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Women's Professional Soccer Weekend Wrap-Up
There are no longer winless or unbeaten teams in Women's Professional Soccer after week seven.
May 10, 2009 8:56:07 PM
In week seven of Women’s Professional Soccer, the scoring slowed down. But the two previously winless teams, Sky Blue FC and Saint Louis Athletica, both earned victories . The Chicago Red Stars dropped their first decision of the year. Despite a scoreless draw, the Los Angeles Sol and the Boston Breakers held on to their No. 1 and No. 2 positions in the league.
Saint Louis Athletica 1, FC Gold Pride 0
Edwardsville, Ill. – Lori Chalupny tallied the lone goal giving Saint Louis Athletica its first WPS win – 1-0 over FC Gold Pride.
Saint Louis (1-2-2) hadn’t scored a goal until last weekend when they tallied three. This weekend the scoring continued and the club won its first WPS match.
Chalupny took a corner kick for Saint Louis in the 16th minute. She bent the left-footed shot behind FC Gold Pride goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart and just inside the far post.
FC Gold Pride (2-3-1) had 12 shots on the night, with five on goal. Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo made five saves, including stopping late chances by forwards Eriko Arakawa and Christine Sinclair and defender Carrie Dew.
“I feel a lot more relaxed,” Athletica Head Coach Jorge Barcellos said. “It is kind of hard when you are representing a town and a city and you can’t get a win in four games. When you get the win you are relieved that you finally got what you are looking for.”
Los Angeles Sol 0, Boston Breakers 0
Carson, Calif. – The Los Angeles Sol and Boston Breakers, No. 1 and No. 2 in WPS, had trouble finding the net Sunday afternoon, as the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
The game wasn’t without opportunities. Boston (3-2-1) led the attack with 11 shots, including three on goal. But the Los Angeles defense and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc were too tough to get through.
Los Angeles (3-1-2) had eight shots on the evening with one on goal in the first half.
The top two goal-scorers in the league Kelly Smith (Boston, four goals) and Marta (Los Angeles, three goals) were held without a shot on goal.
“Getting the point on the road is not a bad result,” Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco said. “I’m not totally satisfied, but I think it was probably the right result. It was an even game and hard-fought by both teams.”
Sky Blue FC 2, Chicago Red Stars 0
Bridgeview, Ill. – Sky Blue FC forwards Sarah Walsh and Natasha Kai netted goals earning the club’s first win - 2-0 over the Chicago Red Stars.
Sky Blue midfielder Collette McCallum sent the ball to forward Sarah Walsh. She crossed the ball into the left side netting to give her club a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.
In the 79th minute, Sky Blue (1-2-2) doubled its lead. Kelly Parker crossed the ball to Natasha Kai in the right side of the box. Kai tapped it in for her first goal of the campaign and a 2-0 lead.
“Obviously coming in to play such a strong side like Chicago, we had our work cut out for us,” Sky Blue FC head coach Ian Sawyers said. “I’m very proud of my team. They played with a lot of heart and poise tonight. And we started scoring goals, which is a good sign for us.”
Red Stars goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson has now allowed just three goals on the year. Chicago (2-1-2) picked up its first loss of the season.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's women's soccer page.
Saint Louis Athletica 1, FC Gold Pride 0
Edwardsville, Ill. – Lori Chalupny tallied the lone goal giving Saint Louis Athletica its first WPS win – 1-0 over FC Gold Pride.
Saint Louis (1-2-2) hadn’t scored a goal until last weekend when they tallied three. This weekend the scoring continued and the club won its first WPS match.
Chalupny took a corner kick for Saint Louis in the 16th minute. She bent the left-footed shot behind FC Gold Pride goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart and just inside the far post.
FC Gold Pride (2-3-1) had 12 shots on the night, with five on goal. Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo made five saves, including stopping late chances by forwards Eriko Arakawa and Christine Sinclair and defender Carrie Dew.
“I feel a lot more relaxed,” Athletica Head Coach Jorge Barcellos said. “It is kind of hard when you are representing a town and a city and you can’t get a win in four games. When you get the win you are relieved that you finally got what you are looking for.”
Los Angeles Sol 0, Boston Breakers 0
Carson, Calif. – The Los Angeles Sol and Boston Breakers, No. 1 and No. 2 in WPS, had trouble finding the net Sunday afternoon, as the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
The game wasn’t without opportunities. Boston (3-2-1) led the attack with 11 shots, including three on goal. But the Los Angeles defense and goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc were too tough to get through.
Los Angeles (3-1-2) had eight shots on the evening with one on goal in the first half.
The top two goal-scorers in the league Kelly Smith (Boston, four goals) and Marta (Los Angeles, three goals) were held without a shot on goal.
“Getting the point on the road is not a bad result,” Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco said. “I’m not totally satisfied, but I think it was probably the right result. It was an even game and hard-fought by both teams.”
Sky Blue FC 2, Chicago Red Stars 0
Bridgeview, Ill. – Sky Blue FC forwards Sarah Walsh and Natasha Kai netted goals earning the club’s first win - 2-0 over the Chicago Red Stars.
Sky Blue midfielder Collette McCallum sent the ball to forward Sarah Walsh. She crossed the ball into the left side netting to give her club a 1-0 lead in the eighth minute.
In the 79th minute, Sky Blue (1-2-2) doubled its lead. Kelly Parker crossed the ball to Natasha Kai in the right side of the box. Kai tapped it in for her first goal of the campaign and a 2-0 lead.
“Obviously coming in to play such a strong side like Chicago, we had our work cut out for us,” Sky Blue FC head coach Ian Sawyers said. “I’m very proud of my team. They played with a lot of heart and poise tonight. And we started scoring goals, which is a good sign for us.”
Red Stars goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson has now allowed just three goals on the year. Chicago (2-1-2) picked up its first loss of the season.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For more on Women's Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com's women's soccer page.
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