WPS 2009 Power Rankings: Week Eight

Christine Sinclair puts the finishing touch on her game winning goal against the Chicago Red Stars on May 16, 2009 at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, IL.  (Allen | isiphotos.net)

While Rachel Alexandra rocked the beasts from the East at Pimlico, the best in the West were on top this weekend in Women's Professional Soccer.

This week's edition of the power rankings sees FC Gold Pride bounce back and the Los Angeles Sol get back to winning form while idle St. Louis holds on to the top spot for one more week.

1. ST. LOUIS ATHLETICA

Over the course of the bye weekend for Jorge Barcellos' St. Louis Athletica, the crew from Home Box Office, or HBO as you know them by, stopped over to rub shoulders with the players and officials from the St. Louis Sports Commission to promote the new documentary from Jerry Bruckheimer entitled, Kick Like a Girl. The event, scheduled for May 27 has sold out.

Kick Like a Girl tells the story of the Mighty Cheetahs, an undefeated third-grade girl’s soccer team. After two undefeated seasons against girls’ soccer teams their age and older, they are about to take on a new challenge: boys. 

Cheetahs coach Jenny Mackenzie chronicles the adventures of these third-grade underdogs as they set out to prove their game skills and overcome the skepticism of opponents and parents.

Combining game footage and photography with anecdotes from players, parents and coaches, Kick Like a Girl is narrated by coach Jenny’s eight-year-old daughter Lizzie, a feisty, self-declared “soccer girl” who refuses to allow juvenile diabetes, elbow blocks or grass stains to get in the way of her desire to compete.

As for resurging St. Louis, they will look to consolidate and perhaps use the screening as inspiration for the rest of the season. They hit the road next Saturday, to face the Chicago Red Stars at Toyota Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 PM ET.
2. LOS ANGELES SOL

After only two points from their last three matches, Abner Rogers' Sol needed to find their winning form amid the poor finishing and wasted opportunities.

And who else to be the catalyst than Marta Vieira da Silva?

And who else would be the team to get the W than a team they defeated earlier this season in Sky Blue FC

Yes, the No. 10 was at again, taking a pass from Camille Abily in the 80th minute, slicing past two Sky Blue defenders to tap one past Jenni Branham, and bringing home a well-deserved 1-0 victory over the visitors at the Home Depot Center Friday night.

"Even though it was an individual play that I scored the goal on, it was the result of a lot of hard work by a lot of my teammates," said Marta following the match. "We have a lot of players who are just getting used to one another; the goals will come."

Rogers was chuffed after a match that saw Los Angeles have more shots on goal (6 to 3) and saves (5 to 3).

"We had a great fan base tonight; the fans really got to see an exciting match and we were able to reward them with three points," said Rogers following the match.

"It was a close battle and each team had opportunities, we had better opportunities in the first half, but we just didn't capitalize.

"But at the end of the game, we scored the goal that mattered."

With fresh wind at their sails, Los Angeles will set their direction northward towards the Bay Area, and Buck Shaw Stadium, where a date with FC Gold Pride awaits. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 at 7:00PM and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel.

3. BOSTON BREAKERS

The Breakers, after taking down the Sol at Harvard Stadium, returned to Soldiers Field relying on the reliable foot from Alex Scott, who equalized in the 49th minute to give Tony Dicicco's club a 1-1 draw with the Washington Freedom.

Scott's blast came off a forward ball from Christine Latham, who sprinted down the right side to send one past Washington keeper and new acquisition Erin McLeod.

“This was probably the highest level game we have played this year,” said DiCicco following the match. “It was very fast and quick.

“I was proud of the way we played in the second half. We went for three points tonight, but give Washington credit for their exceptional first half. After their goal, we finally started to play our game and put together some good chances.”

“We were out early with the goalkeepers practicing our shooting and I’m glad because it really paid off today," said Scott following the match.

"Christine [Latham] did a good job holding the ball up and got me a great pass.  [Boston midfielder] Kelly [Smith] was screaming for it in the penalty box and I think she would have gone mad if I didn’t put it in.”

Scott almost brought home the game winner in the 64th minute with shot hitting the woodwork. Captain Kristine Lilly rued an opportunity to bring home the winner herself, sending a volley from Candace Chapman over the crossbar.

“I really should have scored that one at the end," said Lilly after the match.  "It was a great ball and I just didn’t put it in.  I would love to have that chance again.

“We didn’t come out hard in the first half and we gave up a goal and we can’t have that happen.  We need to come out as a team and play 90 minutes and not just 70.  

"In this league anything can happen as you can see tonight.  We would have really loved three points tonight, but we got one.”

Boston will take the week off before traveling to Piscataway, New Jersey on May 31 to take on Sky Blue FC. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00PM ET and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel.
4. FC GOLD PRIDE

The Pride got their roar back in a big way: a 1-0 victory over the reeling Chicago Red Stars.

It was the first-ever road victory for Albertin Montoya's club.

"We played a very good game against the best attacking team in the league, on the road," said the Pride's manager following the match.  "It was a good win for us.  We had game plan we stuck to it and played very well.  

"We played a lot of pressure on them in the first half and got a goal."

The pressure for the Lionesses of the Bay paid off when Christine Sinclair scored off a feed from Adriane in the 30th minute.

"I thought Adriane played great," said Sinclair, whose goal was her second of the season..."She created a lot of chances for us, created the goal and had a couple of chances are her own. She really did a great job."

The fans will sure to be out in full force at Santa Clara University's Buck Shaw Stadium, where the Los Angeles Sol will look to consolidate on their status as top of the table on May 24.

"We’re always excited to play at home," Montoya said regarding the upcoming match.  "We have a winning record at home I know the players and us as coaches always look forward to playing at Buck Shaw.  

"Having the fans behind you out there goes a long way."

There is a long way yet to go in this WPS season, but will things go the Pride's way this time around after ending up on the short end at Victoria Street?

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel.
5. WASHINGTON FREEDOM

Washington had to scrap things out against Boston without Abby Wambach, who was serving a one-game suspension. Even Boston Breakers manager Tony DiCicco warned his team that Jim Gabarra's Freedom would storm the gates as fast as Rachel Alexandra from the first turn in the Preakness.

Rebecca Moros opened her account in the 33rd minute with a goal from Australian international Lisa De Vanna, and Eric McLeod made a key save on Kelly Smith in the 67th minute to salvage a 1-1 draw with the Boston Breakers at Harvard Stadium.

In what was a tale of two halves-Washington dominating the first and Boston the second-Sonia Bompastor was pleased with the Freedom's defense.

“We scored first and then we gave one up, but we are not disappointed because we played well and defended as a team," the French international said after the match.  
We worked very hard on our shape defensively.  Everyone has to defend.  

"If we do this all year it will be okay for us.”

Bompastor did admit that not having Wambach on the field meant that adjustments needed to be made for Washington.

“She is a great player and it is hard not having her," said Bompastor.  "We did well though and scored a goal and made chances.

"It’s good because she is away next time with the national team so we have to play without her again."

Gabarra saw the performance as a moral victory of some sorts.

“I would have liked to have three points but we played a little tentative and couldn’t keep the line at the beginning of the second half," the Freedom manager said following the match.

"Earlier in the season teams were burying miraculous goals and finishing every time but this game the Breakers couldn’t finish as easily and we can take this as a turning point of the season.”

Could things be looking up? Saturday's contest with Sky Blue FC may provide some answers. Kickoff at RFK Stadium is scheduled for 4:30 PM ET.

6. SKY BLUE FC

Not only did Ian Sawyers' Sky Blue FC leave Los Angeles with a 1-0 defeat, they had an unfortunate casualty in Natasha Kai.

A collision with Los Angeles Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc in the 81st minute caused the forward from Hawaii to be stretched off the pitch.

"Overall, we were unlucky not to come away with a win," Sawyers said after the game. "We didn't play well in the first half, so we made some adjustments at halftime and dominated a large part of the second half.

"The difference was Marta's breakaway that led to the only goal of the game."

Megan Schnur nearly equalized for Sky Blue FC in the third minute of stoppage time in the second half, but her shot went wide of the left post.

The concern now is Natasha Kai and the assessment on how serious her injury has become. As for Sky Blue FC, they travel to RFK Stadium to face the Washington Freedom on Saturday, May 23. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 PM ET.
7. CHICAGO RED STARS

The Chicago Red Stars are seeing red. Deep red. Condition crimson with embarrassment.

They are in a slump after dropping consecutive matches: first to Sky Blue FC, and now FC Gold Pride 1-0 at Bridgeview's Toyota Park.

Despite the defeat, manager Emma Hayes put on a brave face following the match.

“I think the first half our attacking play was exciting," said Hayes following the match.  "It’s the best we’ve been all season.  Nonetheless we didn’t score. At the end of the day we just didn’t score a goal.”

The attacking play Hayes was referring to was a series of wasted opportunities: a cross from Megan Rapinoe in the 27th minute missing Cristiane, and heartbreak for Karen Carney and Lindsay Tarpley in the 34th.

Chicago had yet another opportunity in the 83rd minute, but a shot from Carney was parried away by FC Gold Pride keeper Nicole Barnhart.

Rapinoe kept a chin up following the disappointing performance.

"I think we prepare the same every week, each team is a bit different," said Rapinoe following the match.  "But I definitely know that we’re going to be hungry and this is one of the most competitive teams I’ve ever seen.”

Could a result against St. Louis Athletica be the power replenisher? A May 23 date with the Green and Silver at Toyota Park will be the answer. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30 PM ET.