WNY plays host to Houston in the 6th-Annual Pink Game.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Western New York Flash (8-5-2), who currently sit 3rd in the National Women’s Soccer League standings coming out of the Olympic Break, are hoping to lock themselves into a playoff spot over the course of their final five games in the 2016 season.
The Flash will start the final stretch of the season against the Houston Dash (3-8-3) on Saturday, in a rematch of a 3-3 draw on July 30 in Houston. Lianne Sanderson opened the game up in the 3′ when she put the Flash on the scoresheet in a hurry, but Lynn Williams led the way for the Flash as she scored the equalizer in stoppage time to finish the game with a goal and two assists. Jessica McDonald added a goal and her league-leading 6th assist of the season. Houston was led by a Kealia Ohai brace.
During the Olympic Break, the Flash had four players representing their nations with Sabrina D’Angelo serving as the backup goalkeeper for Team Canada, Alanna Kennedy leading Australia’s defense, American Samantha Mewis serving as an alternate with United States Women’s National Team, and Abby Erceg continuing her role as the captain of the New Zealand national team.
D’Angelo was the sole Flash player to win a medal, as Canada won the Bronze Medal Game, 2-1, over Brazil after falling to the eventual gold-medalists, Germany, in the semifinals. D’Angelo made multiple appearances for the Canadian side, including a start against Zimbabwe in a 3-1 Canadian win in group play on August 6.
The keeper has been on the disabled list for most of the 2016 season after the Welland, Ontario native fractured her wrist on May 21st prior to a match against Sky Blue FC, but she will make her return to the Flash on Saturday. To open a roster spot for D’Angelo, the Flash have waived Kristen Hamilton.
While D’Angelo, Erceg, Kennedy, and Mewis were in Brazil, the rest of the team took a trip across the state and spent some time training on Long Island. While there, the Flash scrimmaged Stony Brook University and fared very well, shutting out the Seawolves 5-0.
After 15 matches, the Flash sit in third place in the NWSL standings with 26 points, sitting behind only Washington (35 pts.) and Portland (29 pts.). The Flash will travel to face the Spirit and Thorns FC over the final stretch of the season, with hopes of stealing a few points away. The Flash will also travel to the last-place Boston Breakers twice during September – first on September 7th, and then again on September 24th for their final regular season game.
The 6th-annual Pink Game will kick off at 7 p.m. Gates will open at 6 p.m. Pre-game festivities will include a live DJ, bounce house, RIT Pep Band, and more!
Before the match, local female leaders and celebrities will walk out with local breast cancer survivors when they lead the teams out on the field. In addition, the honorary coin toss will be performed by Golisano Children’s Hospital patients.
This match will be the first game back for the eleven Olympic players from both teams. Fans will have the opportunity to win game-worn pink jerseys from both teams, personal gift baskets from Flash players, and prize packs from local community partners. Raffle items include four couches, gift cards to top restaurants, overnight stays at local hotels, sports memorabilia, and more! Additionally, the first 500 fans through the gates will receive custom thundersticks, courtesy of UR Medicine!
Tickets for the match are available at wnyflash.com/tickets. A live stream of the match will be shown at youtube.com/nwsl