England came from behind to edge a game New Zealand team by a 2-1 margin. It was the first come-from-behind victory of the 2011 World Cup and it put England in control of their own destiny as far as advancing to the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, it erased any possibility of New Zealand making the quarters.
England got the first good chance of the match in the 12th minute. Ellen White stole the ball from Rebecca Smith and dribbled toward the goal, but Abby Erceg was able to block White's shot. A minute later, a 30-yard effort from Fara Williams was saved by Bindon.
But it was New Zealand that would draw first blood in the 18th minute. Ali Riley sent the ball into space deep on the left side and Amber Hearn was the first to track it down. Hearn crossed the ball from the left side, just shy of the end line. Sarah Gregorius was able to work her way between Casey Stoney and Rachel Unitt to somehow get her foot on the ball and put it by English keeper Karen Bardsley. A stunned English team had watched the Ferns take a one nil lead.
New Zealand probably should have been up by two in the 38th minute. A beautiful was sent through to Gregorius, who had a four yard lead on the nearest defender. Unfortunately, she made a bit of a mess of the dribble, allowing Rachel Unitt to catch up to her and defend her just before she could release a good shot.
In the 44th minute, England threatened but Kelly Smith's shot was deflected by a defender and Bindon easily covered on the play.
New Zealand came close again to start the 2nd half. Gregorius crossed the ball from the right side to Hearn whose header went mere inches over the bar and landed on top of the netting. England had to feel quite lucky not to be down by two or three goals at that point.
England starting to gain mementum after the 60th minute. Finally, Alex Scott's cross from the right side was perfect for Jill Scott, who easily skied over the defender and headed the ball into the upper left corner of the net. England had drawn even and New Zealand had to be kicking themselves for the missed opportunities.
England continued to pressure in next few minutes. Another Alex Scott cross led to another Jill Scott header. Ferns' goalkeeper Jenny Bindon made the saved, bobbled the ball a bit, but was able to secure it just ahead of Ellen White who was making a run at the goal. A minute later, a Kelly Smith shot was deflected just wide right of the goal.
New Zealand regained the momentum as the game moved into the final 20 minutes. Ali Riley's cross was just behind Rosie White, who had perhaps gotten in too close to the goal. White couldn't quite get her foot solidly on the ball and another chance slipped away.
England seemed determined to get the winner in the 80th minute, but Bindon made a diving save on Ellen White's shot from 12 yards to keep her team even.
However, in the 81st minute, Rachel Unitt sent a long ball into the box. Bindon came out to attempt to punch the ball away, but didn't get enough to clear it out of trouble. The ball came to Jill Scott, who touched the ball across to second half substitute Jess Clarke and she made no mistake on her finish. For the first time of the day, England held the advantage.
Bindon kept her team close with a fantastic kick save on Fara Williams in the 88th minute. Williams' low shot from 18 yards out appeared to be headed just inside the right post, but Bindon kicked her left leg out just in time to deflect the ball away from the net. England was able to waste away the final minutes and hold on for the victory.
For England, it was a great comeback win when it looked like they were in deep trouble in this match. They now have the inside track on the second position out of Group B and could win it if they are victorious over Japan on Tuesday.
Sadly, New Zealand has been eliminated from any chance of the quarterfinals. They have put forth two solid efforts against very good teams and came away empty. They can somewhat play the role of spoiler against Mexico, who still is in the running for the quarterfinals.
Showing posts with label Alex Scott. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alex Scott. Show all posts
July 1, 2011
April 17, 2011
Flash Win Opener 2-1 Over Breakers
0
comments
Labels: 2011 WPS, Alex Morgan, Alex Scott, Boston Breakers, Christine Sinclair, Gemma Davison, Kelly Smith, Lauren Cheney, Stephanie Cox, Western New York Flash
Labels: 2011 WPS, Alex Morgan, Alex Scott, Boston Breakers, Christine Sinclair, Gemma Davison, Kelly Smith, Lauren Cheney, Stephanie Cox, Western New York Flash
The new kids in town served notice that they are going to be a tough bunch to deal with, even without their top gun. Western New York opened its history with a strong 2-1 victory over the Boston Breakers on Sunday evening in Cambridge.
In what was a fast-paced match from the outset, it was an impressive piece of soccer put on by the Flash. It's not even like Boston played a bad game, because they really didn't. It was just a night where the Flash had too much energy to overcome and all of this without Marta.
The first half of the contest was scoreless, but in spite of the lack of goals and scoring chances, it was certainly not without exciting action. Play seemed to go from end to end in the early going, with the match being fairly even.
Boston escaped a few close calls in the opening half, the first coming in the 5th minute. Christine Sinclair fed a beautiful pass to Caroline Seger, who tapped the ball past Breakers' keeper Alyssa Naeher. Stephanie Cox was able to clear the ball just inches off of the line.
Later, in the 31st minute, it was the Flash again nearly scoring. Becky Edwards sent an inswinging corner from the left side. Brittany Bock skied to head the ball from a seemingly impossible angle on the far side of the net. The header went off and through Naeher's hands toward the center of the goal where Alex Scott headed it off the line to save a goal.
Perhaps the best Boston opportunity of the half came very early with Kelly Smith sending Kelley O'Hara through with a nice pass, but O'Hara's shot from a steep angle only hit the outside of the net.
The halftime break did nothing to slow down the Flash as they came out attacking in the 2nd half. The Breakers dodged yet another bullet in the 56th minute as Naeher came well out of the box in an attempt to clear a Sinclair pass. Alex Morgan was able to touch it past Naeher and had the open net 25 yards in front of her, but her shot sailed well wide of the net.
Throughout the match, it appeared that Western New York was able to find a little more space behind the Breakers' midfield to set up their attack. It finally paid off in the 66th minute.
The Flash gained possession at the center circle and Whitney Engen sent a long ball forward. Alex Morgan was able to run onto it and outmuscle Rachel Buehler for the ball. Morgan drove deep into the right side of the penalty area and slipped a nice pass back to the center where Sinclair was cutting in front of Amy LePeilbet. Sinclair got a step around LePeilbet and slid a low shot into the lower left to make it 1-0.
Boston tried to press the attack for the equalizer, but for the most part, the Flash defense were sturdy in disrupting every attempt. The closest the Breakers came was in the 82nd minute, when O'Hara cut back to the inside on former Stanford teammate Ali Riley and ripped a shot from 15 yards out, but Candace Chapman headed the ball away before the ball reached Flash goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris.
The Flash stretched their lead to two as second half substitution Gemma Davison made a run from 40 yards out, raced straight past Breaker defender Ifeoma Dieke and struck a shot into the lower left corner of the net in the 90th minute.
Just when it appeared the game was over, Boston cut the lead in half. Nearly two minutes into stoppage, Lauren Cheney blasted a shot from the left edge of the box, which rattled off the bottom of the crossbar straight to Kelly Smith who head tapped it in from just inches in front of the goal.
Unfortunately for the Breakers, only seconds were remaining and they were not able to get the ball into the attacking half after that.
Boston falls to 1-1, while Western New York is 1-0. Boston travels to Florida to take on magicJack next Saturday. Western New York heads to Atlanta to take on the Beat next Sunday.
WPS Standings after Week 2
Western New York 1-0-0, 3 pts.
Boston 1-1-0, 3 pts.
Atlanta 1-1-0, 3 pts.
Philadelphia 0-0-1, 1 pt.
Sky Blue FC 0-1-1, 1 pt.
magicJack 0-0-0, 0 pts.
In what was a fast-paced match from the outset, it was an impressive piece of soccer put on by the Flash. It's not even like Boston played a bad game, because they really didn't. It was just a night where the Flash had too much energy to overcome and all of this without Marta.
The first half of the contest was scoreless, but in spite of the lack of goals and scoring chances, it was certainly not without exciting action. Play seemed to go from end to end in the early going, with the match being fairly even.
Boston escaped a few close calls in the opening half, the first coming in the 5th minute. Christine Sinclair fed a beautiful pass to Caroline Seger, who tapped the ball past Breakers' keeper Alyssa Naeher. Stephanie Cox was able to clear the ball just inches off of the line.
Later, in the 31st minute, it was the Flash again nearly scoring. Becky Edwards sent an inswinging corner from the left side. Brittany Bock skied to head the ball from a seemingly impossible angle on the far side of the net. The header went off and through Naeher's hands toward the center of the goal where Alex Scott headed it off the line to save a goal.
Perhaps the best Boston opportunity of the half came very early with Kelly Smith sending Kelley O'Hara through with a nice pass, but O'Hara's shot from a steep angle only hit the outside of the net.
The halftime break did nothing to slow down the Flash as they came out attacking in the 2nd half. The Breakers dodged yet another bullet in the 56th minute as Naeher came well out of the box in an attempt to clear a Sinclair pass. Alex Morgan was able to touch it past Naeher and had the open net 25 yards in front of her, but her shot sailed well wide of the net.
Throughout the match, it appeared that Western New York was able to find a little more space behind the Breakers' midfield to set up their attack. It finally paid off in the 66th minute.
The Flash gained possession at the center circle and Whitney Engen sent a long ball forward. Alex Morgan was able to run onto it and outmuscle Rachel Buehler for the ball. Morgan drove deep into the right side of the penalty area and slipped a nice pass back to the center where Sinclair was cutting in front of Amy LePeilbet. Sinclair got a step around LePeilbet and slid a low shot into the lower left to make it 1-0.
Boston tried to press the attack for the equalizer, but for the most part, the Flash defense were sturdy in disrupting every attempt. The closest the Breakers came was in the 82nd minute, when O'Hara cut back to the inside on former Stanford teammate Ali Riley and ripped a shot from 15 yards out, but Candace Chapman headed the ball away before the ball reached Flash goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris.
The Flash stretched their lead to two as second half substitution Gemma Davison made a run from 40 yards out, raced straight past Breaker defender Ifeoma Dieke and struck a shot into the lower left corner of the net in the 90th minute.
Just when it appeared the game was over, Boston cut the lead in half. Nearly two minutes into stoppage, Lauren Cheney blasted a shot from the left edge of the box, which rattled off the bottom of the crossbar straight to Kelly Smith who head tapped it in from just inches in front of the goal.
Unfortunately for the Breakers, only seconds were remaining and they were not able to get the ball into the attacking half after that.
Boston falls to 1-1, while Western New York is 1-0. Boston travels to Florida to take on magicJack next Saturday. Western New York heads to Atlanta to take on the Beat next Sunday.
WPS Standings after Week 2
Western New York 1-0-0, 3 pts.
Boston 1-1-0, 3 pts.
Atlanta 1-1-0, 3 pts.
Philadelphia 0-0-1, 1 pt.
Sky Blue FC 0-1-1, 1 pt.
magicJack 0-0-0, 0 pts.
April 4, 2011
2011 Boston Breakers Preview
0
comments
Labels: 2011 WPS, Alex Scott, Alyssa Naeher, Amy LePeilbet, Boston Breakers, Kelly Smith, Lauren Cheney, Leslie Osborne, Rachel Buehler
Labels: 2011 WPS, Alex Scott, Alyssa Naeher, Amy LePeilbet, Boston Breakers, Kelly Smith, Lauren Cheney, Leslie Osborne, Rachel Buehler
Boston Breakers
Coach: Tony DiCicco (3rd year)
2010 Record: 10-8-6 (2nd place)
Home Stadium: Harvard Stadium (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Kelsey Davis, Alyssa Naeher, Ashley Phillips.
Defenders (7): Liz Bogus, Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Ifeoma Dieke, Amy LePeilbet, Kasey Moore, Alex Scott.
Midfielders (8): Jordan Angeli, Leah Blayney, Niki Cross, Leslie Osborne, Elli Reed(R), Katie Schoepfer, Nikki Washington, Keelin Winters(R).
Forwards (5): Lauren Cheney, Taryn Hemmings, Kelley O’Hara, Kelly Smith, Claire Zimmeck.
(R) denotes true rookie; returning players in bold.
Probable World Cup players: Buehler, Cox, LePeilbet, Scott, Cheney, O’Hara, and Smith.
Boston returns 14 players from last season’s 2nd place finish (regular season) and that continuity should help them early on. The Breakers also picked up two highly regarded players from Gold Pride’s championship team, Rachel Buehler and Kelley O’Hara.
The Breakers finished very strong in 2010, 9-3-2 over their last 14 matches with two of the losses coming against FC Gold Pride. An overtime loss to Philadelphia meant that the season ended in disappointment, but the team made a lot of progress during the season and looks to be a contender for the title this season.
Goalkeepers: Alyssa Naeher is the number one keeper and she did a fine job over the final two thirds of the 2010 season. She posted a 1.17 goals against average and three shutouts. Heading into this season with a year’s experience under her belt, she should be even better.
There is an outside chance Naeher could be selected to the USWNT for the World Cup, although it looks as though Ashlyn Harris will get the third goalkeeper’s spot right now. Boston’s backup keepers are Ashley Phillips, who was the Breakers starter early last season and Kelsey Davis, who spent time with the Red Stars last season and has been a regular on national junior teams.
Defenders: This could be the best defense in WPS, although a couple of other sides could put up good arguments. The starters are national team players all, with Alex Scott and Stephanie Cox on the outside and Rachel Buehler and Amy LePeilbet on the inside. Buehler comes over from Gold Pride, a team that she helped make the best defensive unit last year. LePeilbet is a two-time defensive player of the year in WPS. Scott, a starter with the English National Team, is one the best offensive outside backs in soccer. Cox is a consistent performer, who rarely makes mistakes.
The problem is that they are so good, they will all be in Germany in June and July, meaning the Breakers lose their entire back line for a good part of the season. Ifeoma Dieke can certainly step right in. She is a member of the Scottish National Team and has excellent speed. Kasey Moore is a two-year veteran of the Breakers, so she is familiar with their system. Liz Bogus is listed as a defender, although her natural position is either attacking mid or forward, so the back line will be rather new to her.
Boston will have to move some of their listed midfielders to play back line. The most likely candidates are Niki Cross, Elli Reed, or Jordan Angeli, all of whom have extensive experience at playing back line. Reed was excellent at outside back for Portland while in college and is one of two rookies to make the squad.
Midfielders: Probably the area that has seen the most changes for Boston is in the midfield. With the retirement of Kristine Lilly, Leslie Osborne will be the experienced leadership in this group. Osborne is a top notch defensive player, and like teammate Rachel Buehler, can be one of the toughest tacklers in the league.
Jordan Angeli is another returnee and was one of the pleasant surprises of the 2010 season. After becoming a starter a third of the way into the season, she scored seven goals, second most on the team. She is a solid defender as well. Nikki Washington is another midfielder that can score. An excellent attacking player from the wing, the former UNC star has been slowed by injuries since 2009.
Another Portland alum, Keelin Winters, will also compete for a starting role at midfield. Winters is a hard worker and has great soccer intelligence. Leah Blayney has played club soccer both in the US and in her native Australia.
Forwards: The forward tandem of Kelly Smith and Lauren Cheney should give opponents all sorts of problems. Smith, who might possibly be the best women’s player in the world not named Marta, is a tough, talented veteran who always seems to make good decisions. She has scored 17 goals over two seasons in WPS while playing through injuries.
Cheney is a strong, young USWNT player. She is at her best receiving the ball with her back to the goal and is always a threat to turn a defender and get off a lethal shot. She can also get a shot off in traffic, a skill not many players have. In addition, Boston picked up Kelley O’Hara, also a member of the USWNT. O’Hara has very good speed and can find the gaps in opposing defenses.
Again, the problem is that many of the forwards will be headed to the World Cup. The other forwards all have limited WPS experience. Taryn Hemmings, Claire Zimmeck, and Katie Schoepfer have seen some WPS action and will be counted on heavily during the other’s absences. Washington might also be a candidate to move up to forward.
Outlook: The only two things standing in the way of this team and a championship are the 2011 World Cup and the other top teams in WPS. Boston will be hit hard by World Cup losses, which could force them down the standings a bit. Other teams will be going through the same thing, but no other team stands to lose both its entire back line and its top three forwards. Really, only Western New York comes close to losing that much talent.
But in any case, Boston should be a playoff team and then it’s just a matter if they can beat the other top teams in the league in a pressure situation. The added speed that O’Hara and Washington will give to this team will help. Certainly, continuity is a plus for the Breakers, having the same coach, the same system, and the same core group of players. If the midfield can come into its own and if Naeher can continue to improve in goal, the sky’s the limit for this team.
Coach: Tony DiCicco (3rd year)
2010 Record: 10-8-6 (2nd place)
Home Stadium: Harvard Stadium (Cambridge, Massachusetts)
Roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Kelsey Davis, Alyssa Naeher, Ashley Phillips.
Defenders (7): Liz Bogus, Rachel Buehler, Stephanie Cox, Ifeoma Dieke, Amy LePeilbet, Kasey Moore, Alex Scott.
Midfielders (8): Jordan Angeli, Leah Blayney, Niki Cross, Leslie Osborne, Elli Reed(R), Katie Schoepfer, Nikki Washington, Keelin Winters(R).
Forwards (5): Lauren Cheney, Taryn Hemmings, Kelley O’Hara, Kelly Smith, Claire Zimmeck.
(R) denotes true rookie; returning players in bold.
Probable World Cup players: Buehler, Cox, LePeilbet, Scott, Cheney, O’Hara, and Smith.
Boston returns 14 players from last season’s 2nd place finish (regular season) and that continuity should help them early on. The Breakers also picked up two highly regarded players from Gold Pride’s championship team, Rachel Buehler and Kelley O’Hara.
The Breakers finished very strong in 2010, 9-3-2 over their last 14 matches with two of the losses coming against FC Gold Pride. An overtime loss to Philadelphia meant that the season ended in disappointment, but the team made a lot of progress during the season and looks to be a contender for the title this season.
Goalkeepers: Alyssa Naeher is the number one keeper and she did a fine job over the final two thirds of the 2010 season. She posted a 1.17 goals against average and three shutouts. Heading into this season with a year’s experience under her belt, she should be even better.
There is an outside chance Naeher could be selected to the USWNT for the World Cup, although it looks as though Ashlyn Harris will get the third goalkeeper’s spot right now. Boston’s backup keepers are Ashley Phillips, who was the Breakers starter early last season and Kelsey Davis, who spent time with the Red Stars last season and has been a regular on national junior teams.
Defenders: This could be the best defense in WPS, although a couple of other sides could put up good arguments. The starters are national team players all, with Alex Scott and Stephanie Cox on the outside and Rachel Buehler and Amy LePeilbet on the inside. Buehler comes over from Gold Pride, a team that she helped make the best defensive unit last year. LePeilbet is a two-time defensive player of the year in WPS. Scott, a starter with the English National Team, is one the best offensive outside backs in soccer. Cox is a consistent performer, who rarely makes mistakes.
The problem is that they are so good, they will all be in Germany in June and July, meaning the Breakers lose their entire back line for a good part of the season. Ifeoma Dieke can certainly step right in. She is a member of the Scottish National Team and has excellent speed. Kasey Moore is a two-year veteran of the Breakers, so she is familiar with their system. Liz Bogus is listed as a defender, although her natural position is either attacking mid or forward, so the back line will be rather new to her.
Boston will have to move some of their listed midfielders to play back line. The most likely candidates are Niki Cross, Elli Reed, or Jordan Angeli, all of whom have extensive experience at playing back line. Reed was excellent at outside back for Portland while in college and is one of two rookies to make the squad.
Midfielders: Probably the area that has seen the most changes for Boston is in the midfield. With the retirement of Kristine Lilly, Leslie Osborne will be the experienced leadership in this group. Osborne is a top notch defensive player, and like teammate Rachel Buehler, can be one of the toughest tacklers in the league.
Jordan Angeli is another returnee and was one of the pleasant surprises of the 2010 season. After becoming a starter a third of the way into the season, she scored seven goals, second most on the team. She is a solid defender as well. Nikki Washington is another midfielder that can score. An excellent attacking player from the wing, the former UNC star has been slowed by injuries since 2009.
Another Portland alum, Keelin Winters, will also compete for a starting role at midfield. Winters is a hard worker and has great soccer intelligence. Leah Blayney has played club soccer both in the US and in her native Australia.
Forwards: The forward tandem of Kelly Smith and Lauren Cheney should give opponents all sorts of problems. Smith, who might possibly be the best women’s player in the world not named Marta, is a tough, talented veteran who always seems to make good decisions. She has scored 17 goals over two seasons in WPS while playing through injuries.
Cheney is a strong, young USWNT player. She is at her best receiving the ball with her back to the goal and is always a threat to turn a defender and get off a lethal shot. She can also get a shot off in traffic, a skill not many players have. In addition, Boston picked up Kelley O’Hara, also a member of the USWNT. O’Hara has very good speed and can find the gaps in opposing defenses.
Again, the problem is that many of the forwards will be headed to the World Cup. The other forwards all have limited WPS experience. Taryn Hemmings, Claire Zimmeck, and Katie Schoepfer have seen some WPS action and will be counted on heavily during the other’s absences. Washington might also be a candidate to move up to forward.
Outlook: The only two things standing in the way of this team and a championship are the 2011 World Cup and the other top teams in WPS. Boston will be hit hard by World Cup losses, which could force them down the standings a bit. Other teams will be going through the same thing, but no other team stands to lose both its entire back line and its top three forwards. Really, only Western New York comes close to losing that much talent.
But in any case, Boston should be a playoff team and then it’s just a matter if they can beat the other top teams in the league in a pressure situation. The added speed that O’Hara and Washington will give to this team will help. Certainly, continuity is a plus for the Breakers, having the same coach, the same system, and the same core group of players. If the midfield can come into its own and if Naeher can continue to improve in goal, the sky’s the limit for this team.
April 7, 2010
Boston Breakers 2010 - Improvement Everywhere
0
comments
Labels: 2010 WPS, Alex Scott, Allison Lipsher, Alyssa Naeher, Amy LePeilbet, Boston Breakers, Kelly Smith, Kristine Lilly, Laura Del Rio, Lauren Cheney, Leslie Osborne, Stephanie Cox
Labels: 2010 WPS, Alex Scott, Allison Lipsher, Alyssa Naeher, Amy LePeilbet, Boston Breakers, Kelly Smith, Kristine Lilly, Laura Del Rio, Lauren Cheney, Leslie Osborne, Stephanie Cox
Coach: Tony DiCicco
2009 Record: 7-9-4 (5th place)
Postseason: Out of the playoffs.
Returnees (9): Fabiana, Amy LePeilbet, Kristine Lilly, Allison Lipsher, Kasey Moore, Ashley Phillips, Alex Scott, Kelly Smith, Maggie Tomecka.
Draft Choices (4): Lauren Cheney, Alyssa Naeher, Jordan Angeli, Taryn Hemmings.
LA Dispersal Draft (1): Stephanie Cox.
International Signings ( 2): Laura Del Rio, Sarah Walsh.
Free Agents (6): Liz Bogus, Leslie Osborne, Tiffany Weimer, Chioma Igwe, Analisa Marquez, Claire Zimmeck.
If you’re a Boston fan, you certainly can’t accuse Breakers’ management of standing still. After a disappointing 5th place finish and missing the playoffs on the final day of the regular season, the Breakers made a lot of moves designed to make this team a playoff contender. They started by trading Amy Rodriguez to Philadelphia to move up in the draft. With the two picks they got from Philly, they selected Lauren Cheney and Alyssa Naeher. They were aggressive in the domestic market, signing several free agents including Leslie Osborne (Gold Pride), Tiffany Weimer (Gold Pride), Chioma Igwe (Chicago), and Liz Bogus (Los Angeles). They also added two international forwards in Laura Del Rio and Sarah Walsh.
But maybe the most fortuitous move happened as a result of the LA dispersal draft. Just when it looked like the Breakers might be a little thin on defense, they were able to obtain Stephanie Cox. Indeed, the Breakers may have improved themselves across the board more than any other team in WPS.
Goalkeeping-Boston returns starting goalkeeper, Allison Lipsher, from their 2009 team. Lipsher took over starting duties midway through the season and posted 5 shutouts over the last 11 matches of the season. She is certainly capable of handling the starting duties, but Boston drafted insurance in the person of Alyssa Naeher of Penn State. Less than two years ago, Naeher led the US U-20 team to the world championship in Chile, giving up just one goal in 5 starts. Now, at just 21 years old, she will challenge Lipsher for the starting position. It gives Breakers’ coach Tony DiCicco a pleasant problem. Ashley Phillips returns as the developmental keeper.
Defenders-Boston held opponents to only a goal a game last season and the Breakers have two of the top back line players in WPS in English international Alex Scott and USWNT defender Amy LePeilbet. Scott proved to be one of the top offensive backs in the league in 2009 and LePeilbet’s center back play is as solid as it comes. Boston did lose three key players from last year in Heather Mitts, Sue Weber, and Candace Chapman. But what looked like a problem was largely solved as the Breakers were able to obtain USWNT defender Stephanie Cox in the dispersal draft. Cox is one of the most underrated backs in WPS. She quietly and efficiently gets the job done and can play inside or outside.
Boston will probably move Kasey Moore to the back line after she spent much of last year playing defensive midfielder. The Breakers also added Santa Clara defender, Jordan Angeli, with a 2nd round selection in January. Likely Moore and Angeli will compete for the 4th spot on the back line. With 3 of their 4 backs having extensive international experience, it’s a safe bet that this will be one of the top defensive units in the league.
Midfielders-The Breakers have a couple of soccer legends in the midfield with Kelly Smith and Kristine Lilly. The only question on Smith is whether Coach Tony DiCicco will position her as a forward or midfielder. In the end, it probably doesn’t matter because Smith is one of the world’s most dangerous offensive players, no matter what position she plays. Even battling persistent knee problems, she still managed to rack up 6 goals and 2 assists in 2009. Meanwhile, Lilly has just added to her mind-boggling USWNT cap total. Now in her 4th decade with the US National Team, she shows no signs of slowing down. Last year, she scored 3 goals and added 3 assists for the Breakers.
The loss of USWNT midfielder Angela Hucles to retirement was certainly a blow to Boston. The big addition for the Breakers at midfield is Leslie Osborne, obtained as a free agent from Gold Pride. A tough defender, Osborne should solidify the Breakers’ middle. Additionally, Boston returns Maggie Tomecka, who made last year’s team as a free agent and came on strong at the end of the year. Young Brazilian attacking mid, Fabiana, was a consistent starter down the stretch, but had no points to show for her efforts. The Breakers signed former Red Star Chioma Igwe for depth at both midfielder and defender. Indeed, depth may be the only concern with this group…that and a recurrence of Smith’s knee problems.
Forwards-The Breakers scored only four goals in their last 8 games in 2009. As a result, they did a complete overhaul of their front. Moving up in the draft enabled Boston to draft Lauren Cheney. Cheney led UCLA to the NCAA semifinals last fall, but more notably, she has already scored 5 goals for the USWNT in 2010. Cheney is excellent at making a turn with a defender on her back. And unlike some goal scorers, Cheney also does a good job of setting up teammates.
The second major addition was that of Laura Del Rio, a striker from the Spanish National Team. Last year, she scored 18 goals in just 11 games for FC Indiana of the W-League. Del Rio gives Boston a nice 1-2 punch. A second international, Sarah Walsh, scored just one goal in WPS last season while splitting time between Sky Blue and Saint Louis. However, leg injuries slowed her and she appeared to be rounding into form by the time she hit the Aussie W-League in the fall. Another free agent signing, Tiffany Weimer, has great ball skills and is one of the more creative players in the league. Further depth includes veteran Liz Bogus, draft pick Taryn Hemmings, and former Freedom striker Claire Zimmeck.
Summary-In spite of being shut out 3 straight games, Boston held the 4th playoff spot with just 30 minutes to go in the 2009 season. The fact that it slipped away from them means that the first order of business is rebuilding the Breakers’ confidence. A healthy Kelly Smith and the addition of several talented players should go a long way in doing that.
The Breakers have improved themselves in every area, from goalkeeper to forward. The additions of Naeher, Cox, Osborne, Del Rio, Weimer, and most especially, Lauren Cheney, leads me to believe that this team could compete for the title. My main concern is depth at defense and midfield. If the Breakers can escape the hangover of last year’s finish and stay relatively healthy, they should be able to challenge any team in WPS.
2009 Record: 7-9-4 (5th place)
Postseason: Out of the playoffs.
Returnees (9): Fabiana, Amy LePeilbet, Kristine Lilly, Allison Lipsher, Kasey Moore, Ashley Phillips, Alex Scott, Kelly Smith, Maggie Tomecka.
Draft Choices (4): Lauren Cheney, Alyssa Naeher, Jordan Angeli, Taryn Hemmings.
LA Dispersal Draft (1): Stephanie Cox.
International Signings ( 2): Laura Del Rio, Sarah Walsh.
Free Agents (6): Liz Bogus, Leslie Osborne, Tiffany Weimer, Chioma Igwe, Analisa Marquez, Claire Zimmeck.
If you’re a Boston fan, you certainly can’t accuse Breakers’ management of standing still. After a disappointing 5th place finish and missing the playoffs on the final day of the regular season, the Breakers made a lot of moves designed to make this team a playoff contender. They started by trading Amy Rodriguez to Philadelphia to move up in the draft. With the two picks they got from Philly, they selected Lauren Cheney and Alyssa Naeher. They were aggressive in the domestic market, signing several free agents including Leslie Osborne (Gold Pride), Tiffany Weimer (Gold Pride), Chioma Igwe (Chicago), and Liz Bogus (Los Angeles). They also added two international forwards in Laura Del Rio and Sarah Walsh.
But maybe the most fortuitous move happened as a result of the LA dispersal draft. Just when it looked like the Breakers might be a little thin on defense, they were able to obtain Stephanie Cox. Indeed, the Breakers may have improved themselves across the board more than any other team in WPS.
Goalkeeping-Boston returns starting goalkeeper, Allison Lipsher, from their 2009 team. Lipsher took over starting duties midway through the season and posted 5 shutouts over the last 11 matches of the season. She is certainly capable of handling the starting duties, but Boston drafted insurance in the person of Alyssa Naeher of Penn State. Less than two years ago, Naeher led the US U-20 team to the world championship in Chile, giving up just one goal in 5 starts. Now, at just 21 years old, she will challenge Lipsher for the starting position. It gives Breakers’ coach Tony DiCicco a pleasant problem. Ashley Phillips returns as the developmental keeper.
Defenders-Boston held opponents to only a goal a game last season and the Breakers have two of the top back line players in WPS in English international Alex Scott and USWNT defender Amy LePeilbet. Scott proved to be one of the top offensive backs in the league in 2009 and LePeilbet’s center back play is as solid as it comes. Boston did lose three key players from last year in Heather Mitts, Sue Weber, and Candace Chapman. But what looked like a problem was largely solved as the Breakers were able to obtain USWNT defender Stephanie Cox in the dispersal draft. Cox is one of the most underrated backs in WPS. She quietly and efficiently gets the job done and can play inside or outside.
Boston will probably move Kasey Moore to the back line after she spent much of last year playing defensive midfielder. The Breakers also added Santa Clara defender, Jordan Angeli, with a 2nd round selection in January. Likely Moore and Angeli will compete for the 4th spot on the back line. With 3 of their 4 backs having extensive international experience, it’s a safe bet that this will be one of the top defensive units in the league.
Midfielders-The Breakers have a couple of soccer legends in the midfield with Kelly Smith and Kristine Lilly. The only question on Smith is whether Coach Tony DiCicco will position her as a forward or midfielder. In the end, it probably doesn’t matter because Smith is one of the world’s most dangerous offensive players, no matter what position she plays. Even battling persistent knee problems, she still managed to rack up 6 goals and 2 assists in 2009. Meanwhile, Lilly has just added to her mind-boggling USWNT cap total. Now in her 4th decade with the US National Team, she shows no signs of slowing down. Last year, she scored 3 goals and added 3 assists for the Breakers.
The loss of USWNT midfielder Angela Hucles to retirement was certainly a blow to Boston. The big addition for the Breakers at midfield is Leslie Osborne, obtained as a free agent from Gold Pride. A tough defender, Osborne should solidify the Breakers’ middle. Additionally, Boston returns Maggie Tomecka, who made last year’s team as a free agent and came on strong at the end of the year. Young Brazilian attacking mid, Fabiana, was a consistent starter down the stretch, but had no points to show for her efforts. The Breakers signed former Red Star Chioma Igwe for depth at both midfielder and defender. Indeed, depth may be the only concern with this group…that and a recurrence of Smith’s knee problems.
Forwards-The Breakers scored only four goals in their last 8 games in 2009. As a result, they did a complete overhaul of their front. Moving up in the draft enabled Boston to draft Lauren Cheney. Cheney led UCLA to the NCAA semifinals last fall, but more notably, she has already scored 5 goals for the USWNT in 2010. Cheney is excellent at making a turn with a defender on her back. And unlike some goal scorers, Cheney also does a good job of setting up teammates.
The second major addition was that of Laura Del Rio, a striker from the Spanish National Team. Last year, she scored 18 goals in just 11 games for FC Indiana of the W-League. Del Rio gives Boston a nice 1-2 punch. A second international, Sarah Walsh, scored just one goal in WPS last season while splitting time between Sky Blue and Saint Louis. However, leg injuries slowed her and she appeared to be rounding into form by the time she hit the Aussie W-League in the fall. Another free agent signing, Tiffany Weimer, has great ball skills and is one of the more creative players in the league. Further depth includes veteran Liz Bogus, draft pick Taryn Hemmings, and former Freedom striker Claire Zimmeck.
Summary-In spite of being shut out 3 straight games, Boston held the 4th playoff spot with just 30 minutes to go in the 2009 season. The fact that it slipped away from them means that the first order of business is rebuilding the Breakers’ confidence. A healthy Kelly Smith and the addition of several talented players should go a long way in doing that.
The Breakers have improved themselves in every area, from goalkeeper to forward. The additions of Naeher, Cox, Osborne, Del Rio, Weimer, and most especially, Lauren Cheney, leads me to believe that this team could compete for the title. My main concern is depth at defense and midfield. If the Breakers can escape the hangover of last year’s finish and stay relatively healthy, they should be able to challenge any team in WPS.
July 31, 2009
WPS Weekend Matches-August 1st & 2nd
0
comments
Labels: 2009 WPS, Alex Scott, Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride, Los Angeles Sol, Saint Louis Athletica, Tony DiCicco, Washington Freedom
Labels: 2009 WPS, Alex Scott, Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, FC Gold Pride, Los Angeles Sol, Saint Louis Athletica, Tony DiCicco, Washington Freedom
There are three matches on the schedule for this weekend, with two of them having playoff implications. The Breakers-Athletica match and the Freedom-FC Gold Pride match could reshuffle the deck as far as the playoffs go. Meanwhile, Los Angeles visits Chicago in a match that has no bearing on the playoffs.
The Playoff Picture
Heading into this weekend's action, Saint Louis is in 2nd place with 27 points and has 3 games left. Washington is in 3rd place with 26 points, Boston is in 4th place with 25 points, and Sky Blue FC is in 5th with 23 points. Washington, Boston, and Sky Blue each have two games left.
Saint Louis-Athletica clinches a playoff berth with a win over Boston and/or a Washington loss to FC Gold Pride. They would also clinch a playoff berth with a tie against Boston if Washington also ties Gold Pride. Athletica clinches 2nd place with a victory over Boston and a Washington loss to Gold Pride. They clinch 3rd place and a home playoff game with a victory over Boston combined with a Washington tie or win against Gold Pride.
Washington-The Freedom can clinch a playoff berth with a victory over FC Gold Pride and a Saint Louis victory over Boston.
Boston-The Breakers can clinch a playoff spot with a victory over Saint Louis and a Washington tie or loss against FC Gold Pride.
None of the four teams competing for the final playoff berths, including idle Sky Blue FC, can be eliminated this weekend.
Washington Freedom at FC Gold Pride
The Freedom continued their strong playoff push by defeating Boston 1-0 on Wednesday. Washington has now won three games in a row. They travel west to meet FC Gold Pride on Saturday afternoon. FC Gold Pride has shown improvement in their last couple of games, gaining ties against the top two teams, Los Angeles and Saint Louis.
Washington is getting hot at the right time, as is their big scorer, Abby Wambach. She has scored 3 goals in her last two matches. Lisa DeVanna, who has 5 goals and 4 assists herself, assisted on Wambach's goal against Boston. Sonia Bompastor, the 3rd of the Freedom's big three, started at midfield and I would expect that is where she will be starting Saturday. The Freedom started Cat Whitehill, Becky Sauerbrunn, Jill Gilbeau, and Ali Krieger on defense in their last match, but it will be interesting to see if Coach Jim Gabarra might opt for Alex Singer in this contest. Erin McLeod, who has a 1.33 goals against average, will handle the goalkeeping duties for the Freedom.
FC Gold Pride has shown a lot of character in their last two matches, holding the Sol to a scoreless tie and scoring in the 87th minute to tie Athletica. But they still haven't won a match since May 16th against Chicago. Formiga was limping heavily after last Sunday's match and my fears were confirmed when she was listed as "unavailable" for this contest on the WPS roster report. Christine Sinclair was once again the FCGP goal scorer against Saint Louis. She is now tied for 3rd in the league in scoring. Gold Pride is still trying to find someone to complement her up front. Gold Pride's defense has shown some resolve, giving up just two goals in their last 3 matches. They start Leigh Ann Robinson, Kristen Graczyk, Carrie Dew, and Rachel Buehler across the back line with Nicole Barnhart in goal.
Washington has won the two previous meetings between these teams, scoring 7 goals in the process. With only a single match with Sky Blue remaining after this one, the Freedom need to get as many points here as possible. Look for the Freedom to pressure from the start and try to get a quick lead.
Boston Breakers at Saint Louis Athletica
Boston suffered two losses on Wednesday night. First, they lost to the Freedom which dropped the Breakers to 4th place. Second, Alex Scott picked up a red card early in that match and will miss Saturday's contest with Saint Louis as well. In addition to Scott, coach Tony DiCicco is also suspended for this match for his postgame comments about the officiating in Wednesday's match. Saint Louis comes into this match with 4 wins and a tie in their last 6 matches, but they are still smarting from last Sunday's match when they were within minutes of clinching a playoff berth. They will get another shot at ensuring themselves a spot in the playoffs against the Breakers on Saturday evening.
Although this match is important for both teams, it is more critical for Boston. If Boston loses, they may no longer have control over their own destiny with respect to making the playoffs. Kelly Smith subbed in the 2nd half against the Freedom, but due to the importance of this match, I look for her to start this one. She leads the Breakers in goals with 5, followed by Kristine Lilly with 3. However, Boston has been getting scoring from other sources lately, including Jenny Nobis, Kelly Schmedes, and Angela Hucles.
Boston's defense has been outstanding lately and they haven't given up an even strength goal in their last 4 games. However, with Scott suspended and Sue Weber injured, the Breakers are razor thin on defense. Look for the back line to be Nancy Goffi, Heather Mitts, Amy LePeilbet, and Candace Chapman for this match. Allison Lipsher has been one of the top keepers in the WPS since taking over as starter and she has posted 5 shutouts in roughly half a season.
Saint Louis can only kick themselves for letting one get away last weekend. Now they have to face a tough, desperate Boston squad with 2nd and possibly even 3rd place on the line. Athletica's defense has also been solid, giving up just two goals over their last 5 matches. Hope Solo, second only to Karina LeBlanc in shutouts and goals against, will start in goal for Athletica. The defense is led by Tina Ellertson and Kia McNeill. Lori Chalupny, who is one of the top defenders internationally, is one of the best midfielders in WPS. Eniola Aluko is Athletica's leading scorer, but Niki Cross netted her first of the season against Gold Pride last weekend. Amanda Cinalli adds offensive punch from her attacking mid position.
Saint Louis must pressure Boston's defense early on and try to get an early lead. Athletica has been woefully outscored late in matches, so they need to have a lead heading into the final minutes of the match. Boston must deal with the loss of Scott, who is not only a top defender, but a serious offensive threat going forward. If Smith is able to start, it should offset the loss of Scott somewhat. I expect a low scoring contest. There will probably not be many more important regular season matches than this.
Los Angeles Sol at Chicago Red Stars
The Los Angeles Sol would like to get some momentum heading into the playoffs. They have a loss and a tie in their last two outings. It's been quite awhile since they've gone two consecutive matches without a win. For Chicago, who is out of playoff contention, the 2010 season starts now. They must sort out where to go from here and what needs to be done in the off season to improve their team.
Los Angeles is in a holding pattern, waiting to see who they will face in the WPS Championship game 3 weeks from Saturday. They haven't looked particularly sharp lately and have only played one match in the last three weeks. But they do still have the top two scorers in the league, Marta and Camille Abily, the WPS assists leader, Aya Miyama, and the top goalkeeper in the league, Karina LeBlanc, so things are still looking pretty good. LeBlanc leads all starting keepers with a 0.35 goals against average. Their defense is also strong led by Stephanie Cox and Allison Falk, and they have added Sharolta Nonen to replace Martina Franko. The Sol's midfield just keeps getting stronger, especially since it appears that Aly Wagner is finally close to being 100% healthy.
It has been a frustrating season on many levels for the Red Stars. Early on, they appeared to be a top contender, someone that could challenge the Sol for 1st place. But injuries on defense, inconsistent midfield play (most notably by Carli Lloyd), two red cards, an additional suspension due to yellow card accumulation, and several long scoring droughts have made for a rough campaign. Chicago is just 2-9-3 over their last 14. Cristiane has been one of the bright spots, scoring 6 goals, good for third best in the WPS. Megan Rapinoe and Karen Carney both scored their 2nd goals in their last contest vs. Washington. Chicago's defense is led by Ifeoma Dieke and Marian Dalmy, with Caroline Jönsson in goal.
Los Angeles has a win and a tie in the two previous meetings against Chicago. Both teams have one match left after this one. The Red Stars finish at Saint Louis on Wednesday, while the Sol travel to Boston next Sunday. The Sol-Red Star contest will be played at Toyota Park on Sunday, a nationally televised match on FSC.
DiCicco Suspended
As mentioned above, Boston coach Tony DiCicco was suspended for comments about the officiating following Wednesday's match against the Washington Freedom. He will miss Saturday's match against Saint Louis Athletica.
DiCicco issued an apology for his actions stating that his comments were "wrong" and he agreed that referee Jose Rivero "was justified issuing the red card". In addition to his suspension, he has been fined $1000 and must perform 6 hours of community service to the sport of soccer.
The Playoff Picture
Heading into this weekend's action, Saint Louis is in 2nd place with 27 points and has 3 games left. Washington is in 3rd place with 26 points, Boston is in 4th place with 25 points, and Sky Blue FC is in 5th with 23 points. Washington, Boston, and Sky Blue each have two games left.
Saint Louis-Athletica clinches a playoff berth with a win over Boston and/or a Washington loss to FC Gold Pride. They would also clinch a playoff berth with a tie against Boston if Washington also ties Gold Pride. Athletica clinches 2nd place with a victory over Boston and a Washington loss to Gold Pride. They clinch 3rd place and a home playoff game with a victory over Boston combined with a Washington tie or win against Gold Pride.
Washington-The Freedom can clinch a playoff berth with a victory over FC Gold Pride and a Saint Louis victory over Boston.
Boston-The Breakers can clinch a playoff spot with a victory over Saint Louis and a Washington tie or loss against FC Gold Pride.
None of the four teams competing for the final playoff berths, including idle Sky Blue FC, can be eliminated this weekend.
Washington Freedom at FC Gold Pride
The Freedom continued their strong playoff push by defeating Boston 1-0 on Wednesday. Washington has now won three games in a row. They travel west to meet FC Gold Pride on Saturday afternoon. FC Gold Pride has shown improvement in their last couple of games, gaining ties against the top two teams, Los Angeles and Saint Louis.
Washington is getting hot at the right time, as is their big scorer, Abby Wambach. She has scored 3 goals in her last two matches. Lisa DeVanna, who has 5 goals and 4 assists herself, assisted on Wambach's goal against Boston. Sonia Bompastor, the 3rd of the Freedom's big three, started at midfield and I would expect that is where she will be starting Saturday. The Freedom started Cat Whitehill, Becky Sauerbrunn, Jill Gilbeau, and Ali Krieger on defense in their last match, but it will be interesting to see if Coach Jim Gabarra might opt for Alex Singer in this contest. Erin McLeod, who has a 1.33 goals against average, will handle the goalkeeping duties for the Freedom.
FC Gold Pride has shown a lot of character in their last two matches, holding the Sol to a scoreless tie and scoring in the 87th minute to tie Athletica. But they still haven't won a match since May 16th against Chicago. Formiga was limping heavily after last Sunday's match and my fears were confirmed when she was listed as "unavailable" for this contest on the WPS roster report. Christine Sinclair was once again the FCGP goal scorer against Saint Louis. She is now tied for 3rd in the league in scoring. Gold Pride is still trying to find someone to complement her up front. Gold Pride's defense has shown some resolve, giving up just two goals in their last 3 matches. They start Leigh Ann Robinson, Kristen Graczyk, Carrie Dew, and Rachel Buehler across the back line with Nicole Barnhart in goal.
Washington has won the two previous meetings between these teams, scoring 7 goals in the process. With only a single match with Sky Blue remaining after this one, the Freedom need to get as many points here as possible. Look for the Freedom to pressure from the start and try to get a quick lead.
Boston Breakers at Saint Louis Athletica
Boston suffered two losses on Wednesday night. First, they lost to the Freedom which dropped the Breakers to 4th place. Second, Alex Scott picked up a red card early in that match and will miss Saturday's contest with Saint Louis as well. In addition to Scott, coach Tony DiCicco is also suspended for this match for his postgame comments about the officiating in Wednesday's match. Saint Louis comes into this match with 4 wins and a tie in their last 6 matches, but they are still smarting from last Sunday's match when they were within minutes of clinching a playoff berth. They will get another shot at ensuring themselves a spot in the playoffs against the Breakers on Saturday evening.
Although this match is important for both teams, it is more critical for Boston. If Boston loses, they may no longer have control over their own destiny with respect to making the playoffs. Kelly Smith subbed in the 2nd half against the Freedom, but due to the importance of this match, I look for her to start this one. She leads the Breakers in goals with 5, followed by Kristine Lilly with 3. However, Boston has been getting scoring from other sources lately, including Jenny Nobis, Kelly Schmedes, and Angela Hucles.
Boston's defense has been outstanding lately and they haven't given up an even strength goal in their last 4 games. However, with Scott suspended and Sue Weber injured, the Breakers are razor thin on defense. Look for the back line to be Nancy Goffi, Heather Mitts, Amy LePeilbet, and Candace Chapman for this match. Allison Lipsher has been one of the top keepers in the WPS since taking over as starter and she has posted 5 shutouts in roughly half a season.
Saint Louis can only kick themselves for letting one get away last weekend. Now they have to face a tough, desperate Boston squad with 2nd and possibly even 3rd place on the line. Athletica's defense has also been solid, giving up just two goals over their last 5 matches. Hope Solo, second only to Karina LeBlanc in shutouts and goals against, will start in goal for Athletica. The defense is led by Tina Ellertson and Kia McNeill. Lori Chalupny, who is one of the top defenders internationally, is one of the best midfielders in WPS. Eniola Aluko is Athletica's leading scorer, but Niki Cross netted her first of the season against Gold Pride last weekend. Amanda Cinalli adds offensive punch from her attacking mid position.
Saint Louis must pressure Boston's defense early on and try to get an early lead. Athletica has been woefully outscored late in matches, so they need to have a lead heading into the final minutes of the match. Boston must deal with the loss of Scott, who is not only a top defender, but a serious offensive threat going forward. If Smith is able to start, it should offset the loss of Scott somewhat. I expect a low scoring contest. There will probably not be many more important regular season matches than this.
Los Angeles Sol at Chicago Red Stars
The Los Angeles Sol would like to get some momentum heading into the playoffs. They have a loss and a tie in their last two outings. It's been quite awhile since they've gone two consecutive matches without a win. For Chicago, who is out of playoff contention, the 2010 season starts now. They must sort out where to go from here and what needs to be done in the off season to improve their team.
Los Angeles is in a holding pattern, waiting to see who they will face in the WPS Championship game 3 weeks from Saturday. They haven't looked particularly sharp lately and have only played one match in the last three weeks. But they do still have the top two scorers in the league, Marta and Camille Abily, the WPS assists leader, Aya Miyama, and the top goalkeeper in the league, Karina LeBlanc, so things are still looking pretty good. LeBlanc leads all starting keepers with a 0.35 goals against average. Their defense is also strong led by Stephanie Cox and Allison Falk, and they have added Sharolta Nonen to replace Martina Franko. The Sol's midfield just keeps getting stronger, especially since it appears that Aly Wagner is finally close to being 100% healthy.
It has been a frustrating season on many levels for the Red Stars. Early on, they appeared to be a top contender, someone that could challenge the Sol for 1st place. But injuries on defense, inconsistent midfield play (most notably by Carli Lloyd), two red cards, an additional suspension due to yellow card accumulation, and several long scoring droughts have made for a rough campaign. Chicago is just 2-9-3 over their last 14. Cristiane has been one of the bright spots, scoring 6 goals, good for third best in the WPS. Megan Rapinoe and Karen Carney both scored their 2nd goals in their last contest vs. Washington. Chicago's defense is led by Ifeoma Dieke and Marian Dalmy, with Caroline Jönsson in goal.
Los Angeles has a win and a tie in the two previous meetings against Chicago. Both teams have one match left after this one. The Red Stars finish at Saint Louis on Wednesday, while the Sol travel to Boston next Sunday. The Sol-Red Star contest will be played at Toyota Park on Sunday, a nationally televised match on FSC.
DiCicco Suspended
As mentioned above, Boston coach Tony DiCicco was suspended for comments about the officiating following Wednesday's match against the Washington Freedom. He will miss Saturday's match against Saint Louis Athletica.
DiCicco issued an apology for his actions stating that his comments were "wrong" and he agreed that referee Jose Rivero "was justified issuing the red card". In addition to his suspension, he has been fined $1000 and must perform 6 hours of community service to the sport of soccer.
May 17, 2009
Scott Scores For Breakers
Here is my recap of the Breakers - Freedom game at Goal.com -- Read On -- Alex Scott Saves Boston Breakers In 1-1 Draw
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Search
Welcome
