2009 WPS Power Rankings: Week 18

With the Los Angeles Sol clinching the WPS Regular Season championship, the race for the remaining three playoff spots sees Chicago and FC Gold Pride drop out.

So let's take a look at the rankings this week, while I cry in my birch beer after the USA men suffered their second straight second half pratfall in an international championship match.

1. Los Angeles Sol

Abner Rogers' Sol didn't clinch the WPS Regular Season trophy on Wednesday, but they got it the very next day with a scoreless draw against FC Gold Pride.

It was a defensive showcase, as Karina LeBlanc and the Sol backline stopped any salvos coming from the embattled Lionesses of the Bay on Thursday night.

Han Duan had the best chance to score for LA. Her shot in the 67th minute was blocked by Pride backup goalkeeper Allison Whitworth.

But while the Sol clinched home field advantage for the final game of the postseason, much has to be done regarding the lack of offensive production the past two matches.

This aspect of the Sol's game must be addressed. And a great opportunity to do some reformulation work awaits in a match with the guinea pigs of the Windy City.

The Chicago Red Stars host the Los Angeles Sol on Aug. 2 (which, coincidentally, is the author's birthday). Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm ET and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel.

2. St. Louis Athletica

Jorge Barcellos' Athletica look set to host the WPS Super Semifinal to go with the WPS All-Star game with four points earned last week.

On Wednesday, they kept their winning streak going with a 1-0 victory over Sky Blue FC at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton. In the 48th minute, Eniola Aluko took advantage of a Sky Blue FC defender's miscue to send one past Jenni Branam.

Goalkeeper Hope Solo was a gem, tallying seven saves against Sky Blue FC.

Things weren't so rosy late for St. Louis against FC Gold Pride. Christine Sinclair stole a victory from Athletica at the Busch in a 1-1 draw.

The draw prevents Athletica from earning a playoff spot for a few days.

St. Louis' goal came in the 28th minute, and it was Cross-tastic. As in Niki Cross.

She, coincidentally, received a cross from Kendall Fletcher to open her account.

Athletica will look to clinch a playoff berth this weekend with a Saturday night match against the Boston Breakers. Kickoff at the Busch is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET and will be televised locally by KPLR 11.

3. Washington Freedom

Jim Gabarra's Freedom are back in the hunt. And boy, did they need this one.

At Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois, an Abby Wambach brace combined with a game-winner by Allie Long gave Washington a hard-fought 3-2 victory over the Chicago Red Stars.

In the 35th minute, Sonia Bompastor fed a ball to Wambach, who weaved past two Red Stars defenders to put one inside the near post. In the 56th minute, Lisa de Vanna tapped one to a waiting Wambach, who earned her fifth goal of the campaign.

After Karen Carney equalized in the 69th minute, Allie Long broke past the porous Red Star defense to blast one past Caroline Jonnson 20 minutes later.

Washington outshot Chicago 25 to 15, with 14 shots on-goal compared to the Red Stars' four.

The Freedom are intent on improving their standing with a couple of crucial contests. On Wednesday, they will face the Boston Breakers at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, MD. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET.

And on Saturday, Washington will take on already-eliminated FC Gold Pride. Kickoff for that contents at Buck Shaw Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 pm ET.

4. Boston Breakers

Tony DiCicco's Boston Breakers sit in third place in the WPS standings. Had it not been for the heroics of Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Jenni Branam, Boston would be tied for second on points.

Instead, a scoreless draw on Saturday puts the Breakers in a position to host a potential first-round matchup with the Washington Freedom (if the season were to end today).

Boston outshot Sky Blue FC 16 to seven with eight shots on-goal.

Two important matches await the Breakers this week. On Wednesday, Boston travels to the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown to take on the Freedom. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET and will be televised by Comcast Sports Net.

On Saturday, the Breakers will head to the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton to take on St. Louis Athletica in another battle for playoff position. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET.

5. Sky Blue FC

Kelly Lindsey's Sky Blue FC are spared the chop, but haven't done themselves any favors with their uninspiring set of performances last week.

On Wednesday night, the Jersey Girls looked to upend St. Louis Athletica at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton. Unfortunately, Eniola Aluko's 48th minute strike sunk the orange-clad road warriors 1-0.

A victory would have crowned the Los Angeles Sol as regular season champions ahead of their match with FC Gold Pride.

Sky Blue FC outshot St. Louis 14 to 11, tallying more shots on-goal in the process (eight to five).

On Saturday, Sky Blue FC were looking to turn the ship around against the Boston Breakers. The home side held Natasha Kai and company to a scoreless draw.

Goalkeeper Jenni Branam stopped a barrage of opportunities from Boston, making eight saves in the match.

With one point to show for their efforts this week, Sky Blue FC are fifth in the standings and will be sweating out this weekend's set of results to see if they are still in the hunt.

Sky Blue FC will host FC Gold Pride at Yurcak Field on Wednesday, Aug. 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET.

6. Chicago Red Stars

Maybe Emma Hayes' will have to think twice about wearing green.

After all, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish weren't too successful wearing green when they faced USC in 2005 at the house that Knute Rockne built.

Okay, to their credit they did fight the good fight...but they still lost. Just like Chicago at Toyota Park.

The Red Stars, wearing special green uniforms for an environmental cause, were the first team to bow out of postseason contention with a 3-2 defeat to the Washington Freedom.

It was nothing short of heartbreak for Chicago, as Allie Long sunk the Women of the Windy City in the 89th minute.

In the losing effort, Megan Rapinoe opened the proceedings in the 15th minute with her second of the season. The earliest goal in a game for the Red Stars, Rapinoe juked a defender to slot one past Washington goalkeeper Erin McLeod.

After going down 2-1 thanks to an Abby Wambach brace, Karen Carney received a cross from Australia's Heather Garriock to chalk up her second of the year.

Goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson made 11 saves in the defeat.

With nothing more to lose, Chicago will look to finish their 2009 campaign on a winning note. They will host the Los Angeles Sol on Sunday, Aug. 2. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm ET and will be covered by Fox Soccer Channel.

7. FC Gold Pride

A couple hours after Chicago's playoff ambitions died, Albertin Montoya's playoff hopes were also ripped to shreds.

At the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, Missouri, FC Gold Pride were only able to eke out a 1-1 draw with St. Louis Athletica.

Down 1-0 off a goal by Niki Cross, Christine Sinclair tied the match in the 88th minute. But they could not get the second goal they needed to stay alive in the race.

FC Gold Pride outshot Athletica 16 to 14 and also had more shots on-goal (nine to seven). Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart made six saves.

Like Chicago, the Lionesses will look to finish off the rest of the season in a proud fashion, a testament to their team name.

FC Gold Pride will look to get their dignity back against the Washington Freedom as Buck Shaw Stadium on Saturday, Aug. 1. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 pm ET.