent start to the fantasy season, my squad kicked it into high gear last week, only held back by all the clubs who captained Sydney Leroux and my own unfortunate decision to captain Lori Chalupny over Alex Morgan. I’m in touching distance of the Top 100 overall and hoping to make another big move forward this week with four double gamer teams.
Round four also probably revealed that double gamers aren’t necessarily automatic plays either. The Red Stars didn’t really deliver much value, other than Zakiya Bywaters, Alyssa Mautz, and to a lesser extent, Lori Chalupny. Avoiding Chicago players this week seems like a pretty good bet though, even with home advantage against Portland.
Given the above, I’d be wary of springing for too many Seattle Reign players. The club’s come up empty for the most part fantasy-wise, and given the double game status of three other clubs, I’d steer clear unless I’m desperate for some non-allocated options.
Obviously, you probably want to put the maximum of five Portland players into your lineup, with Alex Morgan probably a must have. The question is whether you’re comfortable doubling up with Christine Sinclair on the frontline as well. She’s worth the allocation spot, but I’m generally not a fan of putting two players from the same side at the same position in your fantasy lineup, especially in attack. Few of the other double game options up front are consistent though, so it might be worth looking into.
Among the single gamers, it’s really hard to look beyond Boston’s Heather O’Reilly and Sydney Leroux, who both have had banner fantasy seasons thus far. Washington’s a good matchup for the Breakers, so you’ll probably want at least one or two Boston players in your lineup if you aren’t going strictly with double gamers.
One last note. Player positions will be adjusted after round five. A total list of changes will be forthcoming, but one definite change will be FCKC’s Merritt Mathias switched to defender, making for another good attacking full-back option for fantasy owners.
Round Five Team Rankings
1. POR
2. WSH
3. SBFC
4. BOS
5. FCKC
6. WNY
7. SEA
8. CHI
Double Gamers
GK
LeBlanc (POR) – Yeah, she might not be forced into a ton of saves, and the Portland defense wobbles occasionally, but you have to figure she’s good for at least one clean sheet this weekend. Only question is if you can afford to burn an allocated spot on a GK.
Harris (WSH) – The good? Seattle. The bad? Boston. Clean sheet a possibility against Seattle, but sometimes shaky defense could be exposed against Breakers, meaning she could be in for a busy and potentially damaging fantasy day.
Cameron (SBFC) – Enabler deluxe if you want to use an allocation further forward. Be wary though, as her form appears to be eroding based on recent evidence, and Loyden’s return looks to be coming sooner rather than later.
Betos (SEA) – For the truly brave. Stops a ton of shots but playing on a side looking increasingly bereft of confidence.
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(Average stats coming in a week or two. Marks set this round italicized.)
League Highs Game
Possession
57% – Boston (Round 1)
Passes
516 – FC Kansas City (Round 4)
Pass Completion %
67% – FC Kansas City (Round 4)
3+ Pass Strings
75 – Boston (Round 1)
Average Pass String
5.8 – FC Kansas City, Portland Thorns (Round 4)
Longest Pass String
27 – FC Kansas City (Round 4)
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