Offense Explodes in Boston Breakers' Win Over Freedom

Todd CivinApr 19, 2009

The following is a press release from The Boston Breakers and can be found at here.

The first two penalty kicks in league history each turned out favorably for Boston. Kelly Smith opened the scoring from the penalty spot while Kristin Luckenbill saved what would have been a go-ahead Abby Wambach penalty 16 minutes later.

The Breakers won 3-1 over the Washington Freedom in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) action Saturday evening at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Boyds, Md.

Smith, the reigning WPS Player of the Week, put the Breakers (2-1-0) in front with her league-leading third goal of the season in the 56th minute. Angela Hucles was fouled inside the area by Freedom goalkeeper Briana Scurry to lead to the spot kick.

The Freedom (0-2-1) came right back and leveled the score just four minutes later on a goal from Lori Lindsey, assisted by Rebecca Moros. Freedom then had a chance to take the lead in the 72nd minute after Boston defender Amy LePeilbet was called for a hand ball in the box.

Wambach’s penalty attempt was saved by a diving Luckenbill, who read correctly toward the lower right hand corner.

The Breakers made the Freedom pay for the miss by capitalizing four minutes later on a header by second-half substitute Christine Latham. After a nice run by Kristine Lilly led to a Latham cross that was cleared by Scurry, Alex Scott sent the ball back in to Latham, who headed the ball past Scurry.

Angela Hucles added to the Breakers lead in the 81st minute with an unassisted goal from the edge of the penalty area into the upper corner of the goal.

“There was some good and some bad,” said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco. “I thought our back line and our goalkeeper Luckenbill defended very well. Offensively we finished very well in the second half. I didn’t think we passed the ball as well as we normally have, and we gave a lot of balls away, but give credit to Washington for that.

“I’m proud of this team though. The best teams find a way to get results even when not playing their best, and I thought we did that tonight.”

Boston's three goals on the night, as well as the four combined goals by the two teams, are both season-highs for the young WPS season.

The teams battled an evenly contested first half with chances on both sides despite the 0-0 scoreline. Boston’s best chance of the first half came in the 36th minute when Lilly turned and beat a Freedom defender in side the penalty area, beat Scurry, but had her effort headed away by Becky Sauerbrunn in time to prevent the goal.

The Breakers are back on the road next weekend to take on the Chicago Red Stars on Saturday, April 25 (8:30 p.m. ET). The Breakers next home game will be against Brazilian three-time reigning FIFA World Player of the Year Marta and the Los Angeles Sol on Saturday, May 2 at Harvard Stadium (7 p.m.). For more information about the Boston Breakers, click here.

Box Score

GOALS             1          2          Total

Boston              0          1          1
Washington       0          3          3

SCORING SUMMARY

Minute Team      Goal
56’        Boston—Kelly Smith (penalty)
60’        Washington—Lori Lindsey (Rebecca Moros)
72’        Boston—Christine Latham (Alex Scott)
81’        Boston—Angela Hucles (unassisted)

LINEUPS

Washington Freedom

1 – Scurry (GK), 11 – Janss (D) (3 – Gilbeau, 46’), 4 – Whitehill (D), 22 – Sauerbrunn (D), 21 – Singer (D), 8 – Bompastor (M), 6 – Lindsey (M), 9 – Long (M) (19 – Moros, 46’), 10 – Sawa (M), 20 – Wambach (F – Capt.), 17 - De Vanna (F) (25 – Zimmeck, 84’)

Boston Breakers

1 – Luckenbill (GK), 2 – Mitts (D), 6 – LePeilbet (D), 20 – Weber (D), 22 – Scott (D), 10 – Smith (M), 16 – Hucles (M), 17 – Moore (4 – Bishop, 61’), 13 – Lilly (M - Capt.), 3 – Schmedes (F) (5 – Tomecka, 84’), 8 – Rodriquez (F) (7 – Latham, 68’).

Booked

70’—Boston's Kelly Smith

Sent off

None

Statistics                WSH        BOS

Total Shots             14 (4)       13 (5)
Shots on Goal         8 (2)         7 (1)
Saves                     4 (1)         3 (2)
Fouls                      12 (7)       10 (6)
Corners                   5 (2)         2 (1)
Offsides                 4 (2)         2 (2)

Officials—R: Daniel Fitzgerald ; A1: Debbie Coleman; A2: John Schmitz; FO: Sandra Serafín

Attendance: 4,232