2010 WPS Power Rankings: Week 2

It's April, and in the middle of Grand Prix racing, NBA and NHL Playoffs and baseball to boot, there's moving and shaking and soccer. It's week two of the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer Power Rankings on Bleacher Report.

1. BOSTON BREAKERS

In spite of a 1-1 draw with the expansion Philadelphia Independence at Harvard Stadium, the Boston Breakers rise to the No. 1 slot in this week's WPS Power Rankings.

Kelly Smith scored her second goal of the season in the 50th minute off a left—footed volley that eluded Indies goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.

While Tony DiCicco's Breakers would pay the price with an equalizer by Allison Falk in the 56th minute, Boston peppered the net by outshooting Philadelphia 15 to nine.

The Breakers will travel to the Anheuser—Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, Missouri on April 25 to take on St. Louis Athletica. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel, with the duo of Mark Rogandino and Jenn Hildreth calling the action.

2. ST. LOUIS ATHLETICA

Dropping to No. 2 in the WPS Power Rankings at St. Louis Athletica, who drew 1-1 with the Chicago Red Stars at Bridgeview's Toyota Park.

Jorge Barcellos's club were paced by Lori Chalupny, who opened her account in the fifth minute with an unassisted goal off an initial save by Chicago goalkeeper Jillian Loyden.

"They came at us with numbers," Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo said after the match. "They threw everything at us. At times it looked like they had a far aggressive back line."

"And it was hard to control. I think our best defense against them was moving the ball on the attack."

Despite giving up a 60th minute goal by Casey Nogueira, Solo made six saves against the Red Stars.

"In the second half things changed," Barcellos said after the game. "[The Red Stars] took over the game. They used the right side of the field very well. To have players like they have, you give them enough opportunities and sooner or later they'll score and they did."

St. Louis will look to bounce back next week with a trip to the Brewery in Fenton to host the Boston Breakers. Kickoff at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 25 and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel.

3. WASHINGTON FREEDOM

Rising to third in this week's Power Rankings are Jim Gabarra's Washington Freedom, who provide living proof that in spite of D.C. United's plight, football is not dead in the nation's capital.

Washington got their rhythm back with a 3-1 victory over the Atlana Beat at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md. Freedom captain Abby Wambach was instrumental in the team's efforts, with her first goal of the season in the 44th minute, and assists for Homare Sawa (51') and Christie Welsh (90').

After the win, Abby was nothing short of happy.

"Well this is our home field," Wambach said, "So it was great to get the lead giving us that confidence going into half time. That was important."

Washington outshot Atlanta 15 to eight and also managed more shots on goal (13 to six). Gabarra could be seen grinning from ear to ear when asked about the team's performance.

"It was a great result for us, with improvements from last week," Gabarra said. "Atlanta is a very competitive team and I'm happy with the win, but we still have areas were we need to get better."

"We need to work on possession, and dictating the rhythm, and on the defensive play of our younger players. The team responded really well. The team reacted well coming off of last week's game [against Boston], and we put together a good performance."

With the winning touch restored, can Washington they make it two in a row? The Freedom travels north by northeast to West Chester, Pa. to take on the Philadelphia Independence. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday, April 25 at 6 p.m. ET.

4. FC GOLD PRIDE

It was sweet revenge for Marta Vieira da Silva of FC Gold Pride, as the Lionesses of the East Bay dealt Sky Blue FC their first loss of the season, 3-1, at the Castro Valley Athletic Stadium.

Earning a brace for Albertin Montoya's crew was Canadian international Christine Sinclair, with a rebound off an initial volley by Camile Abily in the 12th minute and a 76th minute strike off a Kelley O'Hara delivery. Marta opened her own account in the 83rd minute.

Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Karen Bardsley was harassed by the Gold Pride attack, ambushing the netminder with 18 shots, compared to Sky Blue FC's six.

Next Saturday, FC Gold Pride will host the Atlanta Beat at the Castro Valley Athletic Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET.

5. PHILADELPHIA INDEPENDENCE

Here's a trivia question for you: name the first player to score the first goal for two Women's Professional Soccer teams.

Need a hint? She also scored their first—ever goal in WPS history.

Still don't have a clue yet? Here's the answer: Allison Falk. The culprit behind the Los Angeles Sol's first goal in their one—year history is now the first—ever goal scorer for the Philadelphia Independence.

Falk's header off a free kick by Lori Lindsey (who will be credited with the first—ever assist in Indies history) allowed Pail Riley's club to share the points with the Boston Breakers in a 1—1 draw.

Philadelphia was walking a thin line late in the second half when Jen Buczkowski was given her marching orders after two straight yellow cards. The Indies racked up 17 fouls compared to Boston's seven in a physical contest at Harvard Stadium.

Next Sunday, the Indies will return home to face the surging Washington Fredom. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.

6. SKY BLUE FC

In a league with as much parity as Women's Professional Soccer, no position in safe and no prisoners are taken when the whistle blows.

On the downswing this week are Pauliina Miettenen's Sky Blue FC, who dropped a 3—1 stunner to week one cellar dwellers FC Gold Pride at the Castro Valley Athletic Stadium.

Sky Blue FC's only goal came in the 49th minute, when Finnish international Laura Kalmari scored her first of the season off the delivery by Jessica Landstrom.

Despite the barrage of shots by the home side, Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Karen Bardsley managed four saves in the losing effort.

Next Sunday, Sky Blue FC will look to rebound with a trip to Toyota Park to face the Chicago Red Stars. Kickoff in Bridgeview is scheduled  for 6 p.m. ET.

7. CHICAGO RED STARS

Emma Hayes's Chicago Red Stars may be witnessing a new star in the making in Casey Nogueira.

In the 59th minute, Nogueira opened her account with a crisp volley inside the far right post to giver Chicago a 1—1 draw with St. Louis Athletica.

In reality, Chicago could have jumped up the rankings with FC Gold Pride and the Washington Freedom if she earned her brace in the 89th minute.

"That was a sitter," Nogueira said on the missed chance that went over the crossbar. "I should have just placed it, and I blasted it. It went right over."

Nonetheless, Chicago tested St. Louis goalkeeper Hope Solo with 14 shots, half of which were on goal. The Red Stars established a physical presence with 11 fouls compared to Athletica's seven.

"What a great team comeback," Hayes said on the team's performance. "You know it's a sense of togetherness, settling their nerves early on and trusting in the confidence they have. Any given day we'll smash a team in WPS, no doubt."

That team could potentially be the defending WPS Champions Sky Blue FC. Opportunity beckons.

Kickoff in Bridgeview's Toyota Park is scheduled for Sunday, April 25 at 6 p.m. ET.

8. ATLANTA BEAT

Consigned to the cellar in this week's WPS Power Rankings are Gareth O'Sullivan's Atlanta Beat.

While Swiss international Ramon Bachmann will be credited with the first—ever goal in the history of the Beat as a WPS club, Atlanta was put to the sword by the Washington Freedom 3—1 at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

“It was great to get our first goal in the WPS,” said Atlanta Head Coach Gareth O’Sullivan, “But we didn’t get to celebrate for very long. I think we were still caught up in our own celebration when we gave the ball away and got punished.”

Tobin Heath summed up Atlanta's performance in one word after the match: Complacency.

"The hardest thing when you score is that first five minutes after," Heath said. "Not allowing another one and we had a lapse, and they had that goal right after ours took. My hat goes off to them. They definitely took the wind out of our sails a little bit."

"This is only our second game so we are still trying to figure things out, but we have great strengths on the attacking end. We have different personalities, so we are just trying to get those personalities to mesh."

Atlanta goalkeeper Allison Whitworth was feeling the onslaught early and often, making eight saves against the Freedom.

"I think we played well in patches but on all three goals our defending was poor," O'Sullivan said after the match. "On the first goal, it was an error by the keeper. The second goal, we gave the ball away in a dangerous area, and it was a good finish by [Homare] Sawa. We were too committed up front. Then on the third goal we had two chances to intercept the ball and missed it."

"We are still learning. We have to build on tonight, look at the film, and hopefully we have a better finish next week against Bay Area."

Kickoff against FC Gold Pride next Saturday is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at the Castro Valley Athletic Stadium.