Heading into the doubleheader
By: Craig Stouffer
Examiner Staff Writer
05/22/09 3:54 PM EDT
We'll start with the Washington Freedom vs. Sky Blue FC first, since that game is first. It isn't the Freedom's first game in RFK since 2003. They've played there a couple times in different iterations.
This weekend they will be without Abby Wambach, who is with the U.S. national team for Monday's friendly against Canada in Toronto. Freedom goalkeeper Erin McLeod will be in Washington however. She trained this week with the Canadians, but because Karina LeBlanc is expected to play for Canada against the U.S., McLeod got released. Sky Blue will be without Heather O'Reilly, Christie Rampone and Canadian Kelly Parker.
Freedom head coach Jim Gabarra, who signed Arlington native Sarah Senty this week, said he's still cautiously optimistic about obtaining Ali Krieger on loan this summer. Krieger's season in Germany ends June 7. The transfer window in the U.S. closes June 15. Not much time to get a deal done...
As for D.C. United, I caught up with Greg Janicki after training today....
On starting after an ankle knock kept him from traveling to Chivas last weekend: "It’s been kind of tough. I only had one practice before playing 90, and I was out four or five days with the ankle before that. My fitness wasn’t where I wanted it to be, and that kind of led to a few mistakes here and there. The first half was alright. The second half was a little spotty. The handball again, my fault, kind of unlucky, wrong place, wrong time, couldn’t get out of the way. Little mistakes like that. I don’t like to allow three goals in my first start in a while, but I’ll try to build from there and stay healthy."
After the collision with Devon McTavish, Janicki's has undergone some fits and starts: "It’s kind of getting to the point where every start, I’m trying to come back, and the mistakes are kind of attributed to me being a little rusty. I’m getting tired of that excuse, tired of blaming the injury and the fitness."
On the battle for playing time with Dejan Jakovic: "Dejan’s obviously a good player. He does things better than I do, but I like to think it goes both ways. We kind of feed off each other. I learn a little bit just watching him play and things like that. He’s real good with his feet, and I’m trying to get better with my feet. I’m taking some pointers from him and hopefully he’s taking some from me."
DCU head coach Tom Soehn on Janicki: "Greg’s a guy that needs to get his touches in leading up to a game, and we kind of gauged the fact that he hadn’t trained a lot but we also felt it was important to get him minutes and work on his fitness. It’s kind of a feast or famine deal, and he got through it, and now it’s a couple weeks of training to get Greg back where he needs to be... Greg’s not a guy who can afford to sit out a lot of time. Some guys are blessed – the Freds of the world can sit out and not lose much. With Greg, he needs consistent touches to keep himself sharp."
Also, there was a request from a USL-2 team to bring in Boyzzz Khumalo on loan this weekend, but Khumalo proved why United wasn't about to let him go, playing very well and scoring against New York on Wednesday.
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