PISCATAWAY, N.J. (July 19, 2009) – Since joining Sky Blue FC in a trade just over three weeks ago, Kerri Hanks has been patiently waiting for her chance to make an impact with her new team. With a dramatic stoppage-time goal that gave her team’s playoff hopes a major boost, Hanks finally broke through as Sky Blue FC notched a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars in front of 3,130 fans at Yurcak Field.

The stunning strike by Hanks lifted Sky Blue FC’s record to 6-6-4 for 22 points – the first time the team has reached the .500 mark all season. After Boston's 1-0 victory over FC Gold Pride in the day's other matchup, Sky Blue FC currently sits in fourth place – one point behind Saint Louis Athletica (7-6-2, 23 pts.) and two points behind the Breakers (7-6-3, 24 pts.). Chicago fell to 4-8-5 for 17 points and dropped to sixth place.

With the victory, Sky Blue FC continued its run of good form with a 3-1-1 mark in its last five games. With just four games left in the regular season, the victory was a crucial one.

The goal by Hanks provided big relief for Sky Blue FC, which couldn’t take advantage of numerous scoring opportunities throughout the game. The winning play started with Keeley Dowling carrying the ball up the right side before sliding a cross through the box. Hanks took a touch forward and nailed a right-footed shot from just inside the box into the right side of the goal.

"It’s very exciting," said Hanks, who came into the game as a substitute in the 62nd minute. "It’s not only great for me but great for the team coming out with a win. We go into every game looking for three points and I’m glad I could provide help for the team. Keeley played a great ball and I took a touch and just hit it."

The goal was the second of the season for Hanks, whose first goal came as a member of Saint Louis Athletica. The appearance was her third for Sky Blue FC – all off the bench.

With the win, Sky Blue FC finished the season series against the Red Stars with a 3-0-1 mark including a 4-0 advantage in goals. Both teams were missing multiple players in the game due to international call-ups.

The game started slow as both teams took the field for the third time in eight days on a hot afternoon in New Jersey. The win gave Sky Blue FC a 2-0-1 mark in that stretch while Chicago dropped to 1-2 since last Sunday. In the first half, neither team really threatened with Sky Blue FC earning the best chance – a great breakout started by Julianne Sitch with Kacey White feeding Natasha Kai in front for a shot that just missed the left post in the fifth minute.

In the second half, the teams threatened more with Chioma Igwe just missing the far post for the Red Stars on a flick header in the 57th minute.

The teams traded end-to-end chances in the 67th minute as Kai had a diving header blocked off a cross from Kacey White for Sky Blue FC. At the other end, Danesha Adams just missed the right post from 20 yards out. Two minutes later, Adams went close again blazing a shot over the crossbar from distance.

In the 72nd minute, Jen Buczkowski played through for Kai but Red Stars goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson made a spectacular point-blank save to keep game scoreless. Kai missed again eight minutes later as Hanks played in behind but her volley went over the goal.

Sky Blue FC hits the road for two games before returning to Yurcak Field on Wednesday, August 5th at 7 p.m. for a matchup with FC Gold Pride. For ticket information, call 888-SBFC-TIX or visit www.SkyBlueStore.com.

July 19, 2009 – Yurcak Field	1	2	-	F
Chicago Red Stars (4-8-5)	0	0	-	0
Sky Blue FC (6-6-4)	0	1	-	1

Lineups:
Sky Blue FC – Jenni Branam; Katie Hooker, Jen Buczkowski, Keeley Dowling [Capt], Meghan Schnur; Julianne Sitch (Kerri Hanks 62’), Yael Averbuch (Francielle 62’), Rosana (Noelle Keselica 84’), Collette McCallum; Kacey White, Natasha Kai.
Chicago Red Stars – Caroline Jonsson; Marian Dalmy, Jill Oakes, Ifeoma Dieke, Lydia Vandebergh (Nikki Krzysik 89’); Danesha Adams (Natalie Spilger 78’), Frida Ostberg [Capt], Chioma Igwe (Heather Garriock 69’), Brittany Klein; Cristiane, Ella Masar.

Scoring Summary:
SBFC – Hanks (Dowling) 91st+ minute

Misconduct Summary:
CHI - Krzysik (caution) 90th minute

Game Summary:
Referee – Jose Carlos Rivero
Assistant Referees – Dario Urrutia, Ryan Dos Reis
4th Official – Brian Dunn
Attendance -  3,130
Weather – Party Cloudy, 80 degrees

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

QUOTES

Sky Blue FC head coach Kelly Lindsey

On today’s match
I think finally in the second half we started to stretch them a little bit and get around them and then through them. I thought both teams had good chances, which and it was pretty evenly matched throughout the game. Overall it was gutsy for both teams with missing a bunch of players.

On the back line
I really thought they pulled it together. They worked really well together and stayed united and we didn’t get pulled apart. I was very proud of our back line today.

On Christie Rampone’s condition
I just talked to her a little bit yesterday. She’s feeling alright and trying to get back to New Jersey hopefully tonight or tomorrow at the latest. She said she was doing alright and hoping to be back soon. We didn’t talk about the specifics - I just wanted to make sure she was alright.

On defender Jen Buczkowski’s performance
I thought Buzz did a fantastic job back there. She did a really good job tracking marks and stepping in winning balls and I think she filled Anita’s (Asante) shoes really well.

Sky Blue FC forward Kerri Hanks

On the adjustments in the second half
Francielle and I came in and we changed to a 4-3-3 and then we changed back to a 4-4-2. It’s something we did on the fly. That’s part of pro soccer - being versatile and going along with the changes and I think we did a good job with it.

Sky Blue FC defender Jen Buczkowski

On Katie Hooker’s performance
I think she did awesome being that this is her first time out and everything. She’s done well in training and I think just overall the entire backline stepped up and did well today.

On the substitutions
I think bringing the people in and getting a chance to get a different spark out there. A lot of the girls have been showing a lot in practice and now its just the time of coming in, stepping up and scoring big goals like Kerri did tonight.

On the team’s performance
Going into halftime we were a little down as a team collectively and I think coming out in the second half we turned that around and that’s probably how the momentum turned our way.

Sky Blue FC defender Keeley Dowling

On the win today
It’s always nice to come out on top. There’s never a dull moment with us.

On missing co-captains Heather O’Reilly and Christie Rampone
Not having them here is a bummer but for them to have that International experience is great. We just wanted to battle and get the win for them.

On Jen Buczkowski and Katie Hooker stepping in
They did great. They stepped in and we’ve been training hard. They knew their roles and they did a great job and that’s what we needed.

Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson

I don't believe that (Sky Blue FC) tested me all that much; they had a number of good opportunites and could have scored more than one goal today. I was able to come out and cut down the angle a couple times, make them shoot outside; that has to count for something.

Chicago Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes

Losing is never easy, whether or it's a first-minute or last-minute goal. Unfortunately we got a bit disorganized at the end since we were chasing a goal so hard; obviously both teams needed to win this game. I don't think that the team was good enough today in the attack, and we weren't able to create a great deal of chances - Sky Blue FC deserves credit for that.