Sky Blue FC falls to L.A. in opener

TERRY GEERDTS, A PRETTY PIXEL Members of Sky Blue, including East Brunswick native Heather O'Reilly, bring the ball upfield.

BRIDGEWATER — Women's professional soccer was introduced to New Jersey on Sunday when more than 6,000 fans watched the home team, Sky Blue FC, take on the best women's soccer player in the world.

The sell-out crowd watched the Brazilian sensation Marta score twice in a two-minute span late in the first half to lead the Los Angeles Sol to a 2-0 victory at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater.

Sky Blue FC head coach Ian Sawyers said that the team tried their best to stop Marta, but between the 42nd minute and the 44th minute, her play was just too much.

"You can't stop her, as the ESPN expression goes, you can only hope to contain her," Sawyers said.

Marta is the three-time defending FIFA World Player of the Year.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine welcomed the soccer team to New Jersey before the game, and Julie Foudy, two-time Olympic gold medalist and former U.S. Women's team captain for 14 years, provided the ceremonial "first kick" along with her daughter.

Sawyers said that the atmosphere for the game, in the converted baseball stadium, was exciting.

"It was phenomenal," Sawyers said. "I was out there about an hour and a half before the game and there were people out there."

He said that all concerns about fans showing up to the game went away when he saw the over 6,000 fans show up to see Sky Blue FC inaugural game.

Sky Blue FC had its chances in the match but Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc, who serves as a an assistant coach at Rutgers University, made one decisive save in each half to claim the shutout.

In the 42nd minute, Marta took advantage of a giveaway and split two defenders before slotting a shot under Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Jenni Branam.

In the 44th minute, Han Duan set up the second goal as she carried the ball up the left side before serving a cross for Marta to put into the back of the net.

Marta, who received "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd during her play, received a lot of support from the opposing stands.

"It's very gratifying for an athlete … it's amazing," Marta said. "I hope they would understand that I'd sign every autograph in the stadium, but I'd be here until tomorrow."

Sky Blue FC is one of seven teams, along with the Los Angeles Sol, that are part of the inaugural season ofWomen's Professional Soccer (WPS).

Heather O'Reilly, a member of the U.S. Women's National Team, said that despite the loss, she was excited to play soccer in front of her home state.

"Today was an extraordinary day for women's soccer and for New Jersey," O'Reilly said. "We were a part of history, which was really special. As a player, it was a joy, especially being from New Jersey, with the atmosphere here which was incredible."

She said that she left the game very confident in what her team has to offer and the league as a whole.

"The people came to see good women's soccer and that's what they got," O'Reilly said. "There are some world-class players out there."

O'Reilly, a graduate of East Brunswick High School, was nominated in 2007 for Sports Illustrated's 2007 Sportsman of the Year.

She said that she could not wait for the next game on Sunday.

"It was the first game," O'Reilly said. "We got out a lot of the jitters and are moving on more confident."

New Jersey native and U.S. Women's National team member Christie Rampone only played for 27 minutes before leaving with a hamstring injury butwas still thrilled to be playing soccer in her home state.

"For the first game here, it was awesome," Rampone said.

Rampone, of Point Pleasant, played collegiate soccer at Monmouth University.

Sky Blue FC will play its home matches at TD Bank Ballpark as well as Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway.

The NJ/NY WPS franchise concludes its two-game season-opening stand at TD Bank Ballpark next Saturday when it hosts FC Gold Pride of California at 7:45 p.m.

The feeling spread throughout both teams was that this league would grow and strive in the United States.

"Everyone here has the goal of growing female football," Marta said.

Sawyers said that he hopes this game will be the first of a long future for Sky Blue FC and women's soccer in the United States.

"The goal is to make the league sustainable for the daughters and moms to play in the future," Sawyers said.

Contact Jamie Romm at jromm@gmnews.com.