The Wait Is Over

NWSL 2022 Matchday Thirteen

The NWSL's return from the July international break began with an Eastern Conference match-up pitting the front-running Boston Breakers and the down-table Philadelphia Charge. Today's game was also the first battle between John Herdman and Erin Mcleod as head coaches. Prior to the match, Dalen interviewed both Canadians and got a surprise at the end of it.

Dalen Cuff: John and Erin, your teams are at opposite ends of the league. How did you go about training this past week to keep your players interested ahead of a match that looks like a mismatch?

John Herdman: Our approach this season has always been to play to our strengths and work on perfecting our own standard of play, not worry about the opposition.

Erin Mcleod: As a second-year team, we're still attempting to get our 20-player roster up to NWSL-level. Our focus in training is to build on the positives from our previous matches and keep progressing toward consistency in our play.

Dalen: Any advice for your student today?

John: Same thing I've told her a million times over the past 10+ years. Enjoy this. You get to do something you love for a living, and no amount of wins or losses can either build you up or tear you down enough if you remember that.

Dalen: And for the teacher?

Erin: Keep on keeping on. Your team is a joy to watch and their camaraderie is something I hope Ella and I can instill in the Charge over time.

While Erin was finishing her remarks, Steph and Allysha came wandering over behind her and John, with the defender on her goalkeeper's back, and stuck their heads between the pair of coaches, with each trying to cause them to break character. It worked as Erin had to shoo Chappie away from her ear and John told Steph that he was going to sic Yael on her and that some post-game laps might be forthcoming.

Patrick and Bryan were in their customary seats a couple of rows up and near the center stripe. With the road trip and national team camp, they hadn't seen Morgan or Megan in close to four weeks and were hoping to spend time with them after the game. As the Breakers broke their huddle, Sam and Abby caught eyes and air-kissed one another. Morgan kissed her left ring finger, a on-field action she started since receiving the locket (which she kisses before taking it off in the locker room before warm-ups) from Patrick after their last home match.

The Breakers jumped out to a fast start and were ahead, 3-0, at halftime with goals from Dani Rhodes, making her debut in place of Kyah Simon, who was nursing a sore hamstring, Jessie Fleming, and Abby Dahlkemper off a corner kick from Morgan Andrews. The game ended 5-0 in favor of Boston, with Meagan Stassi picking up her first NWSL goal and Sarah Troccoli closing out the scoring four minutes from full time. Devon Schiller made her return to the Breakers' senior squad, replacing Julie King in the 68th minute and pushing Stassi into the center alongside Jenni Santacaterina.

Following the match, Patrick and Morgan met up, as did Bryan and Megan. The four of them were discussing their post-game activities, which included the traditional let-your-hair-down gathering at Sam and Abby's, when Morgan felt something on her back. She reached around and discovered it was one of her nieces. The other one was standing next to her mom and dad. Pulling her around and snuggling her, Morgan introduced her to Patrick, then turned around and saw the rest of the family.

Morgan: What are you guys doing here?! You live here and yet I never see you at our games.

Michael Andrews: We see you so much during the week that we like to let you "take a break" from the girls and focus on game day. However, you've been gone a while between the trip out west and national team camp, so the girls convinced us to bring them to a game.