Boston Breakers Playoff Picture May Need a Mathematician to Figure Out

The Boston Breakers enter their final match of the regular season as one of three teams looking to grab one of the two remaining playoff spots in Women's Professional Soccer (WPS). However, it may take an Einstein to figure out whether they're in or spending the fall on the sidelines.

The Breakers are currently in fourth place entering this Sunday's game at Harvard Stadium against Marta and the WPS Champion Los Angeles Sol. The game will be broadcast nationally on Fox Soccer Channel (FSC) beginning at 6:00 PM.

The Breakers trail the third-place Washington Freedom by one point in the standings, with one game remaining for each team. Boston currently has a two-point lead over Sky Blue FC for the fourth and final spot, but the New Jersey club has two matches to on the schedule this week.

The Breakers fate will be clear before they play the Sol on Sunday.

WPS Standings
Team    W    L    T    PTS    GF    GA    G
! Los Angeles    11    3    5    38    25    9    16
^ Saint Louis    9    6    3    30    16    14    2
Washington    7    7    5    26    29    31    -2
Boston    7    8    4    25    17    18    -1
Sky Blue FC    6    7    5    23    16    17    -1
% Chicago    5    9    5    20    18    23    -5
% FC Gold Pride    4    9    5    17    16    25    -9

Note:
! – WPS Regular Season Champion
^ – Clinched playoff spot
% – Eliminated from playoff contention
 
Key Games this Week
Wednesday: FC Gold Pride at Sky Blue FC
Saturday: Sky Blue FC at Washington
Sunday: Los Angeles at Boston

Scenarios
The Breakers are in the playoffs if:
- Boston defeats Los Angeles on Sunday, regardless of the rest of the results.
OR:
- Sky Blue FC fails to earn more than one point (i.e. two losses, or a tie and a loss) from its remaining two matches.
OR:
- There is a three-way tie for third place: This happens if Boston ties Los Angeles on Sunday, and Sky Blue FC defeats Washington on Saturday but loses to FC Gold Pride on Wednesday. All three teams would be on 26 points, and by virtue of tie-breakers, Boston would finish ahead of at least Washington—guaranteeing fourth place or better. (Due to an imbalanced amount of games played between the three teams, head-to-head meetings are thrown out and the first tie-breaker becomes goal differential. If this scenario plays out, Boston’s goal differential remains -1, while Washington’s will be -3 or worse. Sky Blue FC’s differential is unknown.)

The Breakers will earn the No. 3 seed and a home playoff game if:
- Boston defeats Los Angeles on Sunday, Washington ties or loses to Sky Blue FC on Saturday, and Sky Blue FC ties or loses to FC Gold Pride on Wednesday.

The Breakers are out of the playoffs if:
- Boston loses to Los Angeles on Sunday, and Sky Blue FC earns two or more points (i.e. two ties or better) from its remaining two matches.

BOSTON BREAKERS SCHEDULE/MEDIA AVAILABILITY
The Breakers will train at Harvard University Wednesday through Saturday this week before Sunday’s match. Practice begins at 10 a.m. each day and media available will follow the conclusion of practice, normally between 11:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.  Practice is located at Harvard University, normally on the back synthetic field (Cumnock Field) of the athletic complex along Soldiers Field Road off of North Harvard Street.

Please contact Kevin Hassett ([e-mail], 339-933-0020) by the evening prior to practice to arrange any interviews.

Schedule
Tuesday, Aug. 4 – Off
Wednesday, Aug. 5 – Practice (Harvard University), 10 a.m.
Thursday, Aug. 6 – Practice (Harvard University), 10 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 7 – Practice (Harvard University), 10 a.m.
Saturday, Aug. 8 – Practice (Harvard University), 10 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 9 – Match vs. Los Angeles Sol, 6 p.m. (Harvard Stadium | TV - Fox Soccer Channel)

The previous story was excerpted from a press releases by the Boston Breakers media department and utilized by Todd Civin of the Bleacher Report as part of an agreement between the WPS and the Bleacher Report. Todd Civin can be reached for comment or hire at [e-mail]