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WPS Previews: Week Five
National Team duty has called up a number of WPS players, but regardless the games will go on. Saturday Saint Louis is back in action, hosting Los Angeles, while Chicago hosts Boston. And FC Gold Pride welcomes the Washington Freedom on Sunday.
Apr 24, 2009 6:35:17 PM
In week five Women's Professional Soccer action, the rosters are a bit less familiar. A handful of players are with their national teams for international play. The six teams playing this weekend will rely on their depth to carry them through. Sky Blue FC has the weekend off.
St. Louis Athletica vs. Los Angeles Sol, Saturday at 4:00 pm ET at Robert R. Hermann Stadium in St. Louis, MO
Los Angeles (3-0-0) arrives in St. Louis with a perfect record, but without a perfect roster as several of the team’s top players are off on international duty including Brazilian superstar Marta. Playmaker Camille Abily also will be away on duty as her native France is set to play Switzerland on Saturday. Abily and Marta have registered four goals this season. The Sol has a total of five goals on the year. Where will the goals come from on Saturday? Regardless, Los Angeles has boasted the best defense thus far lead by goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc who is yet to allow a goal. She made 14 total saves in the first three games.
St. Louis Athletica has out shot its opponents in the first two matches 29 to 14. But the team (0-2-0) is yet to find the net, which had Head Coach Jorge Barcellos working with the team on finishing last weekend. He noted on the team website, “It is a hard time that we are facing, we are creating the opportunities and have been working a lot on finishing.” Hope Solo and the defense have allowed three goals this season. Solo has been forced to make four saves. They’re limiting their chances, but you can’t win games without scoring. St. Louis, without international stars Sara Larsson and Francielle, will need to find the back of the net if the team wants to take points away from this contest with the league leaders.
Chicago Red Stars vs. Boston Breakers, Saturday at 8:30 pm ET at Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL
Chicago Red Stars fans have been waiting for Brazilian international Cristiane to score some goals. But this weekend won’t be it. Cristiane is with Brazil on national team duty. But don’t be alarmed, Chicago has plenty of players who have offensive power. Lindsay Tarpley leads the offense with two goals, while Marian Dalby has two assists. Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe and Karen Carney combine for 23 shots alone. Any one of them can score, given the right opportunity. Captain Frida Ostberg is back to lead the defense this week, after sitting out with a red card against Sky Blue FC. Goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson has been strong in goal for Chicago with 20 saves and only allowing one goal. The Red Stars are hungry for some goals, and they’re at home.
Boston comes to Chicago as one of the hottest teams in WPS. The Breakers dropped their first match a 2-1 loss. But since then, they’ve virtually been unstoppable, outscoring opponents 5-1. Kelly Smith has quickly become a force to reckon with for opposing defenses. She has three goals and one assist in three games, including the league’s first PK. Kristine Lilly, Angela Hucles and Christine Latham have also tallied goals. The Breakers have plenty of options. Defensively Kristin Luckenbill has become the goalkeeper to beat. Her PK save last week slowed down Washington’s push. Luckenbill recorded nine saves, while allowing just the three goals. Boston’s on a roll… and they’ve already proven, they’re tough to beat. Chicago will have their hands full.
Chicago’s Carney and Boston’s Smith and Alex Scott all played 90 minutes with the English National Team this last week. But all three are expected to be in Chicago ready to play.
FC Gold Pride vs. Washington Freedom, Sunday at 6:00 pm ET, Buck Shaw Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
In the third game of the weekend, FC Gold Pride returns home to host the Washington Freedom. Both clubs are looking for a win. FCGP played a hard-fought match last weekend, but fell 1-0 to the Los Angeles Sol. Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart has made 13 saves for the club, while allowing only three goals. Eriko Arakawa, Carrie Dew and Tifeny Milbrett have tallied goals for the club. But the offense has had trouble creating opportunities. Christine Sinclair leads the team with seven shots. Arakawa has five. The remaining players have combined for 16 shots… a total of 28 in three games. Due to national team duty, Formiga and Erika will miss Sunday’s match. Brandi Chastain is also sidelined due to a minor quad injury. If FC Gold Pride is looking for a win, it’s time to make the extra offensive push.
Washington is fresh off a 3-1 loss to Boston and has yet to win a match. The Freedom did pull off a 1-1 draw with Chicago, but other than that… things have been a bit mediocre. Washington’s Lori Lindsey and Becky Sauerbrunn have tallied goals for the club. It’s only a matter of time before Abby Wambach finds the net. She’s had 16 shots, seven on goal. The defense and goalkeeper Briana Scurry have allowed six goals in the first three games. Goalkeeper Erin McLeod signed with the club, but hasn’t arrived yet. Until then Washington is going to have to find a way to stop its opponents. Washington will be a bit short handed this week. Sonia Bompastor is on National Team duty with France. Parrissa Eyorokon and Christen Karniski are still out with their injuries. The Freedom will have to pick up the offense and defense to push against FCGP.
- Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer Page.
St. Louis Athletica vs. Los Angeles Sol, Saturday at 4:00 pm ET at Robert R. Hermann Stadium in St. Louis, MO
Los Angeles (3-0-0) arrives in St. Louis with a perfect record, but without a perfect roster as several of the team’s top players are off on international duty including Brazilian superstar Marta. Playmaker Camille Abily also will be away on duty as her native France is set to play Switzerland on Saturday. Abily and Marta have registered four goals this season. The Sol has a total of five goals on the year. Where will the goals come from on Saturday? Regardless, Los Angeles has boasted the best defense thus far lead by goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc who is yet to allow a goal. She made 14 total saves in the first three games.
St. Louis Athletica has out shot its opponents in the first two matches 29 to 14. But the team (0-2-0) is yet to find the net, which had Head Coach Jorge Barcellos working with the team on finishing last weekend. He noted on the team website, “It is a hard time that we are facing, we are creating the opportunities and have been working a lot on finishing.” Hope Solo and the defense have allowed three goals this season. Solo has been forced to make four saves. They’re limiting their chances, but you can’t win games without scoring. St. Louis, without international stars Sara Larsson and Francielle, will need to find the back of the net if the team wants to take points away from this contest with the league leaders.
Chicago Red Stars vs. Boston Breakers, Saturday at 8:30 pm ET at Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL
Chicago Red Stars fans have been waiting for Brazilian international Cristiane to score some goals. But this weekend won’t be it. Cristiane is with Brazil on national team duty. But don’t be alarmed, Chicago has plenty of players who have offensive power. Lindsay Tarpley leads the offense with two goals, while Marian Dalby has two assists. Carli Lloyd, Megan Rapinoe and Karen Carney combine for 23 shots alone. Any one of them can score, given the right opportunity. Captain Frida Ostberg is back to lead the defense this week, after sitting out with a red card against Sky Blue FC. Goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson has been strong in goal for Chicago with 20 saves and only allowing one goal. The Red Stars are hungry for some goals, and they’re at home.
Boston comes to Chicago as one of the hottest teams in WPS. The Breakers dropped their first match a 2-1 loss. But since then, they’ve virtually been unstoppable, outscoring opponents 5-1. Kelly Smith has quickly become a force to reckon with for opposing defenses. She has three goals and one assist in three games, including the league’s first PK. Kristine Lilly, Angela Hucles and Christine Latham have also tallied goals. The Breakers have plenty of options. Defensively Kristin Luckenbill has become the goalkeeper to beat. Her PK save last week slowed down Washington’s push. Luckenbill recorded nine saves, while allowing just the three goals. Boston’s on a roll… and they’ve already proven, they’re tough to beat. Chicago will have their hands full.
Chicago’s Carney and Boston’s Smith and Alex Scott all played 90 minutes with the English National Team this last week. But all three are expected to be in Chicago ready to play.
FC Gold Pride vs. Washington Freedom, Sunday at 6:00 pm ET, Buck Shaw Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
In the third game of the weekend, FC Gold Pride returns home to host the Washington Freedom. Both clubs are looking for a win. FCGP played a hard-fought match last weekend, but fell 1-0 to the Los Angeles Sol. Goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart has made 13 saves for the club, while allowing only three goals. Eriko Arakawa, Carrie Dew and Tifeny Milbrett have tallied goals for the club. But the offense has had trouble creating opportunities. Christine Sinclair leads the team with seven shots. Arakawa has five. The remaining players have combined for 16 shots… a total of 28 in three games. Due to national team duty, Formiga and Erika will miss Sunday’s match. Brandi Chastain is also sidelined due to a minor quad injury. If FC Gold Pride is looking for a win, it’s time to make the extra offensive push.
Washington is fresh off a 3-1 loss to Boston and has yet to win a match. The Freedom did pull off a 1-1 draw with Chicago, but other than that… things have been a bit mediocre. Washington’s Lori Lindsey and Becky Sauerbrunn have tallied goals for the club. It’s only a matter of time before Abby Wambach finds the net. She’s had 16 shots, seven on goal. The defense and goalkeeper Briana Scurry have allowed six goals in the first three games. Goalkeeper Erin McLeod signed with the club, but hasn’t arrived yet. Until then Washington is going to have to find a way to stop its opponents. Washington will be a bit short handed this week. Sonia Bompastor is on National Team duty with France. Parrissa Eyorokon and Christen Karniski are still out with their injuries. The Freedom will have to pick up the offense and defense to push against FCGP.
- Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer Page.
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