Breakers and Freedom to Meet in Rematch of Early Season Game
The two original WUSA teams in WPS face off for the second time this season as the Washington Freedom come to Harvard Stadium for the Breakersā first televised home match.
The Breakers are now in second place, just one point behind the first-place Sol after grabbing four out of a possible six points in the past two matches with the league leaders. Boston defeated Los Angeles, 2-1, two weeks ago at Harvard Stadium, the first loss of the year for the Sol.
The teams then played to a 0-0 draw at the Home Depot Center in California this past Sunday. The Breakers are two points ahead of third-place Chicago, although the Red Stars have a game in hand. Sundayās game is the second rematch for Boston against a WPS team.
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The Breakers have now faced five of the other six league clubs. The lone team Boston has not played against, Sky Blue FC, will be the Breakersā next opponent on May 31 in New Jersey.
MATCHUP
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RecordĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 3-2-1, 10 ptsĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 1-2-2, 5 pts
League StandingĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 2ndĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 7th
Goals ScoredĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 8Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 9
Goals AgainstĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 8Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 12
Form (prev 5)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā W W L W TĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā L T L W T
Latest ResultĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā T, 0-0 at LAĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā T, 3-3 vs. STL
Fouls Caused/GameĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 10.2Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 7.8
Fouls Suffered/GameĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 12.2Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 8.4
Corners Per GameĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 7.0Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 10.2
Goals LeaderĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Kelly Smith (4)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 3 tied with 2
Assists LeaderĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 2 tied with 2Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā 3 tied with 2
Saves LeaderĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Kristin Luckenbill (17)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Brianna Scurry (11)
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Season SeriesĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Head CoachĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Head Coach
Boston leads, 1-0-0Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Tony DiCiccoĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Jim Gabarra
Previous MeetingĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Players to WatchĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Players to Watch
Boyds, Md., 3-1Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Kristine LillyĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Sonia Bompastor
(April 2, 2009 at WSH)Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Kelly SmithĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Lori Lindsey
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Amy RodriguezĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Cat Whitehill
Last Time versus Washington, the Breakers defeated the Freedom, 3-1, in Boyds, Md. on April 25. It was the second-straight win for Boston and the team's first on the road.Ā Kelly Smith opened the scoring in the 56th minute with the leagueās first-ever penalty kick.
The Freedom leveled through Lori Lindsay four minutes later, and then had a penalty kick of their own in the 72nd minute. Breakersā keeper Kristin Luckenbill dove to the right, however, to deny Abby Wambach for the leagueās first-ever PK save. Boston took control after that with goals from Christine Latham and Angela Hucles to close out the win.
Scouting the Freedom
The Freedom offense has revved up in recent weeks, scoring seven goals in their two matches since falling to the Breakers on April 25. Washington had a thrilling 4-3 win over FC Gold Pride, and then drew with Saint Louis Athletica, 3-3, in their last match on May 3.Ā
Abby Wambach, the hero with a last-gasp game-winner in stoppage time against FC Gold Pride, will miss Sundayās game through suspension.Ā She received a one-match ban from the league following a tackle on Athleticaās Danijela that left the Brazilian likely out for the season through injury.
The Freedom still have plenty of attacking options, including French midfielder Sonia Bompastor, who tallied twice against Saint Louis and was tabbed the WPS Player of the Week for Week Six.
The Arrival
The final member of the Boston Breakers has arrived to the Hub. Brazilian international Fabiana came into Boston a week ago and visited with her teammates and front office staff. The 19-year-old forward has begun moderate post-surgery training and running following a knee injury last fall, and team doctors and coaches are monitoring and evaluating her condition on a continuous basis.
Fabiana is one of only two teenagers in the league, and the second-youngest player behind compatriot and Saint Louis Athletica midfielder Francielle.
The Return
While one international Breakers player with a bright future arrived in Boston last week, another with a bright history with the Breakers is making her return this weekend.
Former Germany forward/midfielder Maren Meinert will be the first inductee into the Breakers Pillars of Excellence during a halftime ceremony in Sundayās match vs. the Freedom. Her former coach with the Breakers in 2003, and current U.S. National Team head coach Pia Sundhage, will be at Sundayās ceremony.Ā
Meinert was the 2003 WUSA Most Valuable Player and was also named the MVP of the WUSA All-Star Game that year. After retiring from club soccer, she led her native Germany to its first-ever FIFA Womenās World Cup title in October 2003. Meinert is now the head coach of Germanyās under-20 Womenās National Team.
Call to Duty
A total of seven Breakers will be away from the team later this week after being called into national team duty, although none of them will have to miss any WPS action. Four playersāAngela Hucles, Amy LePeilbet, Heather Mitts, and Amy Rodriguezāhave been called up by Pia Sundhage for U.S. match against Canada on May 25 (originally a two-game series against Japan).
Boston and Chicago lead WPS with four players each on the U.S. roster. Candace Chapman has also been called up to the Canadian squadfor that match. Meanwhile, England internationals Kelly Smith and Alex Scott will take part in a four-day training camp called by England head coach Hope Powell in preparation for EURO 2009.
Leading Scorer
Breakers midfielder Kelly Smith was held scoreless for the first time this season on Sunday. Despite that, she still leads the league in goals with four from five matches played.
Good Turnout
A festive crowd of 8,031 fans packed Harvard Stadium for last weekendās showdown between the Breakers and the Sol. It was the highest attendance for a Breakers game and the second-highest total for a match in WPS play this season.
The Los Angeles Sol had a crowd of 14,832 for the WPS Inaugural Match on March 29 against the Washington Freedom.
First Lady
Boston forward Kelly Smith has had numerous āfirstsā this season. The England international became the first player to have scored in both U.S. professional womenās soccer leagues (WPS and WUSA) when she scored in the 79th minute of Bostonās 2-1 loss at FC Gold Pride in the season openerāwhich was also Bostonās first WPS goal.
She scored the leagueās first-ever penalty kick in Bostonās first-ever road victory against Washington on April 18. Smith would go on to be WPSā first Player of the Month (April), and then became the first-ever player to score against the Los Angeles Sol with her second-minute strike in Bostonās 2-1 win on May 2. The Sol had opened the season with four consecutive shutouts.
Fast Start
The Sol came into the May 2 match in Boston having not yielded a goal in four matches played, while the Breakers had not previously scored in the first half all season. All that changed in a hurry, as Kelly Smith scored the fastest goal in WPS history in the second minute (1:09 to be exact) of the match.
The previous fastest goal came from Sol defender Allison Falk, who tallied in the sixth minute of the WPS Inaugural Match on March 29 against the Freedom.
League Leaders
While Los Angeles and Boston are ranked first and second, respectively, in the league standings, Breakers forward Kelly Smith and Sol forward Marta are making a case as the early front-runners for WPS MVP. The international stars are ranked first and second, respectively, in goals scored.
Player of the Month
Bostonās Kelly Smith was tabbed the WPS Player of the Month for April. It is the leagueās first-ever monthly award. Smith scored goals in all three of the games she played during the month of April, leading the Breakers to a 2-1-0 record in those matches.
Smith was an automatic nominee for the award after claiming the WPS Player of the Week award on April 12 for Week Three. Smith beat out L.A.ās Marta and Karina LeBlanc, who finished second and third, respectively, for the monthly honor in voting done by media, fans, and the teams.
Scheduling Note
The June 20 rematch between Boston and the Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., has been rescheduled. The game will now be played on June 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET at Toyota Park.
Back in the WUSA
The Breakers have eight players on their roster that played in the previous American womenās pro soccer league, including two that have returned to the BreakersāKristine Lilly and Angela Hucles.
The other six players are Kelly Smith and Heather Mitts (Philadelphia Charge), Abby Crumpton and Nancy Augustyniak Goffi (Atlanta Beat), Kristin Luckenbill (Carolina Courage) and Christine Latham (San Diego Spirit).
Second Term In The Capital
Like Boston, the Freedom have two players, Abby Wambach and Lori Lindsey, who have returned to play for the WPS Washington Freedom. In addition, head coach Jim Gabarra is back and never left the Freedom, having coached the W-League version since the WUSA folded.
There are a total of 10 players on Washingtonās roster who also played with the W-League Freedom at one point.
Alligator Alley
Breakers defender Heather Mitts and Washington Freedom forward Abby Wambach both played at the University of Florida and were teammates on the Gators' 1998 National Championship squad.
Austin (Texas) Powers
Washington Freedom defender/midfielder Jill Gilbeau and Breakers defender Kasey Moore both played at the University of Texas.
Meet Virginia
Breakers midfielder Angela Hucles, along with Washington Freedom midfielders Sarah Huffman, Lori Lindsey, defenders Becky Sauerbrunn and Alex Singer all played at the University of Virginia.
Golden Tarheels
Breakers midfielder/forward Kristine Lilly and Washington Freedom defender Cat Whitehill both played for the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina. They were both members of the 2007 World Cup squad and the gold-medal team at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.
The above article was excerpted from a press release provided by the Boston Breakers. Photo credit: Tony Quinn | isiphotos.net
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