Note from Annie: I had already written my Soccer Monday when the scary incident with Savannah DeMelo occurred Sunday night in Seattle. So this Soccer Monday post will come in two parts, the first will be address DeMelo’s situation, and the second will be my originally planned post on Gotham and Shaw.
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This time, the NWSL got it right.
Racing Lousville’s Savannah DeMelo collapsed because of a medical emergency late in the first half of a match against the Seattle Reign Sunday night at Lumen Field.
In many ways it was a replay of Savy King’s collapse in Los Angeles in May. Players immediately gestured for medical help and many sobbed as they looked on. An ambulance took DeMelo from the field.
But that’s where the similarities ended: The game went to halftime early and shortly thereafter the decision was made to call it off.
Racing Louisville later issued a statement that said DeMelo was alert and stable, and being treated at a local hospital in Seattle. The Reign also thanked their fans for understanding.
The NWSL issued a statement.
The game was scoreless when it was suspended. The remainder will be played on a date mutually agreed on by both teams, and will be picked up where it left off.
DeMelo, 27, left a match in March because of dizziness chest tightness and was stretchered off the field. She revealed in May that she has been dealing with Graves’ disease and hyperthyroidism.
Earlier this year, the league was criticized following King’s collapse because the game continued, despite the fact that the players and even fans were shaken. King required heart surgery. Days later, the league expressed regret for the decision and said the game should have been called off.
Sending positive thoughts DeMelo’s way.
On to Gotham
It was a picture perfect Gotham debut for Jaedyn Shaw.
Shaw, who was officially traded from the North Carolina Courage to Gotham for an NWSL record $1.25 million in intraleague transfer funds, subbed in the second half of her new team’s game at the San Diego Wave on Friday night and scored in a 2-0 victory. She’d had just one practice with Gotham.
“Once you’re out there playing soccer, nothing else really matters. As soon as I got on the pitch,
it all felt good. It’s definitely been crazy, but everyone at the club has made it seamless for me
and helped me adapt really quickly,” Shaw said.
Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amoros weighed in: “Coming in after just one training session was not easy. Even though we were ahead, we weren’t having our best half on the ball. But I wanted to show her that we trusted her. She embraced the moment, responded with a goal, and delivered a strong performance.”
Sure, the match was a statement by Shaw as she looks to distance herself from what was a disappointing run with the Courage, but there were so many other reasons it was important for Gotham.
It was the team’s third straight win in a move up the table to third place. Back when the NWSL started its summer break, Gotham was in seventh in the standings and seeing inconsistent results. Rose Lavelle was still working her way back to full strength after ankle surgery, Midge Purce was returning from an ACL injury, and overall the star-studded team overall wasn’t living up to expectations.
Of course, there were always two positives: The steady goalkeeping of Ann-Katrin Berger, and the scoring prowess of Esther Gonzalez.
It seems as if something has shifted. Perhaps it’s because Lavelle is at full strength, perhaps there is a greater sense of urgency since the playoffs are looming.
Esther, who also scored at Snapdragon against the Wave, now has a league-leading 13 goals. Sarah Schupansky shares the league lead with five assists. Berger and Gotham’s defense has allowed just 17 goals, second-least in the league behind the Current. The team’s goal difference is 10, second in the league to the Current’s 26.
“As I’ve said before, the players’ attitude has been fantastic. Even in the most difficult moments,
they’ve stayed united, kept pushing together, and kept working hard. That’s been our key. We’re
also a very offensive team that wants to dominate all aspects of the game. Sometimes when
you can’t find the goal, or you concede one you shouldn’t, you can lose your way. But this team
has never done that, and now the work is paying off,” Gotham coach Juan Carlos Amoros said.
The shutout was Berger’s eighth this season, which ties the club record. Jaelin Howell has had two goals and an assist in her last three matches. The assist was on Shaw’s goal.
“Jaelin is a great example of what I was saying earlier. She’s been working incredibly hard, both
on and off the ball, to understand our concepts and the way we play. She’s adapting really well
to the No. 6 role — helping us control the game, limit transitions, and defend — while also
growing in her offensive contributions.”
The fact that just three weeks ago Gotham was right on the playoff line show just how tight the race for the postseason is. Next up league-wise for the team is another road match against Bay FC on Sunday. But first Gotham has a CONCACAF W Champions Cup match.
“It’s great to get three points on the road and move up the table. There’s still more work to do,
and we have a big week coming up. We want to build off this result, take the momentum
forward, and also carry the lessons into (Tuesday) and the weekend.”
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This week in women’s soccer
Hey, I wrote a long story looking at players bolting for Europe and whether it’s time to look at the salary cap. Again, shameless appeal for clicks so the AP knows women’s soccer matters.
The Athletic’s take on the salary cap
The Equalizer with a story on Kaleigh Kurtz
American investors in women’s soccer now have options abroad
Jessica Berman spoke to WRAL about how the Courage needs to invest in infrastructure
The highest rated NWSL teams in EA Sports FC26
Jenna Tonelli wrote about Trinity Rodman and the playoff push for SI
The Olympics channel looks at the top 5 transfers of the season
Man United’s boots went missing before Champions League qualifier
Nice story on Chiamaka Nnadozie
Jess Carter talks about tackling racism in football
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| Mondays: Soccer |
| By: Annie Peterson, @AnnieMPeterson, AP Women’s Soccer |
| Tuesdays: Tennis |
| By: Joey Dillon, @JoeyDillon, Freelance Tennis Writer |
| Wednesdays: Basketball |
| By: Howard Megdal, @HowardMegdal, The IX Sports |
| Thursdays: Golf |
| By: Marin Dremock, @MDremock, The IX Sports |
| Fridays: Hockey |
| By: @TheIceGarden, The Ice Garden |
| Saturdays: Gymnastics |
| By: Lela Moore, @runlelarun, Freelance Writer |
