Breakers' Three-Match Unbeaten Run Ends after 2-1 Loss at Sky Blue FC

Piscataway, N.J. (May 31, 2009) – The Boston Breakers saw their three-match unbeaten streak come to an end after a 2-1 loss at Sky Blue FC in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) action on Sunday evening at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, NJ.

The Breakers (3-3-2, 11 points) dropped to third place in the standings, one point behind the surging Washington Freedom who defeated FC Gold Pride, 3-1, earlier in the day. Sky Blue FC (2-4-2, 8 points) moves into a three-way tie for fifth place.

Kacey White scored the winner in the 29th minute to break a 1-1 tie off of Meghan Schnur’s second assist of the match.  Schnur sent a cross into the middle of the box which White flicked over the top of Luckenbill and into the goal for her first tally of the year.

“It wasn’t a good enough game for us today,” said Boston head coach Tony DiCicco. “Give Sky Blue FC credit, they scored two good goals, dug us a hole and we were not able to get out of it. We fought hard until the end of the game, but were unable to create quality soccer.”

Sky Blue FC took an early lead in the 4th minute on Natasha Kai’s second goal of the season. Schnur sent Kai through with plenty of room on the left side. She ran into the box, turned defender Amy LePeilbet and beat goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill to the near post.

Boston answered back thanks to a misplayed ball by Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Jenni Branam in the 12th minute. Stacy Bishop played a ball into the run of Alex Scott on the left side.

Scott hustled to send a low cross just before the ball could go over the goal line, but Branam was unable to handle the ball and Kelly Smith tapped in the loose ball in front of goal to level the game at 1-1 with her league-leading fifth goal of the season.

Down 2-1 following White’s goal, Amy Rodriguez had a chance to equalize for the Breakers before the half was done with a header in the 43rd minute off a Kristine Lilly cross, but the ball hit the cross bar and was cleared away.

DiCicco was forced to make a substitution just before the half after Smith picked up an apparent knee injury, replacing the England international with Maggie Tomecka.

The Breakers had an early chance in the second half as Lilly was in on goal after a quick free quick in the 53rd minute. Branam, however, was well positioned to turn Lilly’s shot away for a corner at the near post.

The Sky Blue FC defense kept the Boston attack at bay for the majority of the rest of the half, although the Breakers did create a couple late chances in stoppage time on shots from Lilly and Angela Hucles. 

The Breakers have another bye week and will return to action on June 14 at home against Saint Louis Athetica. The game will also be broadcast live on Fox Soccer Channel as part of WPS Sunday on FSC at 6 p.m. (ET).

Box Score

May 31, 2009

Yurcak Field – Piscataway, N.J.

GOALS 1  2  – Total

Sky Blue FC 2  0  –  2

Boston 1  0  –  1 

Scoring Summary

First Half: 

1 - SBFC: Kai 2 (Schnur 1), 4th minute.

2 - BOS: Smith 5, 12th minute.

3 - SBFC: White 1 (Schnur 2), 29th minute.

Second Half: 

None.

tats

Shots: SBFC 12 BOS 10; Shots on Goal: SBFC 6 BOS 8; Saves: Jenni Branam (SBFC) 5, Kristin Luckenbill (BOS) 3; Corners: SBFC 2 BOS 6; Fouls: SBFC 15 BOS 7.

Lineups

SKY BLUE FC: Jenni Branam; Keeley Dowling, Anita Asante, Christie Rampone, Megan Schnur; Heather O'Reilly, Yael Averbuch, Collette McCallum, Rosana (Kelly Parker, 68th minute); Kacey White, Natasha Kai (Julianne Sitch, 76th minute).

BOSTON: Kristin Luckenbill; Alex Scott, Amy LePeilbet, Sue Weber, Heather Mitts; Angela Hucles, Stacy Bishop (Candace Chapman, 79th minute), Kristine Lilly, Kelly Smith (Maggie Tomecka, 45th+2 minute); Kelly Schmedes, Amy Rodriguez (Jennifer Nobis, 46th minute).

Misconduct Summary                                                                                               

Cautions: 

Boston – Mitts, 85th minute.

Sky Blue FC – Parker, 90th minute.

Ejections: None.

Attendance: 3,493

Weather – 76, sunny

Officials – R: Bryan Roslund; A1: Danielle Magourik; A2: Debbie Coleman; FO: Jose Carlos Rivero.

The previous story is excerpted from a press release by Kevin Hassett of the Boston Breakers. Photo Credit: David Silverman/DSPIcs.com. Todd Civin is a freelance writer who covers the Boston Breakers of the Women's Professional Soccer League for Bleacher Report and several other sites. He can be reached for hire and story leads at [e-mail]