Silkowitz shines in 1-0 shutout over Thorns

SAN JOSE — Don't look now, but Jordan Silkowitz is quickly becoming one of the best goalkeepers in the NWSL.

Silkowitz put on a clinical display in front of 14,094 at PayPal Park on Saturday afternoon as Bay FC dominated play in their 1-0 shutout victory over the Portland Thorns FC.

Silkowitz, who has started every game for Bay FC in her first season with the club, earned her fourth clean sheet in 11 matches. Her stellar form has been a major reason the club has taken points from its last three matches, including two wins. With the victory, Bay FC moved up the NWSL standings, now tied with Angel City for eighth place at 15 points—just one behind seventh-place Portland.

Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya rolled out yet another new starting XI, with Jordan Brewster making her season debut at center back in place of Emily Menges. Asisat Oshoala started up front, replacing Rachel Kundananji, who had just returned from international duty with Zambia. Brewster impressed early but was forced to leave the match in the 26th minute due to a non-contact lower leg injury. Kelli Hubly came on in her place.

Bay FC (4-3-4) dominated possession for the first 25 minutes, keeping play tilted in the Thorns' half. In the 29th minute, Oshoala had a great chance from the center of the box, but her shot missed just wide left after beating Portland goalkeeper Bella Bixby.

Portland (4-4-3) countered with chances in the final 15 minutes of the opening 45 minutes. Striker Caiya Hanks was dangerous threat throughout the entire match creating scoring chances for either herself or her teammates. Hanks was snakebit in the 30th minute when her shot from outside the box was knocked away by a diving Silkowitz. Then in the 43rd minute, Silkowitz's defining moment happened when Hanks beat two defenders with a right to left deke before firing a shot that Silkowitz deflected over the crossbar with a one-handed save.

Bay FC scored the game's only goal in the 38th minute on a quick counterattack. Caroline Conti flicked the ball out to midfield to rookie midfielder Taylor Huff. Huff found Penelope Hocking along the left wing. Hocking had to regather the ball after it hit off the back of her foot. After a give and go with Huff, Hocking laid the ball to the left inside the box where Alyssa Malonson raced in from the wing with full throttle and blasted a shot top shelf from an impossible angle for her first career NWSL goal that turned out to be the difference in the match.

"It's funny, one of my teammates Joelle (Anderson) was like 'you do that all the time at practice," said Malonson when asked if she had practiced that shot before. "I was like I do? Oh really. Yeah the keeper was cheating so I said I might as well. Honestly, I looked around and I didn't think anyone else thought it went in. I was like no that went in! Come cheer for me (laughing). But it was so exciting, it was an awesome first goal."

In the second half, Montoya sent in fresh legs when he substituted in Kundananji for Oshoala, Dorian Bailey for Huff and Kiki Pickett for Hannah Bebar in the 71st minute. Kundananji made an immediate impact when she dribbled out into open space in the 76th minute after receiving a pass from Caprice Dydasco. Kundananji's right foot shot from outside the box was headed for the top left corner when Bixby stopped it to keep the home team from doubling its lead.

Bay FC thought they had doubled its advantage in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Bixby's outlet pass was kicked right to Rachel Hill. Hill shot the ball into an open net, but the goal was nullified when Hill was called for a hand ball by referee Matthew Corrigan. Bay FC received a scare in the final moments of the match when a shot from close range by Hina Sugita slid just to the left of the net and out of bounds for a free kick.

The day belonged to Silkowitz who finished the match with five saves and continues to improve with each match under her belt. Silkowitz is proving to be one of the best goalkeepers in the league, but she has a set a much higher bar for herself. She credits being selected to the U.S. Women's National Under 23 team with giving her the confidence to be at her best.

"What I'm trying to chase, I want to be the best (goalkeeper) in the world. So that was a great step (playing for the U.S. Women's National Under 23 team), took what I can. But coming back here and the goals we have for this club, what we want to do, and I think just continuing to build on that confidence from that the lessons I learned, new voices as a staff and players as well was absolutely incredible and I'm happy to keep bringing that back to here," Silkowitz said.

Bay FC is in the midst of playing three matches against high quality teams. After beating Portland, Bay will show whether they are contenders or pretenders with matches against the defending champions Orlando Pride and Gotham FC in the next two weeks. Montoya believes this is just the start of his team's full potential going forward as they fight for a playoff berth.

"A great win for us tonight," said Montoya. "We've been stressing how important it is for us to play as a team. Everyone has a very important role on this team on and off the field, and it's really coming together and starting to show. Our last three games have been very good in all different ways, and we're going to continue to get better."

GAME NOTES

• Bay FC held a pre-game ceremony on the field for center back Abby Dahlkemper who recently played in her 150th career match. Dahlkemper was joined on the field by her family who were in attendance to help celebrate her milestone.

• The club hosted its annual Pride Day, with the first 4,000 fans receiving commemorative Pride-themed bandanas.

• Bay FC is back in action on Friday June 13th when they host the defending NWSL champion Orlando Pride at 7:00pm at PayPal Park. The game will be broadcasted live on Prime Video.