Bay FC is one point away from making history on Saturday in Houston.
The Bay’s expansion National Women’s Soccer League team enters Saturday night’s match against the last-place Houston Dash needing only a tie – though a win opens up other possibilities – to clinch a playoff spot in its inaugural season.
“We’re ready for this game to happen already,” Bay FC coach Albertin Montoya said. “Two weeks waiting for it.”
Bay FC (10-14-1), currently in the eighth and final playoff spot after a thrilling 1-0 win over North Carolina on Oct. 19, could reach as high as sixth in the NWSL table with a win and favorable results from Chicago and Portland, the two teams ahead of Bay FC in the standings. But first things first – Bay FC must get into the dance.
“Hopefully, we’re excited where we come out with the right energy, but not overly excited where it just becomes a chaotic game,” Montoya said. “Houston is always a difficult place to play.”
The Dash (5-15-5) have already let go of their coach, Fran Alonso, and have nothing to play for this season other than pride and showcasing themselves for a future coach or team. That’s a potentially dangerous scenario for a Bay FC squad desperate for a result on Saturday.
“They have nothing to lose,” Montoya said. “That’s why it can be a difficult game. It could be two ways, where they go out and they’re relaxed and trying to maybe leave the last impression here for the coach coming in and trying to prove some things. So they can make it a very difficult match.
“Or they might just, if we do our job and we can play well, we can score early, I think it might make it very difficult for them, because their season is over. So it can go different ways. You never know what to expect. That’s why we continue to keep going back to concentrating on what we can control, and be at our best.”
Bay FC could also receive some help from factors outside their control in clinching a playoff berth. Even if Bay FC loses on Saturday, any result other than a win by ninth-place Louisville would still get them into the postseason.
“That would mean so much to this team,” midfielder Dorian Bailey said of making the playoffs. “Everyone, including the staff, everyone who’s been involved in Bay FC has put so much into this season. To be able to make the playoffs would be really, really exciting for everyone.
“That would be a really validating feeling. We came from all over, and we’ve been trusting the process and putting everything we had into this season. So to be able to make the playoffs in our first season would just be amazing.”
Bay FC’s stated goal before its first year was to make the playoffs. The newest team in the NWSL is on the cusp of following through on those lofty aspirations.
“The journey has been very fun,” Bailey said. “Every team has their ups and downs, and I would say with an expansion team, being our first year, those things can be magnified. There’s always ups and downs in a season. As a team, the girls, we’ve had so much fun, and it’s been really a credit to everyone that’s been helping with Bay FC.”
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If Bay FC gets in on Saturday, then it can really dream big.
“It’s special, because we know how hard the players have worked and the staff and everyone in the organization,” Montoya said. “The fact that we can reward everyone with a playoff game in our first season, it’s remarkable. The fans have stood by our side from the beginning, and they’ve endured some painful losses and growth. You can reward them with another opportunity to watch us play.
“And who knows? Once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen. We’ve been playing really well as of late and the second half of the season. So we’re optimistic that if we do get into the playoffs, we could be a very dangerous team to play against.”