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June 25, 2008 HADDON TWP. — The New Jersey Wildcats couldn't catch a break in their homecoming against New Jersey Sky Blue Tuesday night. Missed opportunities and scoring chances cost the Wildcats in a 1-0 loss in the W-League women's soccer matchup. The game was a back-and-forth battle as each team had trouble putting the right touch on the ball and with unlucky calls. The lone goal came off a cross from Sarra Moller that Tricia DiPaolo headed in during the 56th minute. "We had a breakaway and obviously we felt (Ashley Jones) got tripped in the box," Wildcats coach Socrates Nicolaidis said. "But the ref felt she didn't and then in the second half she got tripped in the box and the ref placed the ball outside the box. "We didn't create enough opportunities, and when you don't create enough you're not going to score goals." The W-League is a semi-pro league that features college-level players in a local atmosphere. Next year, a new professional women's soccer league is scheduled to launch and the W-League hopes to be one of its minor leagues. Based in Central Jersey and usually playing at Mercer County Community College, the Wildcats hosted the Sky Blue at Paul VI High School. That made the night meaningful for South Jersey players. The Wildcats' local talent is made up of Kimmy Lisun, Deptford; Amanda Wheeler, Cherokee; Aimee Bresani, Bishop Eustace; Morgan Golden and Amy Hoyer, Northern Burlington; and Michelle Verzi, Delran. The Sky Blue's only South Jersey player is Jillian Loyden from Vineland. "It's very exciting (playing near home)," Wheeler said. "Up in North Jersey playing other teams, it's not the home field so you don't get to have your true fans there, playing for the people you really care about. It's the same mentality, it just makes it that much better." The matchup was a good test for the Wildcats as the Sky Blue are a more experienced team. One of the youngest team's in the league, the Wildcats' average age is 20.4, while the Sky Blue are set to be part of the new professional league, Women's Professional Soccer, next year. "I'm really proud of them," Nicolaidis said. "They defended well and just got outworked in some areas." If putting a new soccer league together wasn't hard enough, WPS has to try to do what professional women's leagues before have not done: Survive. "I think the model they've created this time is more economically viable because they decided to go into local markets," Nicolaidis said. "They're searching for local sponsorships. . . . They're creating a more viable model where members of the community have taken up the franchise rights." After debuting in April 2009, the league's goal is to host 4,000-6,000 fans at every home game by embracing the community. But for now, the Wildcats need to win five of their next six games to make the playoffs. "We just have to keep playing how we're playing," Lisun said. "Luck's going to come our way sooner or later." (Courtesy Courier Post Online) |
"There is pressure on us to deliver as our fans expect us to win, but it’s good pressure," said Borkowski during a FCI-TV interview. "If you can’t deal with the pressure and enjoy an occasion like this then you shouldn’t play soccer. We’re playing with confidence and I feel we can win this game. We will do our best." 
Sky Blue returns to action tomorrow when it continues its road trip with a 6 p.m. match against the Fredericksburg Lady Gunners at Fredericksburg Academy.