Bay FC returns from two-week break for Saturday home game against Portland

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 competition has caught on even while his th-place crew has faced heartache on the pitch Before going on hiatus two weeks ago Bay FC suffered a stinging last-minute - draw in Houston on May Houston s stoppage time goal prevented a rare road accomplishment but it didn t keep the optimism away from the squad 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 battle it just translates to every session that we do And that s really it Montoya announced 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 - - is that despite having points snatched away in the last minute twice in the past month on opponents stoppage time goals the group is still just two points out of the final playoff spot with 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 stated 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 revealed the group has been training pretty hard the last couple of weeks which adds to his anticipation for Saturday s competition 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 chosen attractive and forward-thinking football in creating chances Montoya mentioned 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 before their contest against FC Barcelona at PayPal Park in San Jose Calif on Tuesday Aug 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 options with Bay FC in January just months after becoming the NWSL s highest-paid international athlete on a released four-year million deal Castellanos who scored just one goal after hitting the back of the net in Bay FC s inaugural encounter 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 - - right now in fifth place The -year-old Castellanos has scored one goal in matches with Portland HONORING ABBY Bay FC will hold a ceremony honoring -year-old center back Abby Dahlkemper s th NWSL regular season encounter 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 th celebration here at home her hometown where she grew up so I know it means a lot to her So excited for her announced Montoya who also served as Dahlkemper s youth coach for Mountain View Los Altos Soccer Dahlkemper is the nd contestant to achieve the feat as she joins two Bay FC teammates with or more games of NWSL experience fellow defenders Emily Menges games and Caprice Dydasco games Soon to join them will be the -year-old Hill who has played in NWSL games Related Articles Two Marin women announce plans to open the county s first women s sports bar Bay FC settles for - draw after Houston scores in final minutes Commissioner attends Bay FC s win over Angel City addresses decision to keep playing last week after Savy King collapsed Bay FC no match for NWSL s top company as winless streak reaches three games Bay FC loses heartbreaker as teenager scores in stoppage time for San Diego PRIDE NIGHT In addition to the competition fans attending Saturday s match can participate in pregame festivities as Bay FC hosts its second annual Pride Night at PayPal Park The first 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