2010 WPS Power Rankings: Week 10
Finally, the Atlanta Beat earn their first victory of the season to escape the cellar in this week's WPS Power Rankings. Meanwhile, FC Gold Pride continues to keep their place at the top of the Rankings for another week.
Let's take a look...
Albertin Montoya's FC Gold Pride opened their new home at Cal State East Bay's Pioneer Stadium with a 1-0 victory over the Boston Breakers.
The Lionesses of the East Bay rode on solid dispossessing, a relentless offensive attack, and a goal by Christine Sinclair in the 37th minute.
“In the first five minutes we came out, and it took us a couple of minutes to get used to [the wider field]," forward Kelley O'Hara said regarding the pitch.
“We took a chance on playing three midfielders that were somewhat similar [Boxx, Dew, and Edwards]," Montoya said after the match. “With a lot of space to cover, we made a tactical change in the second half to put Tiff [Milbrett] and Kiki [Bosio] with a bit more speed in the middle, and Kelley out wide."
The Pride outshot Boston 13-10, and had nine shots on goal.
With the win, the Pride improve to 7-2-1 and remain five points ahead of the Philadelphia Independence, who also picked up a victory this week.
Next Sunday, FC Gold Pride takes on Sky Blue FC at Pioneer Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET and will be televised by the Fox Soccer Channel.
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Jim Gabarra's Washington Freedom were off this week. Next Saturday, they will take on the Philadelphia Independence at John A. Farrell Stadium in West Chester, Pa. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET.
It wasn't even close down on the banks of the Raritan river.
Paul Riley's Philadelphia Independence stormed into Joe Yurcak Field and annihilated Sky Blue FC, 4-1.
No sooner had the match started when Danesha Adams opened her scoring account five minutes into the contest. A cross from Amy Rodriguez on the right flank found Adams inside the box.
The floodgates opened in the 18th minute. This time, it was Adams who provided an excellent delivery to Rodriguez to make it 2-0.
Later in the second half, a blistering volley by Adams was initially parried away by Sky Blue FC goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill, but Joanna Lohman made her pay for sending it in her direction. The 56th minuete goal was Lohman's second of the year.
Just for insurance, Tina DiMartino scored her second of the year unassisted with a shot from 20 yards out.
Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc made seven saves for the Indies, who outshot Sky Blue FC 21-17 and had more shots on goal, 10 to eight.
Next up for Philly is a match with the rejuvenated Atlanta Beat. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 23 at the Beat/KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Gareth O'Sullivan's Atlanta Beat got a huge gorilla off their backs. They finally won a contest in Women's Professional Soccer, a 1-0 shutout of the Chicago Red Stars in front of 3,589 at the BEat/KSU Soccer Stadium.
And the goal came from the unlikeliest of heroines in Tina Ellertson. A set piece from Monica Ocampo found Ellertson, whose goal also opened her scoring account.
Atlanta outshot Chicago 17 to four. Brett Maron, back in goal for the Beat, needed to make just one save on Saturday.
With a new sense of rhythm, the Beat will look to keep it going as they face off against the Philadelphia Independence on Wednesday, June 23 in Kennesaw. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
It was an ugly ambush from the beginning for Pauliina Miettinen's Sky Blue FC, as they were crushed by the Philadelphia Independence 4-1 at Joe Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University.
"Philadelphia was very efficient tonight," Miettinen said after the game. "They capitalized on each of their opportunities, and that paid off for them in the result.
"As a team, we have to take a long look at the film so we can correct our mistakes and come out with a better effort in our next match."
The only goal for the Ladies of the Raritan came in the 28th minute, when Rosana scored a penalty kick for her second of the season.
Goalkeeper Kristin Luckinbill made six saves in the defeat.
Sky Blue FC will look to redeem themselves when they visit Pioneer Stadium for the very first time against league leaders FC Gold Pride on Sunday, June 27.
Kickoff in Hayward is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET on the Fox Soccer Channel.
The misery for Boston's teams continues. First the Celtics, and now this.
Tony DiCicco's Boston Breakers were hoping to get a result against FC Gold Pride, but it wasn't the case as they fell to the league leaders 1-0 at Pioneer Stadium on the campus of Cal State East Bay.
Adding insult to defeat was goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who has to be subbed off for Ashley Phillips in the 30th minute due to an injury. Together, both keeper made eight saves in the defeat.
The Breakers had a golden opportunity to equalize, but Fabiana's shot in the 68th minute dinged off the woodwork. Earlier in the match, a similar shot by Kristine Lilly in the ninth minute hit the crossbar.
Boston will hope that such bad luck will be harder to come by when they head back to Soldiers' Field to take on the Chicago Red Stars on Friday, June 25. Kickoff at Cambridge's Harvard Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Omid Namazi's Chicago Red Stars will forever earn the indignation of becoming the first-ever team to lose to the Atlanta Beat.
Saturday 1-0 defeat at the Beat/KSU Stadium in Kennesaw sees them crash down to this week's WPS Power Rankings.
The loss marked the end of a three-game unbeat streak and the first defeat of Namazi's career as a coach in WPS.
Chicago nearly forced a point split—not once, but twice. A shot by Jessica McDonald found Brett Maron for her only save of the night in the 88th minute. In the 89th, it was Cristiane's turn to take a chance, but her shot went well over the crossbar.
The Red Stars will look to turn their fortunes around on Friday, June 25 when they face the Boston Breakers. Kickoff at Cambridge's Harvard Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.
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