Bay FC returns from its two-week break from competition on Saturday with a single, familiar purpose when it hosts Portland in NWSL action at PayPal Park.
Enjoy football.
It’s a common refrain from second-year Bay FC coach Albertin Montoya, whose optimistic viewpoint on the game has caught on, even while his 11th-place team has faced heartache on the pitch.
Before going on hiatus two weeks ago, Bay FC suffered a stinging, last-minute, 2-2 draw in Houston on May 24. Houston’s stoppage time goal prevented a rare road victory, but it didn’t keep the optimism away from the team during its training sessions the past two weeks.
“We keep reminding them this is a sport they love to play, and the more they’re out there supporting each other and enjoying the game, it just translates to every session that we do. And that’s really it,” Montoya said Friday during a video conference with reporters. “So gotta give the credit to them and the staff. We’re competing at all times, but at the same time we’re enjoying our football.”
The optimistic view for Bay FC (3-3-4) is that despite having points snatched away in the last minute twice in the past month on opponents’ stoppage time goals, the team is still just two points out of the final playoff spot with 16 games remaining.
That just sounds like plenty more opportunities for enjoyment. Just ask Bay FC forward Rachel Hill.
“Albertin harps on it every single day at training. ‘Enjoy your football .. enjoy your football. Enjoy the ball. Enjoy having it,’ ” Hill said. “So it’s harped on a lot and we all hear it in our brains whenever we’re playing now.
“I think it’s so true, that when you’re enjoying your football that’s when you’re playing your best.”
Montoya said the team has been training “pretty hard” the last couple of weeks, which adds to his anticipation for Saturday’s game against Portland.
“This is a great opportunity us to build on what we’ve done in these last couple games, which I thought we played some attractive and forward-thinking football in creating chances,” Montoya said. “And the fact that we get to do it in front of our home fans just gives (something) extra to get excited about.”
Bay FC head coach Albertin Montoya high-fives Bay FC’s Deyna Castellanos (10) before their game against FC Barcelona at PayPal Park in San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group) Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group
CASTELLANOS RETURNS
Saturday’s match marks the return of Portland midfielder Deyna Castellanos, the Venezuelan star who mutually parted ways with Bay FC in January, just months after becoming the NWSL’s highest-paid international player on a reported four-year, $1.8 million deal.
Castellanos, who scored just one goal after hitting the back of the net in Bay FC’s inaugural game last season, played sparingly as the season went on last year. Shortly after having her release granted by Bay FC, she signed a two-year deal with Portland (4-4-2), currently in fifth place.
The 26-year-old Castellanos has scored one goal in 10 matches with Portland.
HONORING ABBY
Bay FC will hold a ceremony honoring 32-year-old center back Abby Dahlkemper’s 150th NWSL regular season game, which she achieved in Houston two weeks ago. The former Sacred Heart Prep star and Menlo Park native is a five-time NWSL Shield winner.
“It’s really exciting that she can have this 150th (celebration) here at home, her hometown where she grew up, so I know it means a lot to her. So excited for her,” said Montoya, who also served as Dahlkemper’s youth coach for Mountain View Los Altos Soccer.
Dahlkemper is the 42nd player to achieve the feat as she joins two Bay FC teammates with 150 or more games of NWSL experience — fellow defenders Emily Menges (190 games) and Caprice Dydasco (179 games). Soon to join them will be the 30-year-old Hill, who has played in 145 NWSL games.
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PRIDE NIGHT
In addition to the game, fans attending Saturday’s game can participate in pregame festivities as Bay FC hosts its second annual Pride Night at PayPal Park.
The first 3,000 fans through the gates will receive a Bay FC Pride bandana. There will also be Pride Collection gear on sale and a number of other events taking place throughout the day.