2010 WPS Power Rankings: Week 3

We are now three weeks into the 2010 Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) season, and a new team is at the top of this week's power rankings.

Let's hear it for parity, shall we?

I would like to remind readers that that there will be no play-by-play next weekend, since one has already been scheduled on the same day.

With that said, on to the rankings:

1. FC Gold Pride (2-1-0)

Atop this week's rankings are Albertin Montoya's FC Goal Pride. After an unimpressive start to the season, Week Three can be summed up in the following six words: "Carrie Dew, how do you do!"

Dew was instrumental in giving the Lionessess of the East Bay a 2-1 victory over the Atlanta Beat at the Castro Valley Athletic Stadium, helping bring her team to the top of the table— and the rankings— with an 89th-minute game-winning header on a pass from Ali Riley.

FC Gold Pride scored early in the match with a 10th-minute goal by Tiffeny Milbrett, as the Gold Pride outshot Atlanta, 9-6.

The Lionesses will look to maintain their winning ways on a May 1 showdown with Sky Blue FC at Joe Yurcak Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET, and will be covered by Fox Soccer Channel.

2. Philadelphia Independence (1-0-2)

Another team rising to the challenge are the Philadelphia Independence, who earned their first-ever franchise victory with a 3-1 win over the Washington Freedom.

After going down 1-0 in the second half, Paul Riley's Indies proceeded to net three unanswered goals in 13 minutes.

Amy Rodriguez opened her account in the 55th minute with a shot from 25 yards out. Three minutes later, Allison Falk netted her second of the season with a header from Lori Lindsey. Lindsey earned a second assist in the 68th minute, delivering a cross to Lianne Sanderson for her first goal of the season.

The Freedom never recovered, and Philly sailed on for the victory.

For his part, Riley was all smiles after the match.

"It felt fantastic to get the first win under our belts, and I really just felt the players earned it," he said. "We made substitutions, but it was to protect our win, not because anyone was playing poorly.

"I think it really lit a fire under us when we went down, but once [Rodriguez] got the first goal I think we all had the feeling that it was just a matter of time until we got another one. To be fair, I thought everyone on the team stepped up and played fantastic."

Lindsey opted to keep her feet on the ground after defeating her former team.

"It really felt good to get our first win," Lindsey said, "but I think now we really need to build on it and start looking to next weekend.

"It’s always fun to go up against players you’re familiar with and friendly with, so it was a lot of fun. I think it’s like any other game though when it comes down to it, and we’ll play them three more times this season, so we just need to learn from this game and move forward."

Philadelphia outshot Washington 11-9, however, the Indies were choppy at times with their play, racking up nine fouls and seven offsides.

They will look to fix that when the host the Atlanta Beat May 1 at 6 p.m. ET.

3. Sky Blue FC (2-1-0)

Also moving up in the rankings are Pauliina Miettenen's Sky Blue FC, who scored a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park.

Once again, it was the reliability of Natasha Kai who drilled home the game-winner in the 52nd minute. Kacey White keyed the delivery to Kai, who used the space she had to tap the ball out of the reach of Chicago goalkeeper Jillian Loyden.

Karen Bardsley was the workhorse this week among WPS goalkeepers, making six saves.

With the victory, Sky Blue FC extended its dominance over the Red Stars to 5-0-1.

"This is huge for us as a team," Miettinen said. "For us to go on the road, fight through the elements and take the victory says a lot about our character. This is a win that will certainly build the confidence of our team."

And Miettenen may have a point. A critical May 1 match-up with FC Gold Pride at Joe Yurcak Field awaits, with first place on the line. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.

4. Boston Breakers (1-0-2)

Moving down to fourth on the table are Tony DiCicco's Boston Breakers, who tied 1-1 with St. Louis Athletica at Fenton's Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park.

Kasey Moore paced Boston with her first goal of the year, thanks to a corner from Kristine Lilly that found Moore at the 18-yard box to open the scoring in the 22nd minute.

Boston outshot St. Louis 14-9 at the Brewery, but the frustration of the Breakers' inability to break the deadlock came to a head with Lauren Cheney cautioned in first half stoppage time.

The Breakers need to snap out of their lack of form if they want to chase the teams at the top of the power rankings. Boston returns to Harvard Stadium  May 1 to face the Chicago Red Stars at 6 p.m. ET.

5. St. Louis Athletica (1-0-2)

Jorge Barcellos's St. Louis Athletica drop to fifth in this week's rankings following their aforementioned draw with the Boston Breakers.

Rookie Carolyn Blank earned her first goal of the season after capitalizing off a would-be goal by Tina Ellertson, and the overall delivery by Aya Miyama off the corner kick.

“Honestly, right place, right time,” Blank said. “I just remember it bouncing around and being one of those chances where you try to get your body on it and get it in.”

In wet, rainy conditions that ravaged the midwest, Hope Solo was able to make five saves, but Eniola Aluko looked all too human. Every chance she had inside the Athletica's attacking third was wasted as if bad luck, rather than a storm system, hung over the Brewery on Sunday.

"I usually like to play when it is overcast, damp, and a little wet,'' Solo said. "But these conditions were not good. After the first mishap I didn’t even want the ball played back to me.”

“You never like to drop points at home,” said teammate Lori Chalupny. “But this was a good effort and a good point.”

On Saturday, the St. Louis Athletica will look to snap out of their point-splitting headache against the the Washington Freedom at RFK Stadium at 6 p.m. ET. The match will be part of a WPS/MLS doubleheader, as D.C. United will also face the New York Red Bulls.

6. Washington Freedom (1-2-0)

Freedom coach Jim Gabarra has to be scratching his head even now, hours after the fact, from his team's 3-1 loss to the Philadelphia Independence.

In spite of an early lead thanks to a Lisa De Vanna goal in the 51st minute, the Freedom were sliced and diced by the Indies in a span of 13 minutes.

"After Philly's first goal they gained a lot of confidence and were able to just build off that," Gabarra said. "I am disappointed in the 20 minutes that we stopped competing. Against a team like Philadelphia, we need to keep fighting."

Perhaps the goalkeeper had something to do with it, as regular starter Erin McLeod was unavailable due to national team duties. In her place was Meagan McCray, who filled in for Brianna Scurry after 47 minutes. Her inexperience in front of the net proved to be Washington's undoing.

Wambach, however, was quick to defend McCray's effort.

"There were two worlds of a difference between the first half and second half," Wambach said. "The second half, Philly outplayed us and outworked us."

The Freedom will enter RFK Stadium limping, with three out of a possible nine points in the regular season play.

7. Atlanta Beat (0-2-1)

Moving up one spot to seventh in the Power Rankings are Gareth O'Sullivan's Atlanta Beat, who dropped a 2-1 decision to FC Gold Pride.

Atlanta's only goal came in the 25th minute, when Monica Ocampo scored her first of the season thanks to an entry pass by Angie Kerr.

However, that was as all the Beat would get in terms of scoring, and it was not until the 89th minute that another three points were taken away by the home side.

Tobin Heath was not a major factor in the contest after getting substituted for McCall Zerboni in the 20th minute due to a right ankle injury.

The Beat face Philly May 1 at 6 p.m. ET.

8. Chicago Red Stars (0-2-1)

Are Emma Hayes' Chicago Red Stars cursed? They tallied 17 shots against Sky Blue FC, yet were unable to find the back of the net in their 1-0 loss.

Clearly, the frustrations are mounting for the women of the Windy City. They committed 13 fouls compared to Sky Blue FC's nine, and even had four times as many chances off of corners.

Of the 17 shots taken by the Red Stars, 13 were in the second half. Compounding matters were the offsides against Chicago, including a chance for Kosovare Asllani to equalize in the 40th minute that was called back after the flag was raised.

That was just one of two offsides against the Red Stars. Take away the call, and they're splitting a point.

Hayes and Red Stars will look to win May 1, when they travel to face the Boston Breakers at Harvard Stadium.