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Yankey Debut Fires Up Wildcats
England International Electrifies New American Fans
If the New Jersey Wildcats were looking to add a little electricity to the lineup when they signed Rachel Yankey, then they got more than they bargained for in the England international's debut. Yankey accounted for two goals and three assists as the Wildcats rolled past the South Jersey Banshees 9-0 at Mercer County Community College.
The Wildcats were without all of their US internationals including leading scorer Heather O'Reilly and star defender Cat Reddick but they didn't miss a beat against the Banshees with Yankey making her season debut. The star left winger posted two assists in the first 11 minutes and also connected on two highlight reel goals to boost her new squad. Jen Redmond and Kristen Edmonds contributed two goals each while Kacey White added a goal and two assists.
Yankey makes her debut with the Wildcats. (Robyn McNeil)
With the win, the Wildcats extended their regular season W-League winning streak to 25 games and also extended their home winning streak to 21 games dating back to the 2003 season. Karina LeBlanc and Sarah Allen-Knight split the shutout in goal as the Wildcats held a 38-4 advantage in shots. LeBlanc's 45 minutes of scoreless action allowed her to extend her season-long shutout streak to an astounding 721 minutes. After tonight's game, the Wildcats hold a franchise record shutout streak of 599 minutes.
Yankey didn't wait long to put her stamp on the game with a goal and two assists in the first 22 minutes of the game. Just 10 minutes into the game, the England winger played a perfectly weighted pass to Lisa Grubb on the break and she first-timed her shot into the upper right corner for the 1-0 lead. Just 53 seconds later, the Wildcats struck again thanks to a sharp individual effort from Alicia Wilson. Yankey fed Wilson outside the box and she beat two defenders before tucking in a shot from eight yards out.
In the 22nd minute, Yankey came up with a highlight reel goal following a tight combination at the top of the box to put the Wildcats up 3-0. Yankey fed Kelly Hammond posting up away from the goal and she laid the ball back to Yankey, who lined a left-footed blast into the upper right corner to open her account with the Wildcats.
Redmond gave the Wildcats their 5-0 halftime lead thanks to two long-range blasts. In the 37th minute, White fed Redmond outside the top right corner of the box and she ripped a shot that cracked off the crossbar and off Banshees keeper Vicky McDermott before bouncing into the goal. Just 1:31 later, Redmond struck again this time off an assist from Lisa Grubb. The future University of Virginia star curled a 25-yard shot into the upper right corner for her third goal of the season.
The Wildcats made all three of their substitutions at halftime and all three played a part in their team's second half success. Rebecca Moros entered at left wing and set up White for a goal in the 61st minute while Edmonds and Sarah Allen-Knight also made their marks as halftime substitutes.
Yankey put the Wildcats up 7-0 on a spectacular shot in the 65th minute before two goals by Edmonds boosted the Wildcats lead. On Yankey's second goal, White played a short corner from the right side and Yankey took a touch before lacing into a 35-yard effort from well outside the top corner of the box that lined into the top left corner of the goal.
Also making her debut, Edmonds was impressive playing up front for the Wildcats. In the 72nd minute, she single-handedly earned a goal. South Jersey defender Alicia Turner tried to shield the ball over the endline inside the Banshees box, but Edmonds reached around with her leg to keep the ball in. On the ensuing play, Turner took Edmonds down from behind and a penalty kick was called. Edmonds stepped up confidently and tucked her shot into the lower right corner for the 8-0 lead.
In the 84th minute, Edmonds struck again thanks to a well-placed cross from Yankey. The England star sent a cross in from the right side and Edmonds stuffed a shot past Banshees substitute keeper Jessie Gaburo for the final margin.
Allen-Knight came up with one of the plays of the game with two minutes left in the game. Entering the game at halftime for starting goalkeeper LeBlanc, Allen-Knight saved a penalty to prolong the Wildcats shutout streak. Beth McNamara was strong all night long in the center back position, but her foul led to the penalty kick call. Dawn Dickten stepped up to the spot for the Banshees, but Allen-Knight dove to her left to make a tremendous save on the penalty kick attempt.
The Wildcats return to action this Saturday night when they host the Washington Freedom Reserves in an exhibition match. The Wildcats will host the Freedom Reserves at 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium in New Brunswick.
LINEUPS:
SOUTH JERSEY BANSHEES: Vicky McDermott (Jessie Gaburo 45), Dawn Dickten, Alicia Turner, Chelsea Sass (Stephanie Best 45), Kate Fogler, Tanya Earl, Megan Norcia (Erin Salgado 45), Jayne Read (Melissa Scully 32), Lisa Cancglin (Angela Picking 52), Katie Taylor, Tobi Wrice.
NEW JERSEY WILDCATS: Karina LeBlanc (Sarah Allen-Knight 45), Beth McNamara, Rochelle Willis, Alicia Wilson, Sarah Dwyer, Rachel Yankey, Jen Redmond (Kristen Edmonds 45), Kelly Hammond, Lisa Grubb (Rebecca Moros 45), Kate Sands, Kacey White.
GOALS:
NJW: Grubb (Yankey) 10th minute
NJW: Wilson (Yankey) 11th minute
NJW: Yankey (Hammond) 32nd minute
NJW: Redmond (White) 37th minute
NJW: Redmond (Grubb) 39th minute
NJW: White (Moros) 61st minute
NJW: Yankey (White) 65th minute
NJW: Edmonds (PK) 72nd minute
NJW: Edmonds (Yankey) 84th minute
SAVES:
SJ: McDermott 3, Gaburo 5; NJW: LeBlanc 1, Allen-Knight 1
SHOTS:
LI: 4; NJW: 38 | 
