Jen Hoy’s stoppage time winner lifts Sky Blue FC to second straight win

Win was first home victory of the season for Sky Blue

With the game looking like it might end in a scoreless draw, Sellersville, Pa. native Jen Hoy delivered a game-winning goal in stoppage time to lead Sky Blue FC to their first home win of the season.

Hoy was played into the box with a pass from Sarah Killion in the second of three minutes of stoppage time and Hoy was able to beat her defender with a cut to the right and Utah Royals goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart with a curling shot to the far post. Barnhart, a Pottstown, Pa. native, had three saves on the night.

The win is the second in a row for Sky Blue after going winless with a pair of draws and seven losses in their first nine games.

“I think everyone is playing free and allowing their best qualities to shine through,” Hoy was quoted saying in a news release. “We all just believe in each other one-hundred percent, not like we didn’t before, but we are taking it to a whole new level. I know energetically I can feel it out there, I think everyone can feel it from all of us to the fans.”

Hoy’s 81st minute goal against her former team held up as the winner in Sky Blue’s first win of the season last week against Chicago Red Stars.

Both wins have come with interim associate head coaches Christiane Lessa and Hugo Macedo charge in the two games since Denise Reddy was fired on June 28. Sky Blue remains in last place but are level on points with eighth-place Orlando Pride, which they play on the road in their next match on July 20.

Attendance at Yurcak Field for the Friday night match was 1,842.