The Philadelphia Independence battled to a 2-0 victory over magicJack on goals by Tasha Kai and Amy Rodriguez to advance to the WPS Final. The Independence will face the Western New York Flash next Saturday for the championship.
The return to the final was accomplished in typical fashion by Philadelphia...solid defense, good goalkeeping, hard work, and some timely finishing, a team effort to be sure. Starting just two USWNT players, plus Spanish international Vero Boquete, they were able to outplay and defeat the heavily national team-laden magicJack side.
Paul Riley's starting lineup saw only a few changes from what we saw late in the season. Sinead Farrelly returned to a starter's role after sitting out the last three matches with nagging injuries. Philly started Barnhart in goal, Johnson, McNeill, Krzysik, and Robinson across the back, with Buczkowski, DiMartino, Farrelly, and Boquete in the midfield. Kai and Rodriguez were the two Independence strikers.
Abby Wambach was forced to make one change to her lineup from Wednesday. Tina Ellertson was unable to make the start due to a hamstring injury, so Lydia Vandenbergh started at left back. Their starters were Loyden in goal, Dalmy, Rampone, Sauerbrunn, and Vandenbergh in back. The midfield consisted of Boxx, Schmidt, Huffman, and Rapinoe, with Wambach and Press as the starting forwards.
Philadelphia had the first good scoring opportunity, as WPS MVP Veronica Boquete nearly caught Jill Loyden flatfooted with her shot from 20 yards, but the ball went just wide of the left post in the fifth minute. Christie Rampone earned the first booking of the match, as she was nabbed for tugging on Rodriguez' shoulder in the 12th minute.
The first half hour saw both teams working the ball up the field well, but both sides were unconvincing in the final third and there were very few good scoring opportunities. However, the final 15 minutes of the half saw end-to-end action with multiple chances.
magicJack's first good opportunity came in the 31st minute. Christen Press was able to get free to get off a shot from 28 yards, but her blast was tipped over the net by Nicole Barnhart.
Philadelphia then had a procession of chances over the next few minutes. Rodriguez' shot from the top of the box forced Loyden to slide over to make a save in the 32nd minute. Farrelly sent Kai into the right side of the box in the 34th, but the Hawaiian striker's chip over Loyden wound up on top of the netting. Next, it was Farrelly's turn but her shot from 20 yards went straight into Loyden's hands.
magicJack nearly jumped on top in the 36th minute. Marian Dalmy crossed the ball from the right side to Christen Press, who was waiting just outside the six. She turned on her defender, but her shot hit the outside of the left post. The rebound fell directly to Wambach, whose shot dribbled wide of the right post. Two minutes later, a Sarah Huffman cross gave Philly's defense problems with the ball coming to Press, whose shot from eight yards was blocked by Farrelly.
Philadelphia came right back in the 39th minute with Boquete setting up Tina DiMartino on the left side of the penalty area, but the shot from the diminutive midfielder found nothing but Loyden's hands. In the final minutes of the half, Kai sent a shot right at Loyden from 16 yards and Boquete set up Rodriguez on the right side, but her shot went just wide of the left post.
The half ended scoreless. But this was nothing new for the Independence who were shut out nine times in the first half during the regular season, but were still able to post a 5-2-2 record in those matches. Philadelphia had outscored their opponents 18-7 in the 2nd half during the season. Meanwhile, magicJack had not won a match all year when they didn't score in the opening stanza. One halftime substitution was made as Lisa De Vanna came on for Press.
It took just 24 seconds of the second half for Philadelphia to break on top. Farrelly's serve from the right side was headed by magicJack defender Marian Dalmy to the outside of the box. Kai beat Megan Rapinoe to the ball, burst into the penalty area, deked Rampone, and finished with a curling shot from 12 yards out just inside the left post to make it 1-0. It was brilliant effort by the Independence striker.
Wambach tried to even the match just three minutes later as she settled a Rampone cross in the penalty area, but her first shot was blocked by Leigh Ann Robinson and then Barnhart made perhaps the save of the match with a sprawling effort to send the ball over the crossbar on Wambach's rebound attempt.
Philadelphia made their first substitution in the 56th minute, sending Joanna Lohman in for DiMartino. In the 65th minute, Danesha Adams came on for Kai.
Wambach once again came knocking at the door at the midway point of the 2nd half. Vandenbergh sent in a cross from the left side, with Wambach's header from in close going off the crossbar after Barnhart was able to get her fingertips on the ball. Wambach made her second substitution in the 72nd minute, with Ella Masar entering the contest for Vandenbergh.
Philadelphia continued to pressure the magicJack net. In the 73rd minute, Rodriguez sent one just wide of the right post. In the 75th minute, a Lohman cross was settled by Adams in front of the goal, with her shot glancing off the crossbar.
The Independence iced the match in the 81st minute. Jen Buczkowski passed the ball to Adams, who outfought Sophie Schmidt to win possession. Adams hit Rodriguez in stride and the USWNT striker, glimpsing Loyden off her line, chipped the ball from 22 yards neatly into the upper right hand corner of the net to make it 2-0.
Both teams made their final substitutions in the closing minutes. Philadelphia sent Laura del Rio on for Rodriguez, while magicJack subbed in Nikki Washington for Sarah Huffman.
magicJack had two final chances as the final minutes ticked away. Schmidt was able to get around Barnhart to the end line just left of the goal, but with Ella Masar unmarked in front of the net, the magicJack midfielder got twisted and whiffed on the attempted cross, with the ball rolling harmlessly out of play. In stoppage, Shannon Boxx' attempt from 22 yards was parried wide by Barnhart.
It was a well-deserved victory for Philadelphia. While the two scoring plays were well done, it was very good goalkeeping from Nicole Barnhart and excellent defending, especially from Kia McNeill, Jen Buczkowski, and Sinead Farrelly, that won the day. McNeill was superb in marking Wambach throughout the contest. This was a great team effort to be sure.
For magicJack, after suffering through a controversial year off the field, the players managed to rise up and give a very good account for themselves. They earned their way into the playoffs with solid play over the final few weeks and posted the franchise's first playoff victory. One has to wonder just how much playing two matches a week over the final four weeks of the season took their toll.
Philadelphia will now meet Western New York in the WPS Championship match next Saturday at 4 pm eastern time. Philadelphia is making their second consecutive trip to the final, losing last season to Gold Pride. It is obviously the first trip to the finals for the expansion Flash. The two teams met three times during the regular season, with Philadelphia winning two of the three. All were one goal matches.
Philadelphia 2, magicJack 0
Phi-Tasha Kai (unassisted) 46'
Phi-Amy Rodriguez (Danesha Adams) 81'
Philadelphia - Nicole Barnhart, Estelle Johnson, Kia McNeill, Nikki Krzysik, Leigh Ann Robinson, Jen Buczkowski, Sinead Farrelly, Tina DiMartino (Joanna Lohman 56), Veronica Boquete, Tasha Kai (Danesha Adams 63), Amy Rodriguez (Laura del Rio 85).
magicJack - Jill Loyden, Marian Dalmy, Christie Rampone, Becky Sauerbrunn, Lydia Vandenbergh (Ella Masar 72), Shannon Boxx, Sophie Schmidt, Sarah Huffman (Nikki Washington 85), Megan Rapinoe, Abby Wambach, Christen Press (Lisa De Vanna 46).
YC - Rampone (mJ) 12, Wambach (mJ) 86.
Shots - Philadelphia 20, magicJack 17
SOG - Philadelphia 13, magicJack 9.
Showing posts with label Tasha Kai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tasha Kai. Show all posts
August 21, 2011
August 7, 2011
Last Second Goal Lifts Philly over Shorthanded Sky Blue
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Labels: 2011 WPS, Eniola Aluko, Jen Branam, Joanna Lohman, Leigh Ann Robinson, Lianne Sanderson, Nicole Barnhart, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC, Tasha Kai, Tobin Heath, Veronica Boquete
Labels: 2011 WPS, Eniola Aluko, Jen Branam, Joanna Lohman, Leigh Ann Robinson, Lianne Sanderson, Nicole Barnhart, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC, Tasha Kai, Tobin Heath, Veronica Boquete
Lianne Sanderson scored in stoppage time to give Philadelphia a 2-1 victory over Sky Blue FC on Sunday. It was the third goal of the season for the English striker, who came into the match as a substitute in the 77th minute of action. The victory brings the Independence level with Western New York, but the Flash still have the inside track for first place with two games remaining to Philly's one.
Sky Blue played a player down for almost the entire second half as Carrie Dew picked up a second yellow card for taking down Danesha Adams early in the second half. She had picked up her first in the opening minutes of the first half.
Philadelphia came out buzzing and put good pressure on the Sky Blue goal in the opening minutes of the match. Veronica Boquete's free kick from 24 yards was heading just under the crossbar, but Jen Branam managed to tip the ball over the net in the 2nd minute. On the ensuing corner kick, Boquete started back in the center circle and found herself wide open as she charged toward the penalty area unmarked. But her shot from just outside the box went over the crossbar.
The Independence broke on top in the 17th minute. Leigh Ann Robinson sent a beautiful long ball up the center of the field for Tasha Kai. The ball had spin on it and took a hop to the right. Kai took time to measure it and then placed a beautiful shot in the upper left side over Branam to make it 1-0.
Sky Blue tried to pull even just three minutes later, but Eni Aluko's shot from a tough angle was saved by Nicole Barnhart. However, four minutes later, Tobin Heath made a run up the center of the field. Drawing the defense toward her, she pushed a nice little through pass to Aluko, who finished with her right foot past Barnhart and into the right side of the net to tie the score.
Branam made a nice save on Boquete a few minutes later as Kai's header hit the Spanish striker in stride. Boquete's blast from 20 yards was saved by the agile Branam. In the 41st minute, Adams laid the ball off for Tina DiMartino, whose shot from 22 yards was also saved by Branam.
Sky Blue nearly took the lead just before intermission. A Heather O'Reilly cross went over the head of several players to bounce right to Brittany Taylor. She flicked a header just wide of the left post.
Dew picked up her second yellow card of the match as she slid late into Adams who was dribbling up the center of the field. It did appear that Dew attempted to put on the brakes, but it was too late and Adams went tumbling over the Sky Blue defender and referee Ted Unkel pulled out the yellow and dismissed Dew from the match.
Sky Blue caught a bit of a break in the 67th minute, as Amy Rodriguez chipped a shot over a diving Branam into the right post. With Branam laying on the ground, the ball bounced right back into her lap.
Philadelphia continued to pressure as the half wore on. Laura del Rio hit a hard shot from 15 yards, but Kendall Fletcher headed it clear. In the 77th minute, Branam made a nice save on Rodriguez' shot inside the near post. Branam later made two big saves in one-on-one situations with del Rio to keep the game level at one.
But just when it appeared that Sky Blue might hang on for the tie, one that would have clinched a playoff berth for them, Philadelphia got the game winner. Amy Rodriguez nodded a header forward from the edge of the eighteen. The ball appeared to deflect slightly off of Tobin Heath's head to the front of the goal where three Philly players were waiting against one defender and Branam. Joanna Lohman was able to touch the ball past Branam to Sanderson who finished just before a lunging Kendall Fletcher could get there and the Independence had scored the winner.
For Sky Blue and especially for Jen Branam, it was a harsh result. They needed just a tie to clinch a playoff berth, but were denied in the closing moments. Branam certainly made several great saves to keep her team even until that last second goal. They now face a one game do-or-die contest in Boston next week, still needing only a tie to advance to the playoffs.
Philadelphia's record goes to 11-3-3, good for 36 points and tied with Western New York. They have clinched second place and still have an outside shot at the top position, but the Flash have the inside track with an additional match remaining. The Independence close the season next Sunday in Boca Raton against third place magicJack.
Note: Philadelphia is a perfect 9-0-0 with Veronica Boquete in the starting lineup.
Correction: It was Danielle Johnson, not Kendall Fletcher, who was the last defender trying to block the shot on the game winning goal.
WPS Standings
(1) Western New York 11-2-3, 36 pts; (1) Philadelphia 11-3-3, 36 pts; (3) magicJack 8-6-2, 25 pts; (4) Sky Blue FC 5-8-4, 19 pts; (5) Boston 4-9-4, 16 pts; (6) Atlanta 1-12-4, 7 pts.
Schedule:
Wednesday, August 10
Western New York at magicJack
Sunday, August 14
Philadelphia at magicJack
Sky Blue FC at Boston
Atlanta at Western New York
Playoff Scenarios:
Sky Blue needs a tie or win against Boston to clinch 4th place. Boston needs to win in order to clinch 4th place.
Philadelphia and Western New York are tied for 1st place, with Philadelphia owning the tiebreaker at this point. Western New York has a game in hand.
magicJack has clinched 3rd place and will host the first round of the playoffs.
Sky Blue played a player down for almost the entire second half as Carrie Dew picked up a second yellow card for taking down Danesha Adams early in the second half. She had picked up her first in the opening minutes of the first half.
Philadelphia came out buzzing and put good pressure on the Sky Blue goal in the opening minutes of the match. Veronica Boquete's free kick from 24 yards was heading just under the crossbar, but Jen Branam managed to tip the ball over the net in the 2nd minute. On the ensuing corner kick, Boquete started back in the center circle and found herself wide open as she charged toward the penalty area unmarked. But her shot from just outside the box went over the crossbar.
The Independence broke on top in the 17th minute. Leigh Ann Robinson sent a beautiful long ball up the center of the field for Tasha Kai. The ball had spin on it and took a hop to the right. Kai took time to measure it and then placed a beautiful shot in the upper left side over Branam to make it 1-0.
Sky Blue tried to pull even just three minutes later, but Eni Aluko's shot from a tough angle was saved by Nicole Barnhart. However, four minutes later, Tobin Heath made a run up the center of the field. Drawing the defense toward her, she pushed a nice little through pass to Aluko, who finished with her right foot past Barnhart and into the right side of the net to tie the score.
Branam made a nice save on Boquete a few minutes later as Kai's header hit the Spanish striker in stride. Boquete's blast from 20 yards was saved by the agile Branam. In the 41st minute, Adams laid the ball off for Tina DiMartino, whose shot from 22 yards was also saved by Branam.
Sky Blue nearly took the lead just before intermission. A Heather O'Reilly cross went over the head of several players to bounce right to Brittany Taylor. She flicked a header just wide of the left post.
Dew picked up her second yellow card of the match as she slid late into Adams who was dribbling up the center of the field. It did appear that Dew attempted to put on the brakes, but it was too late and Adams went tumbling over the Sky Blue defender and referee Ted Unkel pulled out the yellow and dismissed Dew from the match.
Sky Blue caught a bit of a break in the 67th minute, as Amy Rodriguez chipped a shot over a diving Branam into the right post. With Branam laying on the ground, the ball bounced right back into her lap.
Philadelphia continued to pressure as the half wore on. Laura del Rio hit a hard shot from 15 yards, but Kendall Fletcher headed it clear. In the 77th minute, Branam made a nice save on Rodriguez' shot inside the near post. Branam later made two big saves in one-on-one situations with del Rio to keep the game level at one.
But just when it appeared that Sky Blue might hang on for the tie, one that would have clinched a playoff berth for them, Philadelphia got the game winner. Amy Rodriguez nodded a header forward from the edge of the eighteen. The ball appeared to deflect slightly off of Tobin Heath's head to the front of the goal where three Philly players were waiting against one defender and Branam. Joanna Lohman was able to touch the ball past Branam to Sanderson who finished just before a lunging Kendall Fletcher could get there and the Independence had scored the winner.
For Sky Blue and especially for Jen Branam, it was a harsh result. They needed just a tie to clinch a playoff berth, but were denied in the closing moments. Branam certainly made several great saves to keep her team even until that last second goal. They now face a one game do-or-die contest in Boston next week, still needing only a tie to advance to the playoffs.
Philadelphia's record goes to 11-3-3, good for 36 points and tied with Western New York. They have clinched second place and still have an outside shot at the top position, but the Flash have the inside track with an additional match remaining. The Independence close the season next Sunday in Boca Raton against third place magicJack.
Note: Philadelphia is a perfect 9-0-0 with Veronica Boquete in the starting lineup.
Correction: It was Danielle Johnson, not Kendall Fletcher, who was the last defender trying to block the shot on the game winning goal.
WPS Standings
(1) Western New York 11-2-3, 36 pts; (1) Philadelphia 11-3-3, 36 pts; (3) magicJack 8-6-2, 25 pts; (4) Sky Blue FC 5-8-4, 19 pts; (5) Boston 4-9-4, 16 pts; (6) Atlanta 1-12-4, 7 pts.
Schedule:
Wednesday, August 10
Western New York at magicJack
Sunday, August 14
Philadelphia at magicJack
Sky Blue FC at Boston
Atlanta at Western New York
Playoff Scenarios:
Sky Blue needs a tie or win against Boston to clinch 4th place. Boston needs to win in order to clinch 4th place.
Philadelphia and Western New York are tied for 1st place, with Philadelphia owning the tiebreaker at this point. Western New York has a game in hand.
magicJack has clinched 3rd place and will host the first round of the playoffs.
July 31, 2011
Independence Regain 1st Place with Victory over Beat
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Labels: 2011 WPS, Allison Whitworth, Amy Rodriguez, Atlanta Beat, Lori Chalupny, Nicole Barnhart, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai, Veronica Boquete
Labels: 2011 WPS, Allison Whitworth, Amy Rodriguez, Atlanta Beat, Lori Chalupny, Nicole Barnhart, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai, Veronica Boquete
Veronica Boquete scored her fifth goal of the season and it proved to be the game winner as the Philadelphia Independence defeated the Atlanta Beat 1-0 in Chester on Sunday. A crowd of 4162 saw the Independence regain sole possession of first place with a three point lead on Western New York.
In the first half of action, Atlanta appeared to be the more dangerous club. In the 25th minute, Lori Chalupny got around Kia McNeill to go in one-on-one against Nicole Barnhart from the left side of the box. Barnhart did a great job of cutting down the angle and then deflected Chalupny's shot wide.
But if the Beat held their own in the first half, the second half was all Philadelphia. Just a couple of minutes into the half, Nikki Krzysik sent Tina DiMartino in alone on a breakaway, but with Atlanta keeper Allison Whitworth coming out, she place her shot just wide of the left post. In the 56th minute, an Amy Rodriguez cross found the head of Tasha Kai, but Whitworth made a diving save on the shot headed just inside the left post.
Boquete finally put Philly up 1-0 on a great individual effort. Rodriguez nodded a header forward to Boquete, who cut toward the right side of the penalty area with Kat Reynolds on her shoulder. Whitworth made a very good save on Boquete's first effort, but the Spanish striker was able to outfight Reynolds for the rebound and put it in the back of the net.
Whitworth was able to keep the game close in spite of the Independence having several 1 v. 1 opportunities against her in the second half. She stopped Boquete with a big save in the 74th minute.
Atlanta had few chances in the second half, but Lori Chalupny's one-timer from 18 yards forced Barnhart to dive near post to block the ball away in the 76th minute.
Philadelphia followed with several more chances in the last 10 minutes. Whitworth stopped one-on-one chances from Kai, Lianne Sanderson, and Boquete in the closing minutes of the match.
Veronica Boquete once again proved to be the difference maker for Philadelphia. The Independence raised their league-leading record to 10-3-3, now three points ahead of Western New York. However, they have just two games remaining, while the Flash have four. Philly hosts Sky Blue next Sunday.
In spite of strong games from Allison Whitworth and Lori Chalupny, the Beat suffered their sixth straight shutout and are now winless in their last 14 matches. Their record stands at 1-11-4 and their two remaining matches are against Western New York.
WPS Standings
(1) Philadelphia 10-3-3, 33 pts; (2) Western New York 9-2-3, 30 pts; (3) Sky Blue FC 5-6-4, 19 pts; (4) magicJack 6-6-2, 19 pts; (5) Boston 4-7-4, 16 pts; (6) Atlanta 1-11-4, 7 pts.
In the first half of action, Atlanta appeared to be the more dangerous club. In the 25th minute, Lori Chalupny got around Kia McNeill to go in one-on-one against Nicole Barnhart from the left side of the box. Barnhart did a great job of cutting down the angle and then deflected Chalupny's shot wide.
But if the Beat held their own in the first half, the second half was all Philadelphia. Just a couple of minutes into the half, Nikki Krzysik sent Tina DiMartino in alone on a breakaway, but with Atlanta keeper Allison Whitworth coming out, she place her shot just wide of the left post. In the 56th minute, an Amy Rodriguez cross found the head of Tasha Kai, but Whitworth made a diving save on the shot headed just inside the left post.
Boquete finally put Philly up 1-0 on a great individual effort. Rodriguez nodded a header forward to Boquete, who cut toward the right side of the penalty area with Kat Reynolds on her shoulder. Whitworth made a very good save on Boquete's first effort, but the Spanish striker was able to outfight Reynolds for the rebound and put it in the back of the net.
Whitworth was able to keep the game close in spite of the Independence having several 1 v. 1 opportunities against her in the second half. She stopped Boquete with a big save in the 74th minute.
Atlanta had few chances in the second half, but Lori Chalupny's one-timer from 18 yards forced Barnhart to dive near post to block the ball away in the 76th minute.
Philadelphia followed with several more chances in the last 10 minutes. Whitworth stopped one-on-one chances from Kai, Lianne Sanderson, and Boquete in the closing minutes of the match.
Veronica Boquete once again proved to be the difference maker for Philadelphia. The Independence raised their league-leading record to 10-3-3, now three points ahead of Western New York. However, they have just two games remaining, while the Flash have four. Philly hosts Sky Blue next Sunday.
In spite of strong games from Allison Whitworth and Lori Chalupny, the Beat suffered their sixth straight shutout and are now winless in their last 14 matches. Their record stands at 1-11-4 and their two remaining matches are against Western New York.
WPS Standings
(1) Philadelphia 10-3-3, 33 pts; (2) Western New York 9-2-3, 30 pts; (3) Sky Blue FC 5-6-4, 19 pts; (4) magicJack 6-6-2, 19 pts; (5) Boston 4-7-4, 16 pts; (6) Atlanta 1-11-4, 7 pts.
July 15, 2011
WPS Saturday: Philadelphia at Atlanta
Philadelphia Independence at Atlanta Beat (7 pm eastern, Saturday)
KSU Soccer Stadium, Kennesaw, Georgia.
Atlanta Beat (1-9-3)
Coach: James Galanis
Roster:
Goalkeepers: A. Whitworth, A. Lipsher, K. Fraine.
Defenders: C. Whitehill, K. Reynolds, A. Marquez, L. Sesselmann, J. Sitch, C. Flanagan.
Midfielders: L. Chalupny, K. White, K. Wright, I. Trotter, M. Jesolva, B. D'Agostino, A. Salem.
Forwards: M. Lenczyk, K. Parker.
Not active: C. Lloyd, H. Mitts, K. Dowling (injury).
Philadelphia Independence (7-2-3)
Coach: Paul Riley
Roster:
Goalkeepers: V. Henderson, R. Jones.
Defenders: K. McNeill, N. Krzysik, L. Robinson, E. Johnson.
Midfielders: J. Buczkowski, T. DiMartino, S. Farrelly, J. Lohman, H. Magnusdottir.
Forwards: T. Kai, V. Boquete, L. Sanderson, D. Adams, L. del Rio.
Not active: N. Barnhart, L. Lindsey, A. Rodriguez, L. Barnes, A. Falk, L. Fowlkes, G. DiMartino.
This match features the first place Philadelphia Independence against the last place Atlanta Beat. Philadelphia will be trying to maintain their hold on first place, while Atlanta will be trying to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Philadelphia has been on fire as of late, winning their last five matches and sporting a six game unbeaten streak. If I am not mistaken, they are currently tied for the longest winning streak in WPS history. Gold Pride twice had five game winning streaks in 2010 and Western New York did so earlier this season. The last team to gain as much as a tie against the Independence? The Atlanta Beat tied them back on June 4.
Philadelphia has scored 15 goals over their past four games. No one in WPS is hotter than Tasha Kai is right now. Coming off of a four-goal week, she leads WPS in scoring with 8 goals. With Veronica Boquete, Lianne Sanderson, Danesha Adams, and Laura del Rio, the Independence have been a scoring machine. Rookie Sinead Farrelly scored her first WPS goal last weekend.
Val Henderson is just one behind the league lead in shutouts with three, pretty good when you consider she is a backup. She has two sturdy central defenders in front of her in Nikki Krzysik and Kia McNeill.
While Atlanta wouldn't be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with a loss, there are very few scenarios that would see them slipping into fourth place. Therefore, they truly need a win in this match.
Two key Beat players have been nursing injuries, Lori Chalupny and Megan Jesolva. Chalupny was a late scratch last weekend with a knee injury. Both are listed as being active for this match, but both were considered to be questionable in the Atlanta midweek report.
We have seen brief flashes that this team is coming around, but they have been too few and far between. Their lack of experience shows when it comes to finishing in the offensive third and when it comes to knowing how to win close matches. They have missed one of their offensive leaders, Carli Lloyd. Rookie Meghan Lenczyk is tied for the team lead with two goals.
Atlanta will be playing at home for this match and they have been very competitive at home with a 1-3-2 record, with two of the three losses coming by a single goal.
KSU Soccer Stadium, Kennesaw, Georgia.
Atlanta Beat (1-9-3)
Coach: James Galanis
Roster:
Goalkeepers: A. Whitworth, A. Lipsher, K. Fraine.
Defenders: C. Whitehill, K. Reynolds, A. Marquez, L. Sesselmann, J. Sitch, C. Flanagan.
Midfielders: L. Chalupny, K. White, K. Wright, I. Trotter, M. Jesolva, B. D'Agostino, A. Salem.
Forwards: M. Lenczyk, K. Parker.
Not active: C. Lloyd, H. Mitts, K. Dowling (injury).
Philadelphia Independence (7-2-3)
Coach: Paul Riley
Roster:
Goalkeepers: V. Henderson, R. Jones.
Defenders: K. McNeill, N. Krzysik, L. Robinson, E. Johnson.
Midfielders: J. Buczkowski, T. DiMartino, S. Farrelly, J. Lohman, H. Magnusdottir.
Forwards: T. Kai, V. Boquete, L. Sanderson, D. Adams, L. del Rio.
Not active: N. Barnhart, L. Lindsey, A. Rodriguez, L. Barnes, A. Falk, L. Fowlkes, G. DiMartino.
This match features the first place Philadelphia Independence against the last place Atlanta Beat. Philadelphia will be trying to maintain their hold on first place, while Atlanta will be trying to keep their slim playoff hopes alive.
Philadelphia has been on fire as of late, winning their last five matches and sporting a six game unbeaten streak. If I am not mistaken, they are currently tied for the longest winning streak in WPS history. Gold Pride twice had five game winning streaks in 2010 and Western New York did so earlier this season. The last team to gain as much as a tie against the Independence? The Atlanta Beat tied them back on June 4.
Philadelphia has scored 15 goals over their past four games. No one in WPS is hotter than Tasha Kai is right now. Coming off of a four-goal week, she leads WPS in scoring with 8 goals. With Veronica Boquete, Lianne Sanderson, Danesha Adams, and Laura del Rio, the Independence have been a scoring machine. Rookie Sinead Farrelly scored her first WPS goal last weekend.
Val Henderson is just one behind the league lead in shutouts with three, pretty good when you consider she is a backup. She has two sturdy central defenders in front of her in Nikki Krzysik and Kia McNeill.
While Atlanta wouldn't be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention with a loss, there are very few scenarios that would see them slipping into fourth place. Therefore, they truly need a win in this match.
Two key Beat players have been nursing injuries, Lori Chalupny and Megan Jesolva. Chalupny was a late scratch last weekend with a knee injury. Both are listed as being active for this match, but both were considered to be questionable in the Atlanta midweek report.
We have seen brief flashes that this team is coming around, but they have been too few and far between. Their lack of experience shows when it comes to finishing in the offensive third and when it comes to knowing how to win close matches. They have missed one of their offensive leaders, Carli Lloyd. Rookie Meghan Lenczyk is tied for the team lead with two goals.
Atlanta will be playing at home for this match and they have been very competitive at home with a 1-3-2 record, with two of the three losses coming by a single goal.
July 7, 2011
Kai Nets Hat Trick in Philadelphia Win
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Labels: 2011 WPS, Alyssa Mautz, Kendall Fletcher, Laura Del Rio, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC, Tasha Kai
Labels: 2011 WPS, Alyssa Mautz, Kendall Fletcher, Laura Del Rio, Philadelphia Independence, Sky Blue FC, Tasha Kai
Tasha Kai got a rare WPS hat trick as the Philadelphia Independence defeated Sky Blue FC 4-3 on Wednesday evening. And to make it a perfect evening for Kai, her mother and brother were in attendance to see her performance.
The Independence temporarily take over first place, although it must be said that they have played two more matches than Western New York. Sky Blue remains in 4th place, tied with the Boston Breakers.
Kai's hat track was only the second ever in WPS play. The first was almost two years ago, on July 12, 2009, when Cristiane scored a hat trick for the Chicago Red Stars against FC Gold Pride. Kai's is the first hat trick that did not include a penalty kick. ***
Kai scored the opening goal of the match in just the third minute and later scored the game tying goal twice to bring Philadelphia back after they had fallen behind.
After Kai had scored to put Philly on top, a defensive mixup caused an own goal to the benefit of Sky Blue, which tied the match at one. Rookie Alyssa Mautz scored her first career goal, heading one home in the 20th minute to temporarily give Sky Blue a 2-1 lead.
Kai tied the match with a header of her own in the 29th minute. But the Independence surrendered the lead again before halftime, as veteran defender Kendall Fletcher also scored her first WPS goal in her 45th career game.
Kai tied the match yet again in the 57th minute on an assist by Spanish striker Veronica Boquete. But it was another Spanish striker who would get the game winner, as Laura del Rio scored in the 78th minute, just moments after she had subbed in for Kai, to seal the win for Philadelphia.
Philadelphia raises their record to 6-2-3, good for 21 points. Sky Blue falls to 3-4-3, suffering their first loss in six outings. This was the second highest scoring WPS game ever, behind a 4-4 match between Sky Blue and Washington back in 2009. Interestingly enough, Kai scored two goals in that match.
*** In fact, Kai's hat trick was the third WPS hat trick ever and the second that did not include a penalty kick. Abby Wambach scored a hat trick on May 28 of this season against the Atlanta Beat. My sincerest apologies for the error and thanks to my friend Austin for pointing that error out.
The Independence temporarily take over first place, although it must be said that they have played two more matches than Western New York. Sky Blue remains in 4th place, tied with the Boston Breakers.
Kai's hat track was only the second ever in WPS play. The first was almost two years ago, on July 12, 2009, when Cristiane scored a hat trick for the Chicago Red Stars against FC Gold Pride. Kai's is the first hat trick that did not include a penalty kick. ***
Kai scored the opening goal of the match in just the third minute and later scored the game tying goal twice to bring Philadelphia back after they had fallen behind.
After Kai had scored to put Philly on top, a defensive mixup caused an own goal to the benefit of Sky Blue, which tied the match at one. Rookie Alyssa Mautz scored her first career goal, heading one home in the 20th minute to temporarily give Sky Blue a 2-1 lead.
Kai tied the match with a header of her own in the 29th minute. But the Independence surrendered the lead again before halftime, as veteran defender Kendall Fletcher also scored her first WPS goal in her 45th career game.
Kai tied the match yet again in the 57th minute on an assist by Spanish striker Veronica Boquete. But it was another Spanish striker who would get the game winner, as Laura del Rio scored in the 78th minute, just moments after she had subbed in for Kai, to seal the win for Philadelphia.
Philadelphia raises their record to 6-2-3, good for 21 points. Sky Blue falls to 3-4-3, suffering their first loss in six outings. This was the second highest scoring WPS game ever, behind a 4-4 match between Sky Blue and Washington back in 2009. Interestingly enough, Kai scored two goals in that match.
*** In fact, Kai's hat trick was the third WPS hat trick ever and the second that did not include a penalty kick. Abby Wambach scored a hat trick on May 28 of this season against the Atlanta Beat. My sincerest apologies for the error and thanks to my friend Austin for pointing that error out.
June 26, 2011
Philadelphia Closes in on WNY with 3-1 Victory
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Labels: 2011 WPS, Christen Press, Kia McNeill, magicJack, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai, Val Henderson, Veronica Boquete
Labels: 2011 WPS, Christen Press, Kia McNeill, magicJack, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai, Val Henderson, Veronica Boquete
The Philadelphia Independence were only able to match half of last week's output, but it was more than enough as they defeated magicJack 3-1. The depleted magicJack squad only had 13 players active for the match.
Kia McNeill opened the scoring in the 29th minute. A corner kick opportunity led to the goal, with Danesha Adams getting the assist. It was McNeill's first WPS goal.
Veronica Boquete doubled the lead just six minutes later. Tina DiMartino sent Boquete through and Phiadelphia had equaled their halftime lead of a week ago.
Tasha Kai scored her fourth goal of the season just after the start of the second half, on a header after Joanna Lohman had sent in a cross.
Christen Press got magicJack on the scoreboard in the 56th minute, but that was all magicJack was to get. Val Henderson gets the victory in goal for Philadelphia.
Philadelphia raises their record to 5-2-3, good for 18 points and second place behind Western New York. magicJack falls to 5-4-0 and they remain in 3rd place at the halfway point in their season. The Independence now have a short break before facing Sky Blue in a midweek match on July 6. magicJack's next match is also against Sky Blue on July 9.
WPS Standings at the World Cup Break:
(1) Western New York 6-1-2, 20 pts; (2) Philadelphia 5-2-3, 18 pts; (3) magicJack 5-4-0, 14 pts; (4) Sky Blue FC 3-3-3, 12 pts; (5) Boston 3-5-3, 12 pts; (6) Atlanta 1-8-3, 6 pts.
Kia McNeill opened the scoring in the 29th minute. A corner kick opportunity led to the goal, with Danesha Adams getting the assist. It was McNeill's first WPS goal.
Veronica Boquete doubled the lead just six minutes later. Tina DiMartino sent Boquete through and Phiadelphia had equaled their halftime lead of a week ago.
Tasha Kai scored her fourth goal of the season just after the start of the second half, on a header after Joanna Lohman had sent in a cross.
Christen Press got magicJack on the scoreboard in the 56th minute, but that was all magicJack was to get. Val Henderson gets the victory in goal for Philadelphia.
Philadelphia raises their record to 5-2-3, good for 18 points and second place behind Western New York. magicJack falls to 5-4-0 and they remain in 3rd place at the halfway point in their season. The Independence now have a short break before facing Sky Blue in a midweek match on July 6. magicJack's next match is also against Sky Blue on July 9.
WPS Standings at the World Cup Break:
(1) Western New York 6-1-2, 20 pts; (2) Philadelphia 5-2-3, 18 pts; (3) magicJack 5-4-0, 14 pts; (4) Sky Blue FC 3-3-3, 12 pts; (5) Boston 3-5-3, 12 pts; (6) Atlanta 1-8-3, 6 pts.
June 19, 2011
Lopsided Win for Independence
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Labels: 2011 WPS, Danesha Adams, Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Lianne Sanderson, magicJack, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai, Val Henderson, Veronica Boquete
Labels: 2011 WPS, Danesha Adams, Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Lianne Sanderson, magicJack, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai, Val Henderson, Veronica Boquete
The Philadelphia Independence moved into second place and wrote their name to the record books as well, taking a 6-0 decision over magicJack. Danesha Adams scored twice and Tasha Kai, Lianne Sanderson, Veronica Boquete, and Frida Magnusdottir each added a goal.
The six goals ties a record set by FC Gold Pride in 2010, who scored six times against the Atlanta Beat on August 28. The six goal margin breaks the old record of five, also set in the same match by Gold Pride.
The Independence struck for two goals in the opening half and held that lead into the 70th minute. Then they scored four times in the final 20 minutes. magicJack goalkeeper Brett Maron was redcarded late in the contest and they finished playing ten.
Val Henderson posted her third shutout of the season for Philadelphia and the Independence has now held their opponents scoreless for 337 consecutive minutes.
Philadelphia improves their record to 4-2-3, reaching the midway point in their schedule with 15 points. It moves them one point ahead of magicJack, who is now 5-3-0, good for 14 points after subtracting their penalty. The two teams will meet again next Saturday in a makeup for the match postponed because of weather back in April.
The six goals ties a record set by FC Gold Pride in 2010, who scored six times against the Atlanta Beat on August 28. The six goal margin breaks the old record of five, also set in the same match by Gold Pride.
The Independence struck for two goals in the opening half and held that lead into the 70th minute. Then they scored four times in the final 20 minutes. magicJack goalkeeper Brett Maron was redcarded late in the contest and they finished playing ten.
Val Henderson posted her third shutout of the season for Philadelphia and the Independence has now held their opponents scoreless for 337 consecutive minutes.
Philadelphia improves their record to 4-2-3, reaching the midway point in their schedule with 15 points. It moves them one point ahead of magicJack, who is now 5-3-0, good for 14 points after subtracting their penalty. The two teams will meet again next Saturday in a makeup for the match postponed because of weather back in April.
June 12, 2011
Adams Goal Lifts Independence over Flash
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Labels: 2011 WPS, Ashlyn Harris, Danesha Adams, Kia McNeill, Lianne Sanderson, Marta, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai, Val Henderson, Western New York Flash
Labels: 2011 WPS, Ashlyn Harris, Danesha Adams, Kia McNeill, Lianne Sanderson, Marta, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai, Val Henderson, Western New York Flash
Danesha Adams' goal in the 90th minute gave the Philadelphia Independence a 1-0 victory over a shocked Western New York Flash.
It looked for all the world that this match was destined to end in a scoreless tie, but Lianne Sanderson hit a well-placed cross from the left wing to an inexplicably wide open Adams, who calmly headed the ball into the right side of the goal past Flash keeper Ashlyn Harris. The Flash seemingly fell asleep as they had several defenders back, but nobody marked Adams on the play.
Adams, who had seen only 40 minutes of action for Philadelphia this season, came on in the 64th minute of the contest for a hobbled Tasha Kai. It was Adams who got the winning goal in last year's WPS semifinal match against Boston, but she has seen less action this season after Philly acquired Kai and Laura del Rio.
With several players missing for both sides, not many scoring chances were created during the match. Neither side were able to make the final pass or hit a proper shot to score. Only seven shots were placed on frame for the entire match.
Philadelphia had an early scare when Val Henderson missed a back pass from Nikki Krzysik, but it only cost the Independence a corner kick. In the 20th minute, Marta placed a nice pass into the penalty area for Yael Averbuch, but her shot rolled just wide.
The Independence had very few opportunities in the opening half. Late in the half, an Estelle Johnson cross hit the top of the crossbar, but Harris appeared to have it covered in any case.
Kia McNeill drew the unenviable task of marking Marta for most of the match and was able to keep the Brazilian striker in check, as the two had a rather spirited battle for most of the evening. McNeill was able to limit Marta's chances and when she did gain opportunities, McNeill usually was able to force her to her less-lethal right foot.
Marta's best chance came in the 56th minute as she was able to cut to the right side of the box just past McNeill, but Henderson came out to grab the ball before she could get a shot off.
Tasha Kai came up lame after a collision for a head ball in the 57th minute and appeared to hurt her right ankle. She continued on for five minutes, before leaving the match.
A little later, Frida Magnusdottir took advantage of a Flash turnover and let go of a hard shot from the right side of the box. Her attempt went just wide, with Harris grabbing the shot as it was already past the end line.
With the game apparently heading for a tie, Philadelphia was able to force a turnover in the midfield and it was time for Adams' heroics.
Val Henderson earned her second shutout in three starts for Philadelphia.
Western New York suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 6-1-2, but still in possession of first place. They are now on a four week hiatus while the World Cup is being played.
Philadelphia improves to 3-2-3 and leapfrogs Boston into third place. They now trail second place magicJack by three points, a team they will now face twice in a row. They host magicJack in a regularly scheduled match next Saturday and then make up the April 16th match that was postponed on June 25.
WPS Standings
(1) Western New York 6-1-2, 20 pts; (2) magicJack 5-2-0, 14 pts; (3) Philadelphia 3-2-3, 12 pts; (4) Boston 3-5-2, 11 pts; (5) Sky Blue FC 2-3-3, 9 pts; (6) Atlanta 1-7-2, 5 pts.
It looked for all the world that this match was destined to end in a scoreless tie, but Lianne Sanderson hit a well-placed cross from the left wing to an inexplicably wide open Adams, who calmly headed the ball into the right side of the goal past Flash keeper Ashlyn Harris. The Flash seemingly fell asleep as they had several defenders back, but nobody marked Adams on the play.
Adams, who had seen only 40 minutes of action for Philadelphia this season, came on in the 64th minute of the contest for a hobbled Tasha Kai. It was Adams who got the winning goal in last year's WPS semifinal match against Boston, but she has seen less action this season after Philly acquired Kai and Laura del Rio.
With several players missing for both sides, not many scoring chances were created during the match. Neither side were able to make the final pass or hit a proper shot to score. Only seven shots were placed on frame for the entire match.
Philadelphia had an early scare when Val Henderson missed a back pass from Nikki Krzysik, but it only cost the Independence a corner kick. In the 20th minute, Marta placed a nice pass into the penalty area for Yael Averbuch, but her shot rolled just wide.
The Independence had very few opportunities in the opening half. Late in the half, an Estelle Johnson cross hit the top of the crossbar, but Harris appeared to have it covered in any case.
Kia McNeill drew the unenviable task of marking Marta for most of the match and was able to keep the Brazilian striker in check, as the two had a rather spirited battle for most of the evening. McNeill was able to limit Marta's chances and when she did gain opportunities, McNeill usually was able to force her to her less-lethal right foot.
Marta's best chance came in the 56th minute as she was able to cut to the right side of the box just past McNeill, but Henderson came out to grab the ball before she could get a shot off.
Tasha Kai came up lame after a collision for a head ball in the 57th minute and appeared to hurt her right ankle. She continued on for five minutes, before leaving the match.
A little later, Frida Magnusdottir took advantage of a Flash turnover and let go of a hard shot from the right side of the box. Her attempt went just wide, with Harris grabbing the shot as it was already past the end line.
With the game apparently heading for a tie, Philadelphia was able to force a turnover in the midfield and it was time for Adams' heroics.
Val Henderson earned her second shutout in three starts for Philadelphia.
Western New York suffered their first loss of the season, falling to 6-1-2, but still in possession of first place. They are now on a four week hiatus while the World Cup is being played.
Philadelphia improves to 3-2-3 and leapfrogs Boston into third place. They now trail second place magicJack by three points, a team they will now face twice in a row. They host magicJack in a regularly scheduled match next Saturday and then make up the April 16th match that was postponed on June 25.
WPS Standings
(1) Western New York 6-1-2, 20 pts; (2) magicJack 5-2-0, 14 pts; (3) Philadelphia 3-2-3, 12 pts; (4) Boston 3-5-2, 11 pts; (5) Sky Blue FC 2-3-3, 9 pts; (6) Atlanta 1-7-2, 5 pts.
May 22, 2011
Boston and Philly Battle to a 1-1 Tie
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Labels: 2011 WPS, Boston Breakers, Keelin Winters, Kristine Lilly, Lauren Cheney, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai
Labels: 2011 WPS, Boston Breakers, Keelin Winters, Kristine Lilly, Lauren Cheney, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai
The Philadelphia Independence and Boston Breakers fought to a 1-1 tie on Sunday afternoon. Philadelphia holds on to third place in WPS.
The game went scoreless for nearly all of the first half, until Tasha Kai scored for Philadelphia in the 44th minute, her second goal of the season.
After the break, it didn't take long for the Breakers to pull even. Keelin Winters put the initial header on frame with Nicole Barnhart barely keeping it out of the goal, but Lauren Cheney was there to finish off the rebound with a header of her own to tie the score.
On the injury front, Nikki Washington was forced to leave the game early in the first half. We will update her status as information becomes available.
Philadelphia's record goes to 2-1-2. They host league leading Western New York next Sunday. Boston is now 2-4-1 and they travel to New Jersey to face Sky Blue next Saturday in a battle for 4th place.
All-time great Kristine Lilly was honored at halftime, retiring her number 13 for the Breakers, a first in WPS.
The game went scoreless for nearly all of the first half, until Tasha Kai scored for Philadelphia in the 44th minute, her second goal of the season.
After the break, it didn't take long for the Breakers to pull even. Keelin Winters put the initial header on frame with Nicole Barnhart barely keeping it out of the goal, but Lauren Cheney was there to finish off the rebound with a header of her own to tie the score.
On the injury front, Nikki Washington was forced to leave the game early in the first half. We will update her status as information becomes available.
Philadelphia's record goes to 2-1-2. They host league leading Western New York next Sunday. Boston is now 2-4-1 and they travel to New Jersey to face Sky Blue next Saturday in a battle for 4th place.
All-time great Kristine Lilly was honored at halftime, retiring her number 13 for the Breakers, a first in WPS.
May 8, 2011
magicJack Remains Unbeaten; Philly Defeats Breakers
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Labels: 2011 WPS, Alyssa Naeher, Atlanta Beat, Christen Press, Ella Masar, Hope Solo, Lianne Sanderson, magicJack, Nicole Barnhart, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai, Tina DiMartino
Labels: 2011 WPS, Alyssa Naeher, Atlanta Beat, Christen Press, Ella Masar, Hope Solo, Lianne Sanderson, magicJack, Nicole Barnhart, Philadelphia Independence, Tasha Kai, Tina DiMartino
magicJack 2, Atlanta Beat 0
Rookie Christen Press scored her first WPS goal and Ella Masar added another as magicJack won their third straight by a 2-0 margin over Atlanta in Boca Raton.
Press, who led all scorers in college with 26 goals in 2010, scored her first professional goal with magicJack. Her goal came in the 64th minute, after Ella Masar had opened the scoring in the 24th minute. The Stanford alum was the number four overall selection in the January draft. Masar's goal was her second of the season.
Hope Solo earned the shutout for magicJack, who outshot Atlanta by a 12-2 margin. This was the second shutout of the season for magicJack.
magicJack has a bye week before heading to Rochester to play the league's other unbeaten team, Western New York, on May 22 in what should be an interesting matchup. Atlanta, whose record fell to 1-3-1, will return home to face Philadelphia next Sunday.
Philadelphia Independence 2, Boston Breakers 0
The Independence played an all-round solid match in defeating the Breakers 2-0 tonight in Chester, Pennsylvania. It was the first home match and the first victory of the season for Philadelphia.
Both goalkeepers were sharp early on. In the 17th minute, Tina DiMartino found Tasha Kai alone on the left side, but Breakers' keeper Alyssa Naeher slid out to stop Kai's shot.
Later in the half, Kelly Smith was able to control a loose ball at the 18 and after a quick touch to the left, unleashed a wicked shot in tight space that Nicole Barnhart was just barely able to tip over the crossbar. Later, Smith nearly sent Alex Scott through, but a sliding Barnhart was able to thwart that effort.
Philadelphia finally broke through in the 41st minute on a great effort by Tasha Kai. Leigh Ann Robinson sent a long ball out of the back to start the play. Kai was able to fend off Boston defender Ifeoma Dieke to get her shot off past Naeher. The ball hit the right post, rebounding in front of the net. Kai hustled to the ball and finished with a diving header, just ahead of Dieke, to put the Independence up 1-0.
Philadelphia continued to pressure into the second half. Tina DiMartino made a long run from the right sideline to the top of the box, before finding Amy Rodriguez on the left side. Rodriguez struck a low shot that Naeher made a terrific save on, only to have Lianne Sanderson find the rebound and knock it home from an extreme angle on the far side of the net.
From that point forward, the Independence controlled the match. Boston's players looked more and more weary as the match wore on, perhaps a by product of having several USWNT players on their team who had just concluded a vigorous training camp in Florida.
For her part, Naeher tried to keep her team in the match, making several nice saves in the second half. She twice disappointed Laura del Rio with nice saves and stopped Sinead Farrelly on yet another. Naeher dodged a bullet in the 81st minute as Lori Lindsey's blast from 22 yards sailed over the net.
Philadelphia's defense was strong throughout the match and were able to keep the Boston attack in check. Their midfield did an excellent job of controlling the field and linking with forwards Kai, Rodriguez, and del Rio.
The Independence earned a well-deserved victory for their performance and evened their record at 1-1-1. They are now tied for 4th place with four points. Boston dropped to 2-3-0 and sit in 3rd place for the moment.
Philadelphia travels to Atlanta to meet the Beat next Sunday. Boston travels to Rochester to face league leading Western New York on Friday night.
WPS Standings
(1)Western New York (3-0-1, 10 pts); (2)magicJack (3-0-0, 9 pts); (3)Boston (2-3-0, 6 pts); (4)Philadelphia (1-1-1, 4 pts); (5)Atlanta (1-3-1, 4 pts); (6)Sky Blue FC (0-3-1, 1 pt).
Rookie Christen Press scored her first WPS goal and Ella Masar added another as magicJack won their third straight by a 2-0 margin over Atlanta in Boca Raton.
Press, who led all scorers in college with 26 goals in 2010, scored her first professional goal with magicJack. Her goal came in the 64th minute, after Ella Masar had opened the scoring in the 24th minute. The Stanford alum was the number four overall selection in the January draft. Masar's goal was her second of the season.
Hope Solo earned the shutout for magicJack, who outshot Atlanta by a 12-2 margin. This was the second shutout of the season for magicJack.
magicJack has a bye week before heading to Rochester to play the league's other unbeaten team, Western New York, on May 22 in what should be an interesting matchup. Atlanta, whose record fell to 1-3-1, will return home to face Philadelphia next Sunday.
Philadelphia Independence 2, Boston Breakers 0
The Independence played an all-round solid match in defeating the Breakers 2-0 tonight in Chester, Pennsylvania. It was the first home match and the first victory of the season for Philadelphia.
Both goalkeepers were sharp early on. In the 17th minute, Tina DiMartino found Tasha Kai alone on the left side, but Breakers' keeper Alyssa Naeher slid out to stop Kai's shot.
Later in the half, Kelly Smith was able to control a loose ball at the 18 and after a quick touch to the left, unleashed a wicked shot in tight space that Nicole Barnhart was just barely able to tip over the crossbar. Later, Smith nearly sent Alex Scott through, but a sliding Barnhart was able to thwart that effort.
Philadelphia finally broke through in the 41st minute on a great effort by Tasha Kai. Leigh Ann Robinson sent a long ball out of the back to start the play. Kai was able to fend off Boston defender Ifeoma Dieke to get her shot off past Naeher. The ball hit the right post, rebounding in front of the net. Kai hustled to the ball and finished with a diving header, just ahead of Dieke, to put the Independence up 1-0.
Philadelphia continued to pressure into the second half. Tina DiMartino made a long run from the right sideline to the top of the box, before finding Amy Rodriguez on the left side. Rodriguez struck a low shot that Naeher made a terrific save on, only to have Lianne Sanderson find the rebound and knock it home from an extreme angle on the far side of the net.
From that point forward, the Independence controlled the match. Boston's players looked more and more weary as the match wore on, perhaps a by product of having several USWNT players on their team who had just concluded a vigorous training camp in Florida.
For her part, Naeher tried to keep her team in the match, making several nice saves in the second half. She twice disappointed Laura del Rio with nice saves and stopped Sinead Farrelly on yet another. Naeher dodged a bullet in the 81st minute as Lori Lindsey's blast from 22 yards sailed over the net.
Philadelphia's defense was strong throughout the match and were able to keep the Boston attack in check. Their midfield did an excellent job of controlling the field and linking with forwards Kai, Rodriguez, and del Rio.
The Independence earned a well-deserved victory for their performance and evened their record at 1-1-1. They are now tied for 4th place with four points. Boston dropped to 2-3-0 and sit in 3rd place for the moment.
Philadelphia travels to Atlanta to meet the Beat next Sunday. Boston travels to Rochester to face league leading Western New York on Friday night.
WPS Standings
(1)Western New York (3-0-1, 10 pts); (2)magicJack (3-0-0, 9 pts); (3)Boston (2-3-0, 6 pts); (4)Philadelphia (1-1-1, 4 pts); (5)Atlanta (1-3-1, 4 pts); (6)Sky Blue FC (0-3-1, 1 pt).
April 10, 2011
Philadelphia at Sky Blue FC
Perhaps it is fitting that Tasha Kai's first match for her new team, the Philadelphia Independence, would be against her old team, Sky Blue FC. By most accounts, the relationship between Kai and Sky Blue was a bit of a rocky one in 2010.
One fact that remains is that Kai was Sky Blue's leading scorer both seasons. She scored 11 of Sky Blue's 39 goals in 2009-10. When she takes the field today, it will be in the familiar surroundings of Yurcak Field, but wearing a visitor's kit instead.
It will also be a new start for former Washington coach Jim Gabarra, who took the Freedom to the playoffs in 2009 and 2010, the only team to be in the playoffs both years. Gabarra's squad looked pretty sharp in a preseason warmup tournament in Turkey, winning two of their three matches.
Sky Blue overhauled their roster for the 2011 season. Besides Kai, gone are Christie Rampone, Kacey White, Keeley Dowling, Meghan Schnur, Yael Averbuch, and Rosana, all starters, all two-year veterans for Sky Blue, and all members of the 2009 championship side.
The new cast consists of some pretty good talent, too. SBFC brought in Eni Aluko, Angie Kerr, Tobin Heath, and Carolyn Blank from Atlanta. They picked up Carrie Dew, Erin Guthrie, and Casey Nogueira from Gold Pride and Chicago. They also added a pair of new internationals, Swedish veteran Therese Sjögran and Spanish striker Adriana.
The only constants over the three seasons are a pair of goalkeepers, Karen Bardsley and Jen Branam, and USWNT starter Heather O'Reilly. Those three, plus veteran defender Kendall Fletcher, Finnish striker Laura Kalmari, and three second-year players, Brittany Taylor, Danielle Johnson, and Kiersten Dallstream, are the only returnees from 2010.
With Aluko and Kalmari starting up front, Sky Blue has a fairly accomplished scoring duo. The addition of Heath and Sjögran should help Sky Blue have better control of possession in the midfield. The tandem of Bardsley and Branam in goal should make Sky Blue hard to score against.
Philadelphia did a nice job of keeping their 2010 runner-up team together. Ten of the eleven starters from the 2010 championship match return for the 2011 season. Only Caroline Seger is missing from that lineup, so the Independence should come together quite quickly in the new season.
If anything, Philadelphia has added more offense, bringing in a pair of Spanish strikers Laura del Rio and Veronica Boquete, USWNT starter Megan Rapinoe, and the aforementioned Tasha Kai. They drafted a pair of highly regarded midfielders, Sinead Farrelly out of Virginia and Lauren Fowlkes out of Notre Dame. Another addition is USWNT goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, picked up from Gold Pride. Coach Paul Riley has a lot of talent at his disposal.
With a very strong midfield group back, including Lori Lindsey, Tina DiMartino, Joanna Lohman, and Jen Buczkowski, this team should be able to win many battles for possession. If the Independence can defend, they should be a tough team to beat. Val Henderson returns in goal after becoming the Independence starter down the stretch.
Sky Blue was the Cinderella story in 2009 and Philadelphia very nearly was in 2010. Whatever happens, this should be an interesting contest to start the season.
Roster Report: Allison Falk and Danesha Adams are listed as injured for Philadelphia, while Veronica Boquete is listed as unavailable and Frida Magnusdottir will not make the trip to New Jersey.
For Sky Blue, Lindsey Johnson is injured and Adriana is listed as unavailable for today's match.
One fact that remains is that Kai was Sky Blue's leading scorer both seasons. She scored 11 of Sky Blue's 39 goals in 2009-10. When she takes the field today, it will be in the familiar surroundings of Yurcak Field, but wearing a visitor's kit instead.
It will also be a new start for former Washington coach Jim Gabarra, who took the Freedom to the playoffs in 2009 and 2010, the only team to be in the playoffs both years. Gabarra's squad looked pretty sharp in a preseason warmup tournament in Turkey, winning two of their three matches.
Sky Blue overhauled their roster for the 2011 season. Besides Kai, gone are Christie Rampone, Kacey White, Keeley Dowling, Meghan Schnur, Yael Averbuch, and Rosana, all starters, all two-year veterans for Sky Blue, and all members of the 2009 championship side.
The new cast consists of some pretty good talent, too. SBFC brought in Eni Aluko, Angie Kerr, Tobin Heath, and Carolyn Blank from Atlanta. They picked up Carrie Dew, Erin Guthrie, and Casey Nogueira from Gold Pride and Chicago. They also added a pair of new internationals, Swedish veteran Therese Sjögran and Spanish striker Adriana.
The only constants over the three seasons are a pair of goalkeepers, Karen Bardsley and Jen Branam, and USWNT starter Heather O'Reilly. Those three, plus veteran defender Kendall Fletcher, Finnish striker Laura Kalmari, and three second-year players, Brittany Taylor, Danielle Johnson, and Kiersten Dallstream, are the only returnees from 2010.
With Aluko and Kalmari starting up front, Sky Blue has a fairly accomplished scoring duo. The addition of Heath and Sjögran should help Sky Blue have better control of possession in the midfield. The tandem of Bardsley and Branam in goal should make Sky Blue hard to score against.
Philadelphia did a nice job of keeping their 2010 runner-up team together. Ten of the eleven starters from the 2010 championship match return for the 2011 season. Only Caroline Seger is missing from that lineup, so the Independence should come together quite quickly in the new season.
If anything, Philadelphia has added more offense, bringing in a pair of Spanish strikers Laura del Rio and Veronica Boquete, USWNT starter Megan Rapinoe, and the aforementioned Tasha Kai. They drafted a pair of highly regarded midfielders, Sinead Farrelly out of Virginia and Lauren Fowlkes out of Notre Dame. Another addition is USWNT goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, picked up from Gold Pride. Coach Paul Riley has a lot of talent at his disposal.
With a very strong midfield group back, including Lori Lindsey, Tina DiMartino, Joanna Lohman, and Jen Buczkowski, this team should be able to win many battles for possession. If the Independence can defend, they should be a tough team to beat. Val Henderson returns in goal after becoming the Independence starter down the stretch.
Sky Blue was the Cinderella story in 2009 and Philadelphia very nearly was in 2010. Whatever happens, this should be an interesting contest to start the season.
Roster Report: Allison Falk and Danesha Adams are listed as injured for Philadelphia, while Veronica Boquete is listed as unavailable and Frida Magnusdottir will not make the trip to New Jersey.
For Sky Blue, Lindsey Johnson is injured and Adriana is listed as unavailable for today's match.
April 5, 2011
2011 Philadelphia Independence Preview
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Labels: 2011 WPS, Amy Rodriguez, Lori Lindsey, Megan Rapinoe, Nicole Barnhart, Philadelphia Independence, Sinead Farrelly, Tasha Kai, Val Henderson
Labels: 2011 WPS, Amy Rodriguez, Lori Lindsey, Megan Rapinoe, Nicole Barnhart, Philadelphia Independence, Sinead Farrelly, Tasha Kai, Val Henderson
Philadelphia Independence
Coach: Paul Riley (2nd year)
2010 Record: 10-10-4 (3rd place, finished runner-up in playoffs)
Home Stadium: Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium (Chester, Pennsylvania)
Roster:
Goalkeepers (2): Nicole Barnhart, Val Henderson.
Defenders (6): Lauren Barnes(R), Allison Falk, Estelle Johnson, Nikki Krzysik, Kia McNeill, Leigh Ann Robinson.
Midfielders (7): Jen Buczkowski, Christina DiMartino, Sinead Farrelly(R), Lauren Fowlkes(R), Lori Lindsey, Joanna Lohman, Megan Rapinoe.
Forwards (8): Danesha Adams, Veronica Boquete, Laura del Rio, Gina DiMartino, Tasha Kai, Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Amy Rodriguez, Lianne Sanderson.
(R) denotes true rookie; returning players in bold.
Probable World Cup players: Barnhart, Lindsey, Rapinoe, Rodriguez.
Like Boston, Philadelphia returns most of their roster from last season, 13 players in all. They only lost three players that saw appreciable playing time…Caroline Seger, Heather Mitts, and Sara Larsson. And they have made some additions that should impact the team, including two USWNT players, Megan Rapinoe and Nicole Barnhart. In addition to Rapinoe, the Independence brought in three exciting offensive options with Tasha Kai, Veronica Boquete, and Laura del Rio.
Another positive for this team is that they will be less affected by the World Cup than most of the rest of the league, losing in all likelihood only four players. With the depth they have added, they are probably positioned as well as any team heading into a season that will certainly be somewhat disrupted by the World Cup.
Goalkeepers: The Independence face the 2011 season with both starting goalkeepers from the 2010 championship game. What more can you say? Nicole Barnhart has been a fixture on the USWNT for years, playing in Hope Solo’s shadow. But between her brilliant season with Gold Pride last year and getting several starts on the national team due to Solo’s shoulder surgery, she has come into her own as a strong keeper. Last season, she posted a 0.77 goals against average with eight shutouts.
Val Henderson started the 2010 season battling for the number one spot with Karina LeBlanc, but by the end of the season, she had won the job and started all three playoff matches. Yes, Philly got blitzed by four Gold Pride goals in the final, but Henderson did a very capable job up until then. Only a temporary situation I’m sure, but the Independence have just two goalkeepers on their roster, a situation that must change when Barnhart is away on national team duties.
Defenders: With veterans Mitts and Larsson no longer on the team, Philadelphia acquired Leigh Ann Robinson and Kia McNeill from Atlanta and drafted Lauren Barnes out of UCLA. They will join returning players Allison Falk, Nikki Krzysik, and Estelle Johnson.
The trio of McNeill, Falk, and Krzysik in the middle give Philly a very physical central backfield. McNeill and Falk are both good in the air. Falk can be a weapon on set pieces in the offensive third as well. Rookie Lauren Barnes adds depth. Robinson and Johnson could be the starters outside. Johnson had a strong rookie season for the Independence in 2010.
I imagine Paul Riley would like to see Robinson get forward, something she did quite well at times with Gold Pride in 2009, but was unable to do as much last season with Atlanta. The other outside option is Frida Magnusdottir, a fast, aggressive player that seems to be at home anywhere on the field and is listed as a forward.
Midfielders: Philly’s biggest loss in the offseason was probably Caroline Seger, the excellent Swedish midfielder that is now with Western New York. However, don’t feel too bad for the Independence. They added USWNT winger Megan Rapinoe and two promising draft selections, Sinead Farrelly and Lauren Fowlkes.
Farrelly is a talented young player out of the University of Virginia. She is known for having great vision and is excellent at distributing the ball. Oh, and she can score as well, with 30 goals in her career with the Cavaliers. Fowlkes, a Notre Dame alum, has good size at 5-10 and can play defensive mid or center back.
While Rapinoe has struggled at times in her WPS career, she is a solid performer on the USWNT. Hopefully, coach Paul Riley’s system will bring out the best in her. With returnees like the always solid Lori Lindsey and the highly skilled Tina DiMartino, this could be one of the best midfields in the league. For depth, add veterans Joanna Lohman and Jen Buczkowski, both of whom were full-time starters on last year’s team and this is a quite impressive group.
Forwards: One problem for Coach Riley is going to be getting playing time for all the options he has at forward. He has the leading scorer from last year, Amy Rodriguez, who had 12 goals and 6 assists. After a disappointing rookie season, Rodriguez showed what she could do last season. With her speed and now with added experience on timing her runs, there is no reason to think she won’t have another good season this year.
Riley also has Tasha Kai, who led Sky Blue in goals two years running. And perhaps this year, she will be injury-free, something that has plagued her over the last two years. Riley has raved about her performance in preseason. Philly also returns English striker Lianne Sanderson, who showed flashes of her talent last year scoring five goals.
Two Spanish forwards, Laura del Rio and Veronica Boquete also join the team. Boquete is extremely fast, having a strong season with Buffalo in the W-League, before having a stellar, if short, stint with the Chicago Red Stars. Del Rio is a veteran who knows how to score, but has yet to make a big impact in WPS. Add Danesha Adams, who probably scored the biggest goal in Independence history against Boston in overtime, sending them to the finals, and DiMartino sister number two, Gina.
Outlook: This team really has everything it needs to compete for the title. They have speed, talent, skill, and no one is going to push this team around. The speed this team has up front will give opponents all sorts of trouble.
One would think that last year’s runner-up finish would make Philadelphia favorites, with Gold Pride no longer around. But this league is very tough at the top and winning a championship will not be easy. Even with last year’s phenomenal success, the Independence only finished the regular season with an even 10-10-4 mark.
You have to like that this team kept its nucleus together and made some nice additions. They will not be hurt by the World Cup as much as either Western New York or Boston, who stand to lose twice as many players, or even Sky Blue which will likely lose six. But when it comes down to it, the other teams will have most of their roster come playoff time, so the Independence will still have to beat the best to climb to the top.
The Independence should have an exciting attack, with plenty of options, and they should be able to match last year’s strength in the midfield. It may come down to how well this team can defend. While their back line is solid, it does not have all the national team players that grace a few of the other defenses around the league. But if they can play solid team defense, this team should do quite well.
Coach: Paul Riley (2nd year)
2010 Record: 10-10-4 (3rd place, finished runner-up in playoffs)
Home Stadium: Leslie C. Quick Jr. Stadium (Chester, Pennsylvania)
Roster:
Goalkeepers (2): Nicole Barnhart, Val Henderson.
Defenders (6): Lauren Barnes(R), Allison Falk, Estelle Johnson, Nikki Krzysik, Kia McNeill, Leigh Ann Robinson.
Midfielders (7): Jen Buczkowski, Christina DiMartino, Sinead Farrelly(R), Lauren Fowlkes(R), Lori Lindsey, Joanna Lohman, Megan Rapinoe.
Forwards (8): Danesha Adams, Veronica Boquete, Laura del Rio, Gina DiMartino, Tasha Kai, Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Amy Rodriguez, Lianne Sanderson.
(R) denotes true rookie; returning players in bold.
Probable World Cup players: Barnhart, Lindsey, Rapinoe, Rodriguez.
Like Boston, Philadelphia returns most of their roster from last season, 13 players in all. They only lost three players that saw appreciable playing time…Caroline Seger, Heather Mitts, and Sara Larsson. And they have made some additions that should impact the team, including two USWNT players, Megan Rapinoe and Nicole Barnhart. In addition to Rapinoe, the Independence brought in three exciting offensive options with Tasha Kai, Veronica Boquete, and Laura del Rio.
Another positive for this team is that they will be less affected by the World Cup than most of the rest of the league, losing in all likelihood only four players. With the depth they have added, they are probably positioned as well as any team heading into a season that will certainly be somewhat disrupted by the World Cup.
Goalkeepers: The Independence face the 2011 season with both starting goalkeepers from the 2010 championship game. What more can you say? Nicole Barnhart has been a fixture on the USWNT for years, playing in Hope Solo’s shadow. But between her brilliant season with Gold Pride last year and getting several starts on the national team due to Solo’s shoulder surgery, she has come into her own as a strong keeper. Last season, she posted a 0.77 goals against average with eight shutouts.
Val Henderson started the 2010 season battling for the number one spot with Karina LeBlanc, but by the end of the season, she had won the job and started all three playoff matches. Yes, Philly got blitzed by four Gold Pride goals in the final, but Henderson did a very capable job up until then. Only a temporary situation I’m sure, but the Independence have just two goalkeepers on their roster, a situation that must change when Barnhart is away on national team duties.
Defenders: With veterans Mitts and Larsson no longer on the team, Philadelphia acquired Leigh Ann Robinson and Kia McNeill from Atlanta and drafted Lauren Barnes out of UCLA. They will join returning players Allison Falk, Nikki Krzysik, and Estelle Johnson.
The trio of McNeill, Falk, and Krzysik in the middle give Philly a very physical central backfield. McNeill and Falk are both good in the air. Falk can be a weapon on set pieces in the offensive third as well. Rookie Lauren Barnes adds depth. Robinson and Johnson could be the starters outside. Johnson had a strong rookie season for the Independence in 2010.
I imagine Paul Riley would like to see Robinson get forward, something she did quite well at times with Gold Pride in 2009, but was unable to do as much last season with Atlanta. The other outside option is Frida Magnusdottir, a fast, aggressive player that seems to be at home anywhere on the field and is listed as a forward.
Midfielders: Philly’s biggest loss in the offseason was probably Caroline Seger, the excellent Swedish midfielder that is now with Western New York. However, don’t feel too bad for the Independence. They added USWNT winger Megan Rapinoe and two promising draft selections, Sinead Farrelly and Lauren Fowlkes.
Farrelly is a talented young player out of the University of Virginia. She is known for having great vision and is excellent at distributing the ball. Oh, and she can score as well, with 30 goals in her career with the Cavaliers. Fowlkes, a Notre Dame alum, has good size at 5-10 and can play defensive mid or center back.
While Rapinoe has struggled at times in her WPS career, she is a solid performer on the USWNT. Hopefully, coach Paul Riley’s system will bring out the best in her. With returnees like the always solid Lori Lindsey and the highly skilled Tina DiMartino, this could be one of the best midfields in the league. For depth, add veterans Joanna Lohman and Jen Buczkowski, both of whom were full-time starters on last year’s team and this is a quite impressive group.
Forwards: One problem for Coach Riley is going to be getting playing time for all the options he has at forward. He has the leading scorer from last year, Amy Rodriguez, who had 12 goals and 6 assists. After a disappointing rookie season, Rodriguez showed what she could do last season. With her speed and now with added experience on timing her runs, there is no reason to think she won’t have another good season this year.
Riley also has Tasha Kai, who led Sky Blue in goals two years running. And perhaps this year, she will be injury-free, something that has plagued her over the last two years. Riley has raved about her performance in preseason. Philly also returns English striker Lianne Sanderson, who showed flashes of her talent last year scoring five goals.
Two Spanish forwards, Laura del Rio and Veronica Boquete also join the team. Boquete is extremely fast, having a strong season with Buffalo in the W-League, before having a stellar, if short, stint with the Chicago Red Stars. Del Rio is a veteran who knows how to score, but has yet to make a big impact in WPS. Add Danesha Adams, who probably scored the biggest goal in Independence history against Boston in overtime, sending them to the finals, and DiMartino sister number two, Gina.
Outlook: This team really has everything it needs to compete for the title. They have speed, talent, skill, and no one is going to push this team around. The speed this team has up front will give opponents all sorts of trouble.
One would think that last year’s runner-up finish would make Philadelphia favorites, with Gold Pride no longer around. But this league is very tough at the top and winning a championship will not be easy. Even with last year’s phenomenal success, the Independence only finished the regular season with an even 10-10-4 mark.
You have to like that this team kept its nucleus together and made some nice additions. They will not be hurt by the World Cup as much as either Western New York or Boston, who stand to lose twice as many players, or even Sky Blue which will likely lose six. But when it comes down to it, the other teams will have most of their roster come playoff time, so the Independence will still have to beat the best to climb to the top.
The Independence should have an exciting attack, with plenty of options, and they should be able to match last year’s strength in the midfield. It may come down to how well this team can defend. While their back line is solid, it does not have all the national team players that grace a few of the other defenses around the league. But if they can play solid team defense, this team should do quite well.
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