Minnesota Migration: A weekly recap of Minnesotans in the pros.
This past weekend Eric Miller looked to build on his recent run of starts, Teal Bunbury and the New England Revolution failed to find the back of the net, and Kassey Kallman’s Boston Breakers suffered another big loss.
Injuries have opened up another chance for Eric Miller to stake his claim for a starting role. On Saturday he earned his third full 90 for the Colorado Rapids in their 0-0 draw with the LA Galaxy. Unlike his past two starts, Miller lined up as left back. Despite pushing up the pitch a fair amount, Miller still does not seem to have the skill set for an attacking outside back. His passing was mostly successful, but nearly all of the passes were directed backwards. Miller also only attempted one cross. On the defensive side, Miller had a great performance. He lead the Rapids’ back four in nearly every defensive stat with eight clearances, eight recoveries, three tackles and three interceptions. For now, Miller will fill in wherever there is a need, but a permanent move to center back seems like a real possibility based on his recent performances.
Also earning the start this past weekend was Teal Bunbury. Bunbury lined up on the right side for the New England Revolution in a 2-0 loss to D.C. United. This was the first time the Revs had been shut out since April. While he was very active and consistent in the first 20 minutes, Bunbury saw less and less of the ball as the first half went on. Things picked up for him again at the start of the second half, but — having failed to take a single shot — was subbed out in the 57th minute for Juan Agudelo. Revs fans are still hoping that Bunbury and Kei Kamara will start to produce as they did when they both played for Sporting Kansas City, but so far the pair only have one assist between them.
The Boston Breakers suffered their worst defeat in team history losing 7-1 to the Western New York Flash. The Breakers did score their first run-of-play goal of the season to make it 2-1 in the 38th minute, but by halftime were down 5-1. Kassey Kallman played the full 90 as the left center back in Boston’s 5-3-2, but with the wing backs pushing forward, it often left her isolated out on the left side against New York’s speedy wing players. Kallman was at least partially at fault on three of the Flash’s goals. While the results weren’t going their way in the beginning of the season, the Breakers only allowed seven goals in their first six games. In the next four games they allowed 15. It is hard to imagine that changes aren’t on the horizon, but if this continues, the Breakers will be looking at their second straight season finishing at the bottom of the league.
Cat Parkhill watched from the bench as FC Kansas City extended their unbeaten streak to four games with a 0-0 draw with the Seattle Reign.
After not making the game-day roster in the Montreal Impact’s 2-2 draw with Sporting Kansas City, Calum Mallace is coming up on three months without seeing the field after suffering a foot injury. It is being reported that he is close to returning.
Tyler David did not make the bench in Saint Louis FC’s 1-0 win over Portland Timbers 2. Saint Louis remains unbeaten at home so far this season.
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