FENTON, MO. (July 22, 2009) – Sky Blue FC suffered its third loss of the season – all by one goal – to Saint Louis Athletica in a 1-0 setback at Anheuser Busch Soccer Park on Wednesday night. Eniola Aluko accounted for the only goal of the game to boost the home side.

With the victory, Athletica jumps into the second spot in the WPS standings at 8-6-2 for 26 points while Sky Blue FC remains in fourth at 6-7-4 for 22 points. The Boston Breakers hold third place at 7-6-3 for 24 points.

Sky Blue FC actually held a 14-11 advantage in shots in the game but Athletica keeper Jillian Loyden did a good job keeping the visitors off the board with seven saves. Jenni Branam finished with four saves for Sky Blue FC.

Saint Louis started well as Branam needed a big kick save in the 13th minute to stop Aluko from scoring. Sky Blue FC’s best chance of the opening half came in the 44th minute as Natasha Kai had Loyden beaten but she lifted her shot over the bar.

Athletica struck just three minutes into the second half as Aluko took advantage of a defensive miscue to steal the ball and then break in to beat Branam for the only goal of the game. The goal was Aluko’s fifth of the season.

Sky Blue FC had a number of chances to tie the game the rest of the way but couldn’t capitalize. Yael Averbuch’s shot in the 59th minute struck the crossbar and Loyden foiled Rosana and Kai in the 65th and 67th minutes, respectively.

In the previous two meetings between the two teams, Athletica claimed a 1-0 victory over Sky Blue FC in Fenton, Mo. on June 7 and then also won 2-1 on June 28 in New Jersey.

Sky Blue FC now takes its quest to make the WPS playoffs to Boston for the fourth and final meeting of the regular season with the Breakers. Boston will host the game on Saturday night at 7 p.m. at Harvard Stadium. The final Sky Blue FC home match of the season will be on Wednesday, August 5 at 7 p.m. with FC Gold Pride coming to New Jersey. (888-SBFC-TIX | www.skybluestore.com)

July 22, 2009 – Yurcak Field	1	2	-	F
Sky Blue FC (6-7-4)	0	0	-	0
Saint Louis Athletica (8-6-2)	0	1	-	1

Lineups:
Sky Blue FC – Jenni Branam; Katie Hooker (Lauren Sesselmann 91+), Jen Buczkowski, Keeley Dowling, Meghan Schnur; Julianne Sitch (Kerri Hanks 69’), Yael Averbuch, Rosana (Noelle Keselica 75’), Collette McCallum; Kacey White, Natasha Kai.
Saint Louis Athletica – Jillian Loyden; Kia McNeil, Tina Ellertson, Sara Larsson, Elise Weber; Lori Chalupny, Kendall Fletcher, Angie Woznuk, Amanda Cinalli (Lisa Stoia 71’); Niki Cross (Sarah Walsh 57’), Eniola Aluko (Stephanie Logterman 92+).

Scoring Summary:
STL – Aluko (unassisted) 49’

Misconduct Summary:
SBFC – Kai (caution) 42’

Game Summary:
Referee – Kari Seitz
Assistant Referees – Katherine Dziedzic, Michael Dutt
Fourth Official – Mark Boyko
Attendance – 3,726
Weather – Partly cloudy, 75 degrees

BOXSCORE (All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.)