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Jenni Branam and Marta exchange a few words during a previous match-up between Sky Blue FC and the Los Angeles Sol.

 

One team has won twice in the past week while travelling across the country.  The other has spent the last two weeks waiting at home to learn who their opponent would be.  As the Los Angeles Sol and Sky Blue FC prepare to meet in Saturday’s WPS Championship presented by MedImmune, we break down the matchup.  Watch the game unfold live on Fox Sports Nets and Comcast Sports Nets at 3:30pm ET/12:30 pm PT on Saturday (check local listings).

Team Overviews
The Sol went 12-3-5 to win the regular season title and have not played since closing the regular season with a 2-1 victory over the Boston Breakers on Sunday, Aug. 9.  Fourth-seeded Sky Blue FC went 7-8-5 during the regular season before reeling off a pair of wins in the WPS Playoffs to reach Saturday’s championship.  In their three meetings this season, the Sol posted a 2-0-1 record against the New Jersey club while outscoring Sky Blue FC, 3-0.

Goalkeeper
The Sol’s Karina LeBlanc led the league in goals against average (0.53), shutouts (12), win percentage (71%) and save percentage (89%).  LeBlanc plays her position in the traditional sense as she stays close to her line and uses her tremendous range to stop shots.

Sky Blue FC’s Jenni Branam was third in the league during the regular season in both goals against average (1.09) and shutouts (six).  Branam defines the sweeper-‘keeper often coming well of her line to snuff out potential breakaways.  While she has gotten banged up in a pair of huge collisions during Sky Blue FC’s two playoff games this week, Branam is expected to play in Saturday’s championship.

Defenders
The Sol were the stingiest team in the league during the regular season allowing just 0.50 goals her game.  The Sol’s backline is expected to feature Brittany Bock and Allison Falk paired in the center with Stephanie Cox and likely Keri Sanchez on the outside.  The Sol are 11-1-4 with Falk on the field and did not give up a goal to Sky Blue FC during their three regular-season meetings.

Over the course of the season, Sky Blue FC allowed a league best 10.25 shots per game.  While Sky Blue FC lost Defender of the Year nominee Anita Asante to the European Championships, Jen Buczkowski has stepped into her central spot and New Jersey’s backline hasn’t missed a beat.  Under Rampone, Sky Blue FC has looked to push its outside backs further up into the attack, particularly Dowling on the right.

Midfielders
Boasting a pair of All-Stars, the Sol own perhaps the best central midfield in the league.  Playing at defensive midfielder, Shannon Boxx wins tackles and air duels while coordinating the attack by switching fields and snapping off long, over-the-top passes to the Sol’s frontrunners.  Stationed in front of Boxx, Aya Miyama orchestrates the Sol offensive with creative passes and nifty moves in tight spaces.  Miyama finished the regular season tied for the league lead in assists with six.  Manya Makoski and Aly Wagner provide attacking options on the flanks.

Sky Blue FC relies on Yael Averbuch and Australia’s Collette McCallum in the center of their midfield.  After not recording an assist during the regular season, Averbuch has become more involved in the post-season picking up the assists on both of Sky Blue FC’s game-winning goals.  Sky Blue FC prefers to utilize the full width of the field in engineering its attack.  In Kacey White and Heather O’Reilly, Sky Blue FC has a pair of speedy flank midfielders who can devastate opposing defenders with their one-on-one moves before firing crosses into the box or rifling off shots.

Forwards
The Sol scored 27 goals during the regular season, second best in the league, and Marta recorded a league-high 10 of them.  Using her speed and creative moves, Marta has been particularly dangerous against Sky Blue FC scoring all three of her team’s goals against the New Jersey side this year.  Two of Marta’s three goals against Sky Blue FC came on breakaways.  Han Duan, who has three goals and a pair of assists on the year, is expected to be paired with Marta up top for Los Angeles.

If Rampone continues to play her hand as she did in the First Round and Super Semifinal, Kerri Hanks and Rosana will start at forward for Sky Blue FC.  Hanks was acquired from Saint Louis Athletica in a June 26 trade and netted a vital injury time goal against the Chicago Red Stars in a 1-0 victory on July 19.  Rosana began the season at midfield but has moved to the frontline under Rampone and has grown more dangerous as the season has progressed.  The Brazilian has five goals this year and can both score from distance and also dribble past opposing defenders to get a shot.

Bench
Should the Sol need more offensive power in the second half, look for Abner Rogers to turn to forward Liz Bogus or midfielders Katie Larkin and McCall Zerboni.  He may also elect to move Bock into the attack.

Once again, if form continues to hold, look for Natasha Kai to enter the match in the second half and provide an instance spark.  In the First Round against the Washington Freedom, she scored with her first touch after entering the game in the 55th minute.  Midfielder Francielle, who struck for the game-winning goal against the Freedom, and midfielder Kelly Parker, are also likely substitutes.