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Tuesday Throw-Ins: Elite Goalkeeping Pacing The WPS
Goal.com's Sean Grybos looks back at the weekend. Strong goalkeeping performances are among the weekend's highlights.
Apr 28, 2009 9:40:04 AM
The 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer season now encompasses a total of 13 games played. In eight of those games, at least one team has recorded a shutout. Out of these eight games, Los Angeles boasts shutouts in each of the team’s four games and Chicago counts three shutouts from its four. The Sol (3-0-1) and Red Stars (2-0-2), currently first and second in the league, are winning with a formula of solid defense and timely scoring. Where Los Angeles and Chicago have distanced themselves from the rest of the WPS pack is with the goalkeeping play.
Los Angeles Sol netminder Karina LeBlanc is an early season Player of the Year candidate with 18 saves and 4 shutouts. The Canadian international’s penalty-kick save this weekend against Saint Louis Athletica preserved a crucial draw for the Sol who was without Brazilian forward Marta and French midfielder Camille Abily. One could make the argument that Chicago’s Caroline Jönsson has been even better. The Red Stars goalkeeper and Swedish international has stopped 23 shots with three clean sheets on the year.
Quotes from the Weekend
“Everyone can say there’s a monkey on my back, I do want to score goals for my team but most importantly I want to win games.”
--Washington Freedom forward and captain Abby Wambach after her two goal, one assist performance against FC Gold Pride that included the game-winning goal in Washington’s first win on the year.
“We have to extract the lessons learned from this game and get better.”
-- Boston Breakers Head Coach Tony DiCicco after his club’s 4-0 loss to Chicago this weekend.
“That is the way the season has been going.”
-- Saint Louis Athletica midfielder Lori Chalupny reflecting on her missed opportunity to score Athletica’s first-ever goal after her penalty kick went straight at Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.
Stat of Interest
Saint Louis Athletica now has registered 46 shots on the season, 10 of which where on goal, none of which have found the back of the net.
The Back Four
1. Is Abby Wambach ready to break out? With several important Freedom contests and two international matches against Japan, the forward will have ample opportunities to score in May. Her next goal for the U.S. national team will be her 100th international tally.
2. Tiffeny Millbrett is providing an offensive spark. The former U.S. international forward has two goals from four shots on the year. Millbrett has played in all of FC Gold Pride’s games but is only averaging 37 minutes per contest.
3. Red Stars with a savvy draft pick. Chicago picked midfielder Brittnay Klein in the 2nd round of the WPS General Draft (14th overall). She has not disappointed with 346 minutes played, a goal, and two assists on the year.
4. Breakers backline lacking focus. Boston has been one of the league’s top offensive teams on the year, but sits with only six points due in large part to defensive breakdowns. Heather Mitts and company need to refocus next weekend against the Los Angeles Sol. Otherwise, the Boston defenders will be no match for the return of star forward Martha, midfielder Camille Abily, and the rest of the Sol attack.
Sean Grybos, Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
Los Angeles Sol netminder Karina LeBlanc is an early season Player of the Year candidate with 18 saves and 4 shutouts. The Canadian international’s penalty-kick save this weekend against Saint Louis Athletica preserved a crucial draw for the Sol who was without Brazilian forward Marta and French midfielder Camille Abily. One could make the argument that Chicago’s Caroline Jönsson has been even better. The Red Stars goalkeeper and Swedish international has stopped 23 shots with three clean sheets on the year.
Quotes from the Weekend
“Everyone can say there’s a monkey on my back, I do want to score goals for my team but most importantly I want to win games.”
--Washington Freedom forward and captain Abby Wambach after her two goal, one assist performance against FC Gold Pride that included the game-winning goal in Washington’s first win on the year.
“We have to extract the lessons learned from this game and get better.”
-- Boston Breakers Head Coach Tony DiCicco after his club’s 4-0 loss to Chicago this weekend.
“That is the way the season has been going.”
-- Saint Louis Athletica midfielder Lori Chalupny reflecting on her missed opportunity to score Athletica’s first-ever goal after her penalty kick went straight at Sol goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.
Stat of Interest
Saint Louis Athletica now has registered 46 shots on the season, 10 of which where on goal, none of which have found the back of the net.
The Back Four
1. Is Abby Wambach ready to break out? With several important Freedom contests and two international matches against Japan, the forward will have ample opportunities to score in May. Her next goal for the U.S. national team will be her 100th international tally.
2. Tiffeny Millbrett is providing an offensive spark. The former U.S. international forward has two goals from four shots on the year. Millbrett has played in all of FC Gold Pride’s games but is only averaging 37 minutes per contest.
3. Red Stars with a savvy draft pick. Chicago picked midfielder Brittnay Klein in the 2nd round of the WPS General Draft (14th overall). She has not disappointed with 346 minutes played, a goal, and two assists on the year.
4. Breakers backline lacking focus. Boston has been one of the league’s top offensive teams on the year, but sits with only six points due in large part to defensive breakdowns. Heather Mitts and company need to refocus next weekend against the Los Angeles Sol. Otherwise, the Boston defenders will be no match for the return of star forward Martha, midfielder Camille Abily, and the rest of the Sol attack.
Sean Grybos, Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's Women's Soccer page.
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