Los Angeles-Boston: A Play-By-Play (and Other Miscellany)

T-31 minutes to kickoff: It's been quite a year in this inaugural Women's Professional Soccer season. But today, the regular season ends.

This match featuring the Los Angeles Sol and Boston Breakers is ther penultimate contest; the last one to cap off the season will pit FC Gold Pride against this year's Super Semi hosts, St. Louis Athletica.

Los Angeles will look to grab their first win of the season against the Breakers. They have been in disappointing form late in the past three games, and need to make a statement this afternoon at Harvard Stadium.

T-26: I like Harvard Stadium for a number of reasons, and they have nothing to do with the round ball. First, the historical significance of Soldier Field being the first stadium made of reinforced concrete resulted in the forward pass being a legal play.

Second, during the winter, they bring out this bubble which allows the stadium to be used for all seasons. It can become a practice and conditioning facility.

And third, the Crimson will be intent on defending their Ivy League title. Now if only they could beat Brown for once.

T-22: The lineups.

LOS ANGELES SOL
Manager: Abner Rogers
Colors: White tops, shorts, socks
Formation: 4-4-2

23 LeBlanc

14 Cox ---- 11 Bock ---- 3 Falk ----- 2 Sanchez

4 Wagner ---- 22 Makoski ---- 8 Miyama ---- 7 Boxx (C)

10 Marta ---- 9 Han Duan

Substitutes:

20 Abily
21 Frisk
18 Larkin
1 Henderson
6 Zerboni

BOSTON BREAKERS
Manager: Tony DiCicco
Colors: Light blue tops, shorts, socks
Formation: 4-5-1

1 Luckenbill

22 Scott ---- 9 Chapman ---- 15 LePeilbet ---- 2 Mitts

15 Fabiana ---- 11 Monroe ---- 5 Tomecka ---- 16 Hucles ---- 13Lilly

10 Smith

Substitutions:

25 Augustyniak
3 Schemedes
7 Latham
8 Rodriguez
17 Moore
19 Nobis
24 Phillips

T-9: The ladies from Sky Blue FC will be hoping for the Sol to finally pull it together. An LA win will give Christie Rampone's club the ascendancy. A Boston win will give them the final spot.

Our match referee today is Ted Unkel.

FIRST HALF START: 3:08 PM

1' - Here we go.

2' - And Marta leads the charge early, but Luckenbill is there.

3' - Boston on the counter-attack, but nothing doing as the Sol defense holds.

4' - Now here comes Han Duan, marked by Alex Scott. Off target pass for Marta. Goal kick Breakers.

5' - The Sol will need to open up the field. Here's Manya Makoski, who sends it to Boxx. Should have done better on that shot. Congrats also to Mr. Abner Rogers for winning the role of All-Star team manager.

6' - Not a good shot from Kelly Smith. LeBlanc gathers. Here comes Keri Sanchez. Dispossessed, and here's Hucles. The first corner of the contest. The FieldTurf doing a bit of a job on the road team. Corner cleared.

7' - Mary Frances Monroe tangled up with Makoski. Boston resets.


8' - Alex Scott marked. Corner number two. Cleared, but the Breakers continue to press. Sounds like a bunch of tins banging in the bleachers. Good intention from LePeilbet, but that was off on the replay.

10' - Not a good clearance from LePeilbet. First corner for the Sol. Poor header by Allison Falk. Goal kick Boston.

11' - Allison Lipsher is out due to a groin injury. Hence Luckinbill starting. Fabiana on the run. Luckinbill hails from Dartmouth College.

12' - Smith is a bit shaken up, but gets up. Here's Lilly, but she is denied. Corner number three. They take it short. Goal kick Sol.

13' - The ball is moving a bit too fast for some of the players' likings. This is where adjustments come into place. Wagner marked by Fabiana.

14' - Aya Miyama, bless her heart, she should have done better on that. Rogers has been asking the past week for production from the No. 8. We've yet to see that.

16' - GOAL! Boston #15 Kelly Smith Assist 13 Kristine Lilly
Her scoring slump from the end of May ends. The Sol bit on the run from the England international, and the Sol find themselves in a hole yet again.

17' - The Breakers are 7-0-0 when they score first. And Abner Rogers cannot be liking this one single bit.

18' - Have the Sol lost their scoring edge? A lofty ball is scooped up by Luckenbill.

19' - Boston is content passing the ball around. The fans continue the drumming.

20' - Bock needs to improve on her speed. Luckinbill and Hucles clear the ball.

21' - Ball movement battle this minute. Nothing too spectacular.

22' - Offsides. Camille Abily must be questioning the timing for the Women's Euro 2009.

24' - Still more passing. We have a strong turnout here at Soldiers Field; the home crowd understands the implications.

25' - Here's Fabiana. Yellow card to Cox. Free kick opportunity. Smith to take. It will be a corner. But LeBlanc takes it. Her GAA is starting to sink, is Karina's.

26' - A ball for Han Duan is intercepted. Here come the Breakers. The Sol clear it, and LeBlanc is asking her players to work with her. "Let's go!" she appeals.

28' - Luckinbill off her line with another stop.

29' - Too high a chance for Smith.

30' - Boston at it again, but Los Angeles is there. The touches for the away side should be eliciting groans a-plenty in the Southland.

31' - This is Scott. She resets, and Wagner wins possession. Han is under pressure, though. And Amy LePeilbet's closing speed wins it back for the Breakers.

32' - This literally a rug the players are playing on. No wonder to ball is moving quick. Here's Boston on the transition.

33' - We have our fifth corner of the match for the Breakers. Falk clears. Marta asking for someone to charge in the front. No one, and the Breakers snuff it out.

35' - Scott up the right side, and Fabiana is fouled. Free kick for Smith. Throw-in for Boston.

36' - This 4-5-1 is working its magic for DiCicco's team. Offsides Breakers.

37' - Lilly felt the sweet shin music, and she is limping...albeit she is up.

38' - Harsh challenge, and DiCicco is clamoring for a card. The fans are booing. Come on, you're up 1-0, what's the point in arguing.

39' - Offsides for Boston. No doubt, the urgency is there. And Sky Blue FC really wished they had beaten Washington yesterday.

40' - 1-0 Boston and we see some samba dancing. And a few Revolutions fans are in attendance, in hopes of payback. The Galaxy are back into form, and they continued their hotstreak with a 2-1 win over the Revs.

42' - Luckinbill catches that ball off the short hop. Han Duan should have challenged that ball. She is marked on her next opportunity.

43' - Two minutes of stoppage time will be added on this first half.

44'- A leaping save for LeBlanc. Well, I am convinced that Abner Rogers must be wondering if his team's campaign is indeed falling apart.

45' - Yellow card to Aly Wagner for fouling Mary Frances Monroe. Rogers must be thinking, 'Damage contol speech inside the locker room.' He knows it.

46' - Corner for the Sol. Cleared. And that wraps up the first half. The ineptitude for the Sol continues. I am shaking my head as I am typing this, rolling my eyes as if I was Rob Zombie.

HALFTIME

Boston Breakers 1
16' Smith

Los Angeles Sol 0

Smith's goal was the sixth of the season.

SECOND HALF START: 4:13 PM

46' - Can Boston consolidate and punch their ticket? Or can the Sol snap out of their funk for once?

Substitution Los Angeles Sol:
IN 20 Camille Abily
OUT 2 Keri Sanchez

I would love to see more of Captain Shannon's ability here.

49' - LA is applying the pressure. But Boston figures them out.

51' - Here comes Boston. Too high a volley. Goal kick.

52' - Makoski had to clear that from Lilly. A corner.

53' - Boston is unfazed by Abily's presence. The Sol clear.

54' - The Breakers are doing all they can to keep/consolidate their lead.

55' - Lilly piling on the shots, but LeBlanc is there.

58' - It's been a ball movement battle these past three minutes. Han Duan has disappointed in her risk-taking. She's playing this a little too safe.

59' - GOAL! Los Angeles Sol #10 Marta
She stumbled, but still had enough to bounce one past Luckenbill. Level terms. Game on! It's number 10 for No. 10.

60' - And that might be the wake-up call the Sol needs. Let's see if the Breakers can respond.

61' - LeBlanc scoops that up.

62' - Boston resets.

63' - Here's Smith, but Bock marks her. Substitution time.

64' - Substitution Boston Breakers:
IN 3 Kelly Schmedes
OUT 11 Mary-Frances Monroe

65' - Some good tackling in the Breakers' half. We will be seeing Amy Rodriguez later this game. Free kick Breakers.

66' - Oh, not again. The Sol nearly paid the price for having their back line breached.

67' - And again, they are letting Kelly Smith open. Abner must be asking, "What are you guys doing?"

68' - Substitution Boston Breakers:
IN 7 Christine Latham
OUT 15 Fabiana

A throw-in for the Sol.

69' - Smith draws a foul on Brittany Bock. Set piece time for Boston. 12 fouls to three in favor of LA in terms of fouls. Too high.

70' - Marta should have done better in trying to dispossess.

71' - Corner goes array for LA.

72' - Both teams are now pressing for that go-ahead.

73' - Tomecka clears that ball. Corner number foul for the Sol. Sky Blue FC is enjoying this.

74' - Substitution Boston Breakers:
IN 8 Amy Rodriguez
OUT 9 Candace Chapman

Here we go.

75' - Rodriguez has not had a very good year. But she can redeem herself in these last 15 minutes of possible fame. Abily is marked.

76' - No foul given. Play on, says Unkel. LeBlanc scoops that up.

77' - Trying to find Makoski, but it's not gonna work. Here's Alex Scott again, and now it's Smith. And Rodriguez should have done better.

78' - One-time from Kelly Smith is wide. LeBlanc wears a bemused expression. She knows that this isn't going to be good heading into the 22nd. Obviously.

79' - This is Latham. Now it's Schmedes. Not sure why Smith is trying to arm-wrestle LeBlanc to the ground. Wrong code, Kelly, wrong code.

80' - Goal kick for Los Angeles. Boston must be wondering, "What can we do to keep our season going?" Good question. How about getting the go-ahead?

81' - Another breakaway attempt, but the defense is ready for it.

82' - They really need to work on their offensive handling, the Sol. Getting a draw will not work. They need a win to boost their confidence.

83' - Corner Boston. LePeilbet unable to get a good header, and it's a goal kick for Los Angeles.

84' - Come on, Wagner. Patience. Jenn Hildreth is asking why rush things. Well Jenn, if you are on a team that has been off form for a few matches, obviously they have just a much a sense of urgency as ther Breakers do.

85' - They need a sense of confidence heading into the Championship Game. Therefore, you see the players stepping things up.

86' - Substitution Los Angeles Sol:
IN 6 McCall Zerboni
OUT 9 Han Duan

87' - Offsides Sol.

88' - They're trying to find Marta, but she got caught.

89' - All hands on deck here at Harvard Stadium.

90' - Three minutes of stoppage time. The crowd is getting tense.

91' - Penalty. Yellow card to Alex Scott for fouling. The crowd howls in disgust and disbelief, like the nor'easters that surround the Bay State of Massachusetts and all of New England.

92' - GOAL! 7 Shannon Boxx penalty
And that should just about do it. I'm over the moon right now. Finally the Sol snap out of their funk. Better late than never, eh?

FINAL

BOSTON BREAKERS 1
16' Smith

LOS ANGELES SOL 2
59' Marta
92' Boxx

And by the way Sky Blue FC, you are most certainly welcome.