Breakers Deliver In Important WPS Showdown

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Boston Breakers (3-2-0) defeated the Los Angeles Sol (3-1-1) in Women’s Professional Soccer action on Saturday evening at Harvard Stadium in front of 8,031 fans.  The attendance figure was the second highest number recorded this season.

First Half

English sensation Kelly Smith put the Breakers up 1-0 in the second minute of play.  Her goal, the quickest in WPS history, is her fourth on the season.  Several Breakers’ teammates including midfielder Angela Hucles and defender Heather Mitts set up Smith’s goal.  Mitts’ cross found forward Kelly Schmedes who fired at goal, but her shot was deflected by Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.  Smith capitalized on the loose ball and shot past a diving LeBlanc to begin the night’s scoring.

“The ball just popped back out and it was crowded but I saw some space to the right of the goal and lucky enough it went in.” Smith said after the game.  “It was just under two minutes; I’ve never scored a goal that quickly.  I just got in a lucky position and was able to get back on the score sheet.”

Schmedes had yet another chance to score in the 12^th minute after receiving a long ball from defender Alex Scott.  LeBlanc, who ended with four saves, handled the shot. 

In the 17^th minute, forward Han Duan’s shot sailed high of the Breakers’ goal as the Sol began to mount a sustained attack that lasted until the end of the half capping with Marta’s 50-yard run into the box in the 44^th minute of play.  As she neared the endline she sent a cross near goal, but the ball did not find a Sol teammate.

Second Half

Both teams were unable to establish consistent possession to begin the second half and the game play lulled until Kristine Lilly’s goal in the 55^th minute.  Lilly ran free down the left-side of the field and came upon a long ball from defender Stacy Bishop.  Lilly sent her shot to the far post past LeBlanc to put the Breakers’ advantage at two. 

The Sol’s Brittany Bock brought one back for Los Angeles in the 63^rd minute after she located Aya Miyama’s free kick.  The ball went off her body and past Breakers goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill. 

With the score now 2-1 in favor of the Breakers, the Sol sent several shots at goal in the final twenty-five minutes of play with Marta leading the attack.  Her best chances came in the in the 76^th minute when she launched a shot to the left of Luckenbill and in the 89^th minute when the Brazilian superstar had a chance from the right side.  Luckenbill came up with both saves.

Boston, now second in the league with 9 points, will have an opportunity to overtake the Sol for first place when the two meet next weekend at The Home Depot Center on Sunday, May 10 (4pm ET/1pm PT).  

Sean Grybos, Goal.com