Soccer in my "backyard"

I guess that's a term you hear very often. Literally, there is no professional soccer team actually playing in my back yard (i don't even have one... i own a deck) but yea, i guess you can can consider myself being one of those people who have high level play of soccer in his or her "backyard".

Spot anything different?

I had the opportunity to watch Rutgers Women take on the Villanova Wildcats last Weekend in ye 'ol Yurcak Field/Stadium (and still i don't know how to pronounce it...) in the super humid weather. For those who don't know where or what yurcak field is (which would be a shame if you truly follow WPS)...

Yurcak field is located on Busch Campus in Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ. It is home to both Lacrosse and Soccer games and is the home to the New Jersey Sky Blue FC (i say NJ because it really isn't at all close to NY one bit) during the WPS season.

Though i won't say which side i was for (i was neutral most of the time), i was kinda downgraded by the college game after watching Professional Soccer for the past 5 months. However, it was probably the closest (other than PU tigers soccer) to elite soccer i could get to at this time of the year.

First off, the biggest change that i noticed was the atmosphere. Of course it's different to go to a profesional game and then go to a college game. I noticed that at Sky Blue games, there is definitely more going on. Even the decorations... as you see in the picture above, there aren't those advertisements hanging from the top of the bleachers. There also aren't any tents or little girls screaming their heads off saying SKYY BLUEEEE!!! No tennis balls, no people running around in the back, no long bathroom line (hehe)... it was just different.

I believe people get more into the game in college. I guess it's just school pride because they actually attended the school. There was a guy who attends RU (i'm assuming) that was upset with the ref. and yelled out ,"THESE REFS GRADUATED FROM VILLANOVA!" hahaha. There are also a lot of family members there too.

The pace was also slower (well it's college so i guess it's supposed to be slower), there were unlimited about of subs, oh and a very good observation.... the players on the bench are more into the game.

I guess it has to do with unlimited subs, but every single player was off that bench (on both teams) the whole entire game. I felt like they had more support for their team (not that professionals don't.. no not at all!) because they were all up and cheery.

in the end, it was a 1-1 tie. I noticed Erin Gunthrie was def the better keeper in the game. She punted better and threw better than the nova keeper (who probably punts at likea 60 degree angle...aka it went REALLY high). I see her being successful inthe future....

Another example of soccer in my backyard is that theres a new premier guys team which is literally down the street from me. The New Jersey blaze, who's home games are in my hometown suprisingly, is a new team that participates in the NPSL. I'm pretty sure they were an old team as youngsters (that i think dates back to as far as 2000) but now they're "brand new" and well...older. I'm so glad to be able to attend Premier soccer games which are like 5 minutes away. This team is truly in my "backyard". for more information, http://www.njblaze.com/

The best example of Backyard Soccer is definitely the Sky Blue FC, but no need to explain there :)!

peace out!!

oh and some thoughts about players and expansion and free agents etc....

-i don't understand how cristiane is a free agent
-i think carli lloyd and heather mitts should migrate to philly
-tobin heath should come to NJ (thought chances are unlikely, anthing's possible)
-ARod to Philly is not suprising.
-aly wagner = free agent?
-this free agent thing is really scaring/killing me...
-wait so who were the 10 people saved for sky blue fc?