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Goal.com WPS Power Rankings: Week 18
Gold Pride extended its unbeaten streak to eight games, albeit in its third straight scoreless draw. They will stay on top until a loss gets added to their record. Find out where the rest of the WPS clubs fell in this week's power rankings.
Aug 17, 2010 9:07:00 PM
By Giovanni Albanese Jr.
1. FC Gold Pride - Women's Professional Soccer's league leaders haven't won a game in the past three weeks, but they haven't lost either. Gold Pride won't fall down the rankings until they lose. Having zero goals allowed in three August matches is why they are still the team to beat in WPS. (previous: 1)
2. Boston Breakers - Tony DiCicco's club showed why it may be the team no one wants to face in the WPS playoffs. In a could-be playoff preview on Sunday, the Breakers destroyed Sky Blue FC, 4-0. (2)
3. Philadelphia Independence - Week after week, the Independence keep gutting out wins. In two games last week, late, go-ahead goals led to two one-goal victories -- 2-1 at Chicago and 3-2 vs. Atlanta. (3)
4. Washington Freedom - Defense is coming together for the Freedom. Now on a three-game unbeaten streak (including two ties: 1-1 at Sky Blue FC; 0-0 at FC Gold Pride), the Freedom may have enough time to put it together and squeak into the postseason. (6)
5. Chicago Red Stars - Chicago has played the most games in WPS, but still would sit on the outside looking in if the playoffs started today. After a 2-1 loss to Philly last week, the Red Stars have tough matches this week: Thursday at Washington, and Sunday vs. Gold Pride. (5)
6. Sky Blue FC - Should have lost to the Freedom in their midweek 1-1 draw in New Jersey (an 80th minute Cat Whitehill own goal helped them out), and then the Breakers broke them down with ease in a 4-0 throttling in Boston. Sky Blue is back to regressing. That said, they still have a game in hand and remain tied for fourth. (4)
7. Atlanta Beat - For the expansion Beat, 2010 has been a long ride. Now mired in a three-game losing streak, the Beat fired coach Gareth O'Sullivan. This club, after the pick up of several Athletica players, should be gelled and winning games now. Maybe interim coach James Galanis can figure out a strategy to propel this talented roster to the playoffs. (7)
Goal.com contributor Giovanni Albanese Jr. covers FC Gold Pride for Tri-City Voice newspaper in Fremont, Calif. You can follow him on Twitter @GAlbaneseJr.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
2. Boston Breakers - Tony DiCicco's club showed why it may be the team no one wants to face in the WPS playoffs. In a could-be playoff preview on Sunday, the Breakers destroyed Sky Blue FC, 4-0. (2)
3. Philadelphia Independence - Week after week, the Independence keep gutting out wins. In two games last week, late, go-ahead goals led to two one-goal victories -- 2-1 at Chicago and 3-2 vs. Atlanta. (3)
4. Washington Freedom - Defense is coming together for the Freedom. Now on a three-game unbeaten streak (including two ties: 1-1 at Sky Blue FC; 0-0 at FC Gold Pride), the Freedom may have enough time to put it together and squeak into the postseason. (6)
5. Chicago Red Stars - Chicago has played the most games in WPS, but still would sit on the outside looking in if the playoffs started today. After a 2-1 loss to Philly last week, the Red Stars have tough matches this week: Thursday at Washington, and Sunday vs. Gold Pride. (5)
6. Sky Blue FC - Should have lost to the Freedom in their midweek 1-1 draw in New Jersey (an 80th minute Cat Whitehill own goal helped them out), and then the Breakers broke them down with ease in a 4-0 throttling in Boston. Sky Blue is back to regressing. That said, they still have a game in hand and remain tied for fourth. (4)
7. Atlanta Beat - For the expansion Beat, 2010 has been a long ride. Now mired in a three-game losing streak, the Beat fired coach Gareth O'Sullivan. This club, after the pick up of several Athletica players, should be gelled and winning games now. Maybe interim coach James Galanis can figure out a strategy to propel this talented roster to the playoffs. (7)
Goal.com contributor Giovanni Albanese Jr. covers FC Gold Pride for Tri-City Voice newspaper in Fremont, Calif. You can follow him on Twitter @GAlbaneseJr.
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, visit Goal.com's WPS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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