WPS Weekly June 23, 2009: It's What's Happening in the WPS

Weekend Report
In WPS Week 13, the Los Angeles Sol extended their lead to 12 points in the WPS Standings with another shutout and another victory in the California derby over FC Gold Pride, 2-0, while the Washington Freedom won a match-up of teams near the top of the table – 1-0 against Saint Louis – to move into sole possession of second-place.

The Boston Breakers, meanwhile, collected four points in two games and were the big winners on the week as they moved into sole possession of third, three points clear of fifth-place.

Saint Louis Athletica, which lost to Washington despite controlling the play, sits fourth but has a game in-hand on third-place Boston and fifth-place Sky Blue FC, which moved out of the cellar with a 1-0 victory over Chicago on Wednesday in mid-week play.


Washington Freedom 1, Saint Louis Athletica 0
Saint Louis Athletica (4-4-2) could only hold onto second place for one week in WPS as an 83rd minute Rebecca Moros goal gave the Washington Freedom (4-3-4) a 1-0 win at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in front of 2,731 fans, who braved the heat and humidity of the first day of summer.

Moros’ goal came on a breakaway counter attack by Washington. Lisa De Vanna picked up the ball in midfield and made a run at the Athletica back line. De Vanna’s forward ball found Moros with Kia McNeill defending her.

McNeill’s attempted clearance came right back to Moros who took the shot past an on rushing Hope Solo. Moros’ shot hit the underside of the crossbar came down on the line and then bounced into the goal.

The win moves Washington to 16 points and into second place by themselves. Meanwhile Athletica dropped to fourth following Boston’s victory.


Boston Breakers 2, Chicago Red Stars 0
Not even a lineup shake-up could help the Chicago Red Stars snap out of a 7-game winless streak.

With usual starters Cristiane, Carli Lloyd and Megan Rapinoe all watching the opening kickoff from the bench, the Red Stars dropped a 2-0 decision to the Boston Breakers Sunday afternoon before 3,889 fans at Toyota Park.

It was the first Breakers (4-4-3) victory since May 2, a streak matched only by Chicago (2-5-5) which hasn’t won a game since defeating Boston on April 25.

The Breakers didn’t have many chances in the match but the visitors made the most of them, starting when Kristine Lilly sent a long pass to teammate Amy Rodriguez inside the box in the 22nd minute.  Splitting two Chicago defenders, Rodriguez beat Caroline Jönsson for her first goal of the season.

The Red Stars had chances to equalize in the second half, twice beating Boston goalkeeper Allison Lipsher only to have the shot cleared off the goal line by a defender. Kristine Lilly added a stoppage time PK for Boston’s final margin.


Los Angeles Sol 2, FC Gold Pride 0
The Los Angeles Sol blanked FC Gold Pride 2-0 at The Home Depot Center in Carson on Sunday afternoon.

The Sol remains comfortably atop the WPS standings with an 8-1-4 record, while FC Gold Pride falls to 3-6-3. Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made three saves to register her WPS-leading ninth shutout, while midfielder Camile Abily notched her league-best seventh goal of the season.

Marta scored on a breakaway midway through the first half and the Los Angeles Sol had several excellent second-half chances thwarted by Pride keeper Nicole Barnhart, who kept the game close.


Line Up Notables
Chicago Red Stars: Danesha Adams earned her first start this season for the Red Stars and created some early chances for the Midwest side in a 0-1 loss against Sky Blue FC. Megan Rapinoe, Cristiane, and Carli Lloyd did not start against the Breakers Sunday.

Marina Dalmy moved to left midfield, but left the match early with a sprained ankle. The Red Stars winless streak increased to eight consecutive matches after losing both matches in Week 13.

Boston Breakers: Allison Lipsher, the initial understudy to Kristin Luckenbill in goal, earned her first two starts this season with a tie and shutout result in Week 13. Increasing her minutes played recently, Jenny Nobis posted her first goal this season, the game-equalizer against FC Gold Pride Wednesday.

Top draft choice in the 2009 WPS Draft, Amy Rodriguez, finally found the net after going without a goal the entire first half of the WPS season.

FC Gold Pride: Christine Sinclair secured her fifth goal of the season Wednesday against the Boston Breakers and moved into a three-way tie for the second-most goals scored along with Marta and Kelly Smith. Saturday’s match against the Los Angeles Sol saw the Bay Area fall short in the third of four meetings between the two California rivals.

Los Angeles Sol: The Sol increased their number one status to an unbeaten streak of eight games. Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc tallied her league-leading ninth shutout, while Camille Abily scored a league-high seventh goal. Marta got back on the scoreboard netting her fifth goal of the season.

Saint Louis Athletica: The Athletica were bumped down to fourth place after falling to the Freedom 0-1 Saturday. Despite several chances on goal, three more than the Freedom, Athletica forwards Christie Welsh and Melissa Tancredi’s opportunities hit the crossbar.

Sky Blue FC: Rosana scored the game-winner and her second goal of the year on Wednesday against the Red Stars. Sky Blue FC is now tied for fifth place with FC Gold Pride after Week 13.

Washington Freedom: Abby Wambach left Sunday’s match against the Athletica at the end of the first half with a hamstring injury. Goalkeeper Erin McLeod posted her second and the team’s second shutout this season. Rebecca Moros tallied the late game-winner, her second goal this season.


Quotables From Notables
A few words from players and coaches…

“We sent the team out today to show that they can perform as a team and I’m very proud of my players today,” said Chicago head coach Emma Hayes. “I think the better team lost the game and I think if we could extend the goal width in either direction then we wouldn’t be talking about a clean sheet.”

“Chicago probably deserved more, but we’ve been on that side of the games as well,” said Boston head coach Tony DiCicco. “So we’re delighted with the win and we went out with the right mentality.”

“It was on a fast break two on two, De Vanna drew the defenders in because of her speed and she fed it right to me,” said Washington Freedom’s Rebecca Moros. “[Kia] McNeill made a valiant effort to clear the ball but it came back to me.”

“When you play at home you have to win,“ Athletica head coach Jorge Barcellos said. “Soccer is a game when you have opportunities you have to score. If you don’t score sooner or later the other team will.”

"It was a battle for the full 90 minutes,” said Sky Blue FC forward Natasha Kai. “Both sides had plenty of chances, but it only takes one goal to win and we were the team that made our chances count. As a professional, you have to convert the few scoring chances you get in a game, and we did our job tonight."


WPS Player of the Week: Week 13
Washington goalkeeper Erin McLeod has been selected WPS’s Player of the Week for Week 13 after notching her second shutout in six appearances to lead the visiting Freedom to a 1-0 triumph over Saint Louis Athletica.

The Canadian made seven saves, including a big 63rd-minute stop on Week 12 winner Eniola Aluko, and twice received help from her crossbar as Washington climbed to second place in the WPS Standings.

McLeod is the third Freedom player to receive Player of the Week honors, joining Abby Wambach (Week Five) and Sonia Bompastor (Week Six). She's the second Canadian selection (FC Gold Pride's Christine Sinclair in Week Eight) and the second goalkeeper honored (Saint Louis' Jillian Loyden, Week Nine).

The WPS Player of the Week is selected by a panel of writers from the North American Soccer Reporters.

WPS Players of the Week
Week One: Aya Miyama (Los Angeles Sol)
Week Two: Marta (Los Angeles Sol)
Week Three: Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers)
Week Four: Aly Wagner (Los Angeles Sol)
Week Five: Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Week Six: Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom)
Week Seven: Lori Chalupny (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week Eight: Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride)
Week Nine: Jillian Loyden (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week 10: Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 11: Camille Abily (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 12: Eniola Aluko (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week 13: Erin McLeod (Washington Freedom)

Note: Weeks one and two selected by The Soccer Magazine; weeks three through selected by North American Soccer Reporters panel.


Atlanta Beat Announced as Ninth Team in WPS
Professional Soccer Commissioner Tonya Antonucci and Atlanta Team Owner Fitz Johnson officially unveiled the Atlanta Beat as the ninth Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) franchise at a ceremony at downtown Atlanta’s Metro Chamber of Commerce with Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin in attendance last Thursday.

The Atlanta Beat join the Philadelphia Independence as expansion teams in WPS and will begin play in the 2010 WPS Season.

“We are excited and proud to add Atlanta as our ninth WPS franchise for 2010 and to have Fitz Johnson, who is such a passionate and dynamic businessman, as an owner in our growing league,” said WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci.

“Atlanta is a soccer hotbed with its numerous youth leagues and tournaments, and the region has played host to some big time women’s soccer events over the years including the Olympics and WUSA championship games.”

The Atlanta Beat’s colors will be Ferrari Red and Gold and the team will be led by General Manager Shawn McGee, who was announced as the Beat’s GM by Fitz Johnson on Wednesday.

“We are thrilled to be bringing Women’s Professional Soccer to Atlanta for the 2010 season and are excited for this milestone announcement,” said Johnson.  “As a team, we will feature the highest level of women’s soccer in the world and it is our goal to be entertaining, exciting and affordable for fans.

"We feel the new team name, the Atlanta Beat, embraces our city’s past support of a professional women’s soccer team.  Our logo and colors are distinct and vibrant, representing the flavor of the warmth, and energy of this city.  There is no question that a WPS franchise will diversify and add to Atlanta’s robust professional sports community.”


Kelly Lindsey Named Sky Blue FC Head Coach
Sky Blue FC announced today the official appointment of Kelly Lindsey as head coach of the team for the remainder of the 2009 Women's Professional Soccer season. Lindsey, formerly the assistant coach, had been designated interim head coach on May 23.

According to Sky Blue FC General Manager Gerry Marrone, "Kelly has more than proved herself worthy of this position. She took over at a difficult time, and has been at the helm of a team on the rise. We are optimistic about the future of our season under her leadership."
 
Lindsey will be joined by current Assistant Coach Joe Dorini.


Enhanced Sections on Womensprosoccer.com
Womensprosoccer.com has launched a series of enhanced sections for fans and media. These include special information sections for roster reports and injuries, rules on roster movements, a dedicated page for disciplinary decisions and announcements, including a yellow/red card tracker, as well as WPS Playoff information and tiebreak rules.

The league is also launching a media info section this week that will include specialty stats, PDFs of team media guides, attendance statistics, credential applications, photo information and other media documents. For a password to this section, please email [e-mail].

Roster Reports
http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/news/roster-report.aspx

Roster Rules
http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/about/roster-rules.aspx

Discipline Section
http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/news/league-discipline.aspx

WPS Playoffs
http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/schedule/wps-playoffs.aspx

Regular Season Tiebreak Rules
http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/about/standings-tiebreakers.aspx

WPS Media Info Section (password restricted)
http://www.womensprosoccer.com/news/media-info


Womensprosoccer.com Begins “Remembering ’99” Tribute Series
10th Anniversary of 1999 Women’s World Cup Runs June 19-July 10
Womenprosoccer.com, the official league website for Women’s Professional Soccer, began its three-week series of first-person accounts from WPS players, international soccer stars and soccer executives to coincide with the 10th Anniversary of the 1999 Women’s World Cup on Friday.

The opening contribution came from Marla Messing, President and CEO of the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup™.

Additional first-person accounts will run throughout the next three weeks including memories of the tournament from WPS players such as Tiffeny Milbrett (FC Gold Pride), Karina LeBlanc (Los Angeles Sol) and Lori Chalupny (Saint Louis Athletica), as well as retired internationals Sun Wen (China) and Steffi Jones, head of the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Organizing Committee.

Working with U.S. Soccer, all seven WPS franchises are featuring a 10th Anniversary Tribute Day at one of their WPS home games coinciding with the anniversary of the tournament dates of the 1999 Women’s World Cup. Former U.S. Women’s National Team players will make appearances, sign autographs and be recognized for their accomplishments 10 years ago.

A tribute video will also be shown. The 1999 World Cup trophy will travel to WPS venues during this time for photo opportunities with fans and a special collector’s edition 1999 World Cup autograph card will be printed for fans.


Goals by the Numbers
Top Scorers – Los Angeles Sol’s Camille Abily (7), Boston Breakers’ Kelly Smith (5), FC Gold Pride’s Christine Sinclair (5), Los Angeles Sol’s Marta (5)

Goals by Team – Washington Freedom (17), Los Angeles Sol (17), Boston Breakers (13), FC Gold Pride (11), Chicago Red Stars (8), Saint Louis Athletica (8), Sky Blue FC (7)

Total Goals – 81 goals scored since WPS Inaugural Match on March 29, 2009 with an average of 2.03 goals per game.

Quickest Goal in League Play: Kelly Smith in 2nd minute of play, Boston Breakers vs. Los Angeles Sol (5/2/09)

Quickest back-to-back goals by one team: 2 goals in 3 minutes – 42 minute, 45 minute – from Marta in Los Angeles Sol vs. Sky Blue FC match (4/5/09)

Most Goals in One Game by one team: 4, Washington Freedom 4-3 FC Gold Pride (4/26/09) and Chicago Red Stars 4-0 Boston Breakers (4/25/09)

Most Goals in One Game by both teams: 7, Washington Freedom 4-3 FC Gold Pride (4/26/09)

Most Goals in a Game by a player: 2, Marta (Los Angeles Sol – 4/5/09), Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom – 4/26/09), Daniela (Saint Louis Athletica – 5/3/09), Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom – 5/3/09), Camille Abily (Los Angeles Sol – 6/7/09)


The Weekly Forecast

Wednesday, June 24

Boston Breakers vs. Washington Freedom (7 pm ET - CSN)
Harvard Stadium, Cambridge, MA
The third of four matches between these two teams whose namesakes stem from the old WUSA.

Boston has the chance to clinch the season series with a win after notching a 3-1 victory in the first game at Maryland SoccerPlex and drawing 1-1 in Boston one month ago. Just one point separates these two teams, with Washington sitting in second in the WPS Standings and the Breakers in third.

The Breakers broke out of several slumps over the weekend, winning their first game since May 2 with a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars. Kristine Lilly notched her first tally since May 2 and Amy Rodriguez ended her scoreless slump with an early goal. Boston is now 3-0 when Lilly scores.

Likewise, the Freedom come into the game having won on the road in Week 13 against Saint Louis. The Freedom’s 83rd-minute game-winner by Rebecca Moros was the third time this year that the Washington side has scored a clutch goal in the last 10 minutes to either win or tie a game.


Saint Louis Athletica vs. Los Angeles Sol (8 pm ET)
Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park, Fenton, MO
Saint Louis played Los Angeles tough earlier this season when the Sol visited the Gateway City, earning the Athetica’s first points on the year with a scoreless draw after two losses.

But the Sol dominated the return match in Southern California, doubling the Athletica in shots (16-8) and shots on goal (8-4) in their 2-0 victory on May 30.

While the Athletica have a speedy defense which has neutralized forwards Marta and Brittany Bock in previous games, it’s midfielders Sol Camile Abily, Shannon Boxx and Aya Miyama that look to control the midfield possession and build up towards the attack for Los Angeles.

For Saint Louis, Eniola Aluko has developed into a proven attacker up front – but the Los Angeles defense has given up only four goals all year and have only one multi-goal game against them this season.

Aluko will need some support from Melissa Tancredi or Christie Welsh, who began the season in Los Angeles before being traded to Saint Louis in mid-May.

With a 14 point cushion for Los Angeles over the Athletica, this game is critical for Saint Louis if they want to maintain any hopes of catching the Sol in the race for first and the right to host the WPS Championship on August 20. They are the last of the seven WPS teams to begin the second half of their regular season with only 10 games played thus far.


Saturday, June 27

Los Angeles Sol vs. Chicago Red Stars (1 pm ET)
Home Depot Center, Carson, CA
The unusual 10am morning start time locally for this game allows for Southern California youth soccer camps to get involved in the WPS action as summer gets underway.

And the early start time might help keep the temperatures a little cooler for players on the field. But cooler morning temperatures or not, Chicago will be on the hot seat, having lost two games in a row and winless since late April, a streak of eight games.

The slump has dropped them into last in the WPS Standings and with four of their last eight games against the top two teams in the league (Los Angeles, Washington), the Red Stars will need to find a way to put goals in the net and grab some points in the standings to make a run at the playoffs. In their previous trip to

The Home Depot Center, Cristiane scored in the 88th minute for Chicago only to see the lead disappear on a goal by Camille Abily two minutes later.

With two games in Week 14, the Sol will have only five games remaining on the season after Saturday’s clash with Chicago and just one home game on July 8th as they will be looking to clinch the WPS Regular Season title and a chance to host the WPS Championship depending on their continued run of success in the next two weeks.


Sunday, June 28

Sky Blue FC vs. Saint Louis Athletica (6 pm ET - FSC)
Yurcak Field, Piscataway, NJ
Sky Blue FC has performed well in national television games, going 2-0-1 when featured on the WPS Sunday on FSC game of the week including a solid 2-1 win over Boston on May 31 in front of a national television audience. Likewise, the Athletica are undefeated on national television with a draw at Washington and a victory at Boston.

Since taking the reins on May 23, Sky Blue FC head coach Kelly Lindsey has gone 2-2-1 with her team and taken them out of the league basement and into fifth place.

Saint Louis has played three consecutive 1-0 games in the month of June heading into Wednesday’s clash with Los Angeles, and one of them was a crucial victory over Sky Blue FC in Saint Louis.

The Missouri-side has the least number of draws in WPS and will be gunning for another three points as they to hope to put some distance between themselves and teams in position 5-7 with the Athletica sitting in the fourth and final playoff position heading into Week 14.

It’s the first and only trip for Saint Louis to Yurcak Field this season and the Athletica can win the season series with a win – a crucial tiebreaker should the teams end even on points at the end of the WPS Regular Season.

Could the Athletica’s performance on Wednesday be a portent of their weekend? Maybe, or maybe not. Teams that have tied Los Angeles have gone 2-0-2 in their next game, while teams that have lost to Los Angeles have gone a meager 1-3-3 in their next outing.

The only win was: Saint Louis, who lost to the Sol on May 30 and came back to win on June 7 against Sky Blue.

League Standings
Team                         GP     W L T       GF   GA    Points
Los Angeles Sol           13      8-1-4        17     4         28
Washington Freedom   11      4-3-4        17    18        16
Boston Breakers          11      4-4-3        13    13        15
Saint Louis Athletica    10      4-4-2         8       9        14
Sky Blue FC                11     3-5-3         7       9        12
FC Gold Pride             12     3-6-3        11    17        12
Chicago Red Stars       12     2-5-5         8     11        11

Wednesday, June 17
Boston Breakers 1, FC Gold Pride 1
Sky Blue FC 1, Chicago Red Stars 0

Saturday, June 20
Washington Freedom 1, Saint Louis Athletica 0

Sunday, June 21
Boston Breakers 2, Chicago Red Stars 0
Los Angeles Sol 2, FC Gold Pride 0

Off
FC Gold Pride has a bye this week

On TV
Wednesday’s match between the Boston Breakers and Washington Freedom will air on the Comcast Sports Network on Wednesday, June 24 at 7 pm ET.

The WPS Sunday on FSC match between Sky Blue FC and Saint Louis Athletica will air on the Fox Soccer Channel on Sunday, June 28 at 6 pm ET.

WPS Weekly is excerpted from a Press Release by the WPS and is reprinted under the  name What's News. What's News is the alternate profile of Todd Civin, a Bleacher Report writer.

It is used to excerpt press releases for WPS, The Lowell Spinners and the Worcester Sharks in an ongoing effort to build a PR relationship with the leagues. Todd can be reached at [e-mail]  Photo Credit:David Durochik | isiphotos.com