Lipsher Protects Latham's Lead as Breakers Defeat Freedom

Christine Latham scored a header off Heather Mitts' free kick at the 37th minute mark to give the Boston Breakers a 1-0 win over the Washington Freedom in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) action Wednesday night at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Mass.

The win allows the Breakers (5-4-3, 18 points) to leap over the Freedom (4-4-4, 16 points) into sole possession of second place. It also gave Boston the season series lead  against Washington (currently 2-0-1) with one match remaining between the teams on July 29. The Freedom dropped to third place.

Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco said he was pleased with the result, and especially impressed with his teams first half performance.

"I thought the first half was probably our best soccer from both an offensive and defensive standpoint. Washington is a good team and we just didn’t let them play in the first half," he said.

"It’s hard because you want to be a little more cautious when you are leading, and they came out hard in the second half. They had some opportunities, and good teams are going to get opportunities."

Mitts' free kick came in the first half after a foul on Kelly Smith in the 37th minute. Mitts stepped in and crossed the ball to Latham on the right side of the goal, who headed it into the opposite left corner, putting the Breakers up, 1-0. It was the second goal of the season for Latham, both of which were game-winners against the Freedom. The assist was Mitts' first.

Washington had a chance to tie before halftime in the 44th minute when Lori Lindsey hit a shot from outside the box just wide to the left side of the goal.

Leading up to the goal, Boston’s Amy Rodriguez and Kelly Smith were knocking on the door with several close calls.

Rodriguez put pressure on early, in the 16th minute, when she shot a ball at the top of the net, but McLeod just tipped it over the cross bar. Rodriguez then sent a cross across the net minutes later, but again McLeod made the save.

Smith rocketed two shots, both from about 30 yards out, one over the net and the other wide. She also took a free kick after being fouled, which bounced off the cross bar just prior to Latham’s tally.

In the second half, Smith finally hit the back of the net in the 55th minute, when she shot a ball past McLeod to the lower left corner, but the goal was called back for offsides.

Rodriguez, looking to catch another goal after scoring the game-winner on Sunday over Chicago, had luck similar to Smith's, sending several shots just past the goal.

Washington came dangerously close to equalizing the match several times in the second half, outshooting Boston, 6-4. But goalkeeper Ali Lipsher held the lead until the final whistle with five saves.

It was her second straight shutout in only her third start of the year.

Two of those saves came at the end of the second with the Breakers trying to hold on to the win. Lipsher deflected a shot, creating a scramble in the box, but Alex Scott made the clear before a Washington player could get on the end of it.

In the 90th minute, Washington tried one last time to leave with a tie, as Homare Sawa hit a shot that Lipsher caught just before it went over the goal line.

Boston's next game is July 4, against Sky Blue FC in Piscataway, N.J. Sky Blue leads the series 1-0, having defeated Boston 2-1 on May 30. The next home game is July 12, against Sky Blue FC.

Box Score

June 24, 2009 ~ Harvard Stadium – Cambridge, Mass.

GOALS 1  2  – Total

Washington 0  0 0

Boston 1  0 1

Scoring Summary

First Half: 

1 - BOS: Latham 2 (Mitts 1), 37th minute.

Second Half: 

2 – None

Stats

Shots: WSH 14 BOS 11; Shots on Goal: WSH 5 BOS 4; Saves: Erin McLeod (WSH) 3, Alli Lipsher (BOS) 5; Corners: WSH 7 BOS 1; Fouls: WSH 8 BOS 9; Offsides: WSH 3 BOS 1.

Lineups

CHICAGO: Erin McLeod; Cat Whitehill, Sonia Bompastor, Becky Sauerbrunn, Ali Grieger; Lori Lindsey, Homare Sawa, Kristin DeDycker (Abby Wambach, 54th minute); Jill Gilbeau (Parissa Eyorokon, 70th minute), Lisa DeVanna, Rebecca Moros.

BOSTON: Alli Lipsher; Amy LePeilbet, Sue Weber, Alex Scott, Heather Mitts; Christine Latham (Maggie Tomecka, 62nd minute), Kristine Lilly, Angela Hucles, Kelly Smith, Sophia Mundy; Amy Rodriguez (Mary Francis Monroe, 71st minute; Kelly Schmedes, 90+2 minute).

Misconduct Summary                                                                                        

Cautions: 

Boston – Tomecka, 71st minute

Washington – Moros, 68th minute

Ejections: None.

Attendance: 3,105

Weather – 62, Misty

Officials – R: Jose Carlos Rivero; A1: Donald Dellavia; A2: Michael Rugnetta; FO: Alp Gulden.

Photo Credit: David Silverman | DSPics.com

The article was excerpted from a press release forwarded by the Boston Breakers and was utilized by Todd Civin as part of the desired goal to bring WPS to the Bleacher Report. Civin can be reached for comment or story leads at [e-mail]