Goal.coms Women's Professional Soccer Rankings: Week 1

It was an exciting opening weekend of Women’s Professional Soccer season two. With all eight teams taking to the pitch, each of the four contests proved to be exciting, start to finish.

Sky Blue FC was able to hold off the Chicago Red Stars’ onslaught at its goal, winning its first game in the quest to repeat as champion; St. Louis Athletica showed why it is one of the strongest defensive team’s in WPS, shutting down the new-look FC Gold Pride; Boston looked solid in its season opener, out to prove the late-season choke from a year ago is in fact, in the past, beating a quality Washington Freedom club; and two expansion teams -- Atlanta Beat and Philadelphia Independence -- broke into the league earning a point in its WPS debut.

Here is how the team’s shake out in Week 1 of the Goal.com WPS Power Rankings:

1. St. Louis Athletica - Eniola Aluko scored a goal in each half, and the defense shut down a revamped offense of FC Gold Pride, featuring the likes of Marta, Camille Abily and Christine Sinclair. It’ll be hard to take out Athletica if Aluko keeps the scoring touch while Hope Solo is preventing goals at the other end. Next game: 4/17 @ Chicago Red Stars

2. Boston Breakers - It’s tough to have Boston ahead of Sky Blue FC in the power rankings, but the Breakers were much more dominant in its 2-1 win over Washington, leading nearly the entire match. Ashley Phillips was three minutes away from a clean sheet, had it not been for an 87^th minute Allie Long goal. Next game: 4/18 vs. Philadelphia Independence

4. Atlanta Beat - Atlanta flied under the radar all preseason despite going 7-1 and beating the likes of Boston and St. Louis. In the Beat’s inaugural WPS match, behind solid goalkeeping by Allison Whitworth, Atlanta earned a point on the road at Philadelphia in a scoreless tie. Next game: 4/18 @ Washington Freedom

5. Philadelphia Independence - Karina LeBlanc matched Whitworth save for save in the Independence home opener. Philly’s offense looked strong, despite not being able to put a shot by the Beat keeper. Next game: 4/18 @ Boston Breakers

6. Chicago Red Stars - Despite the 1-0 loss to defending champion Sky Blue FC, the Red Stars were the dominant team. Chicago will have its hands full in the home opener when they host Athletica. Next game: 4/17 vs. St. Louis Athletica

7. Washington Freedom - Last season’s top-scoring team looked a shell of itself in the season opener, losing decidedly against Boston. (Don’t let the 2-1 score fool you.) Abby Wambach and crew will look to breakout this weekend in its second consecutive home game, this time against the expansion Beat. Next game: 4/18 vs. Atlanta Beat

8. FC Gold Pride - Gold Pride looks great on paper. On the field, the Pride were flat, getting shutdown completely by Hope Solo and the Athletica. None of the newcomers -- Marta, Abily, O’Hara -- could muster up anything in the 2-0 loss. Could be a minor blip since the Pride had no preseason games against WPS opponents. Next game: 4/17 vs. Sky Blue FC