RSS
ATOM
advertisement
WPS Previews: Week 13 Part Two
The Los Angeles Sol still has a commanding 11-point lead in Women’s Professional Soccer. But the middle of the pack is up for grabs. Four points separate the second place team from the last pace team.
Jun 19, 2009 9:06:01 PM
Week 13 of Women's Professional Soccer continues. One game Saturday and two on Sunday will fill the weekend. Sky Blue FC takes the weekend off after topping the Chicago Red Stars on Wednesday.
Saint Louis Athletica vs. Washington Freedom, Saturday, June 20 at 2pm ET, Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park, Saint Louis, MO
Saint Louis Athletica and the Washington Freedom meet on the pitch this weekend to battle for second place. Saint Louis currently holds the spot with fourteen points, while Washington sits in third and has thirteen points.
Saint Louis Athletica (4-3-2) powered their way into second place on the league table with a 1-0 win over the Boston Breakers Wednesday. Eniola Aluko scored the match-winner with her third goal of the season. In their last seven matches, Athletica have only suffered one loss, and that was at the hands of league leaders Los Angeles Sol. Saint Louis has held opponents scoreless on five occasions, and their home record is pretty solidly in their favor with only one loss.
The Washington Freedom (3-3-4) played to a 0-0 draw with the Chicago Red Stars in their most recent game. Like Athletica, the Freedom has only lost once in the last seven games, and that loss was to the Sol. Washington has scored sixteen goals this season, but let in eighteen. They posted their first shutout of the season in their last game, and generally look more solid with goalkeeper Erin McLeod between the posts. She has made fifteen saves in five games. Two of Washington’s three losses were on the road, so that stat is not in their favor.
The first time Washington and Saint Louis met, they fought to an intense 3-3 draw. For Washington, Lisa De Vanna scored one, and Sonia Bompastor hit a brace, including one in stoppage time that secured the draw. Athletica’s goal scorers against Washington were Aluko with one and Daniela with a brace. Unfortunately, Daniela is out for the season with an injury, but Aluko is on a hot streak with two goals and an assist in their last three wins.
This match-up will be close, with the edge going to home side Athletica who will be very confident following their win over Boston.
Chicago Red Stars vs. Boston Breakers, Sunday June 21 at 4 pm ET, Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.
The Chicago Red Stars head home after a relatively successful road trip, which found them posting an 0-1-3 record. Sunday they’ll host the Boston Breakers, who are trying to find a way out of the middle of the pack. The first time they met, it was a goal fest for Chicago. The club tallied an unheard of four unanswered goals, while hosting the Breakers. Chicago’s feat is still unsurpassed.
Chicago (2-4-5, 11 points) fell to last place last weekend with a 1-0 loss to Sky Blue FC on Wednesday. However, only three points separate the last place team from the second place team. So a win or even a draw and they’re right back in there. However, the Red Stars haven’t won a game since defeating Boston April 25th.
Cristiane led the Red Stars attack while on the road trip with two goals. Lindsay Tarpley also has two goals for Chicago. Six other players have tallied for eight goals on the season. The Red Stars games have been close matches. Chicago goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson has allowed just nine goals on the season, while making a league-best 50 saves. The Red Stars have not allowed more than two goals a game. And in the month of June, they haven’t allowed more than one.
Boston (3-4-3, 12 points) is in a three-way tie for fourth place. The Breakers are fresh off a 1-1 draw with FC Gold Pride. The Breakers have found the net 11 times this season. Almost have of those goals are courtesy of striker Kelly Smith. Smith leads the club with five goals on the season. But Wednesday night, it was Jennifer Nobis who led the club to a 1-1 draw. Boston has options when it comes to scoring. Don’t be surprised for them to turn up the heat in Chicago. Defensively the Breakers still have some work to do. Goalkeepers Kristin Luckenbill and Allison Lipsher have allowed 13 goals on the year.
The bottom line… if Chicago throws all their offense at Boston, they should come up with a win. However if the Breakers sneak through the tiny holes in Chicago’s defense, they could pull off the victory.
Los Angeles Sol vs. FC Gold Pride, Sunday, June 21 at 6pm ET, Home Depot Center, Carson, CA (showing on FSC)
The Los Angeles Sol, far and away the number one team in WPS, come home this weekend and host FC Gold Pride. With 25 points, the Sol has more than double the points of Gold Pride, who are in a three-way tie for the fourth spot.
The Los Angeles Sol (7-1-4) is on a seven game unbeaten streak. Their most recent match, a road trip to Sky Blue FC, ended in a 0-0 draw. To date, the Sol offense has put away 15 goals, while the defense has only allowed 4 goals. Starting goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc has posted eight shutouts, with deputy goalkeeper Val Henderson adding one herself for a team total of nine. Los Angeles has two players in the top five league goal scorers. Camille Abily is number one with six goals, and is fourth with Marta four goals to her name.
FC Gold Pride (3-5-3) went on the road and faced the Boston Breakers on Wednesday. Christine Sinclair notched her fifth goal of the season to put Gold Pride up 1-0, but they couldn’t hold on to the lead and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. It was the third time this season they’ve given up an early lead and settled for a tie. Gold Pride’s last win came more than a month ago, when they managed a 1-0 victory over the Red Stars. They will need to find that winning formula again if they hope to clinch one of the four play-off spots.
Los Angeles and FC Gold Pride have met twice before, and both times L.A. emerged victorious. Gold Pride did not manage a goal against the Sol in either game. However, L.A. has allowed a goal in each of their last two home games, so they do have some cracks in their defense. Still, all signs point to a win for the Sol.
Jennifer Dawson & Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’s soccer page.
Saint Louis Athletica vs. Washington Freedom, Saturday, June 20 at 2pm ET, Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park, Saint Louis, MO
Saint Louis Athletica and the Washington Freedom meet on the pitch this weekend to battle for second place. Saint Louis currently holds the spot with fourteen points, while Washington sits in third and has thirteen points.
Saint Louis Athletica (4-3-2) powered their way into second place on the league table with a 1-0 win over the Boston Breakers Wednesday. Eniola Aluko scored the match-winner with her third goal of the season. In their last seven matches, Athletica have only suffered one loss, and that was at the hands of league leaders Los Angeles Sol. Saint Louis has held opponents scoreless on five occasions, and their home record is pretty solidly in their favor with only one loss.
The Washington Freedom (3-3-4) played to a 0-0 draw with the Chicago Red Stars in their most recent game. Like Athletica, the Freedom has only lost once in the last seven games, and that loss was to the Sol. Washington has scored sixteen goals this season, but let in eighteen. They posted their first shutout of the season in their last game, and generally look more solid with goalkeeper Erin McLeod between the posts. She has made fifteen saves in five games. Two of Washington’s three losses were on the road, so that stat is not in their favor.
The first time Washington and Saint Louis met, they fought to an intense 3-3 draw. For Washington, Lisa De Vanna scored one, and Sonia Bompastor hit a brace, including one in stoppage time that secured the draw. Athletica’s goal scorers against Washington were Aluko with one and Daniela with a brace. Unfortunately, Daniela is out for the season with an injury, but Aluko is on a hot streak with two goals and an assist in their last three wins.
This match-up will be close, with the edge going to home side Athletica who will be very confident following their win over Boston.
Chicago Red Stars vs. Boston Breakers, Sunday June 21 at 4 pm ET, Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.
The Chicago Red Stars head home after a relatively successful road trip, which found them posting an 0-1-3 record. Sunday they’ll host the Boston Breakers, who are trying to find a way out of the middle of the pack. The first time they met, it was a goal fest for Chicago. The club tallied an unheard of four unanswered goals, while hosting the Breakers. Chicago’s feat is still unsurpassed.
Chicago (2-4-5, 11 points) fell to last place last weekend with a 1-0 loss to Sky Blue FC on Wednesday. However, only three points separate the last place team from the second place team. So a win or even a draw and they’re right back in there. However, the Red Stars haven’t won a game since defeating Boston April 25th.
Cristiane led the Red Stars attack while on the road trip with two goals. Lindsay Tarpley also has two goals for Chicago. Six other players have tallied for eight goals on the season. The Red Stars games have been close matches. Chicago goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson has allowed just nine goals on the season, while making a league-best 50 saves. The Red Stars have not allowed more than two goals a game. And in the month of June, they haven’t allowed more than one.
Boston (3-4-3, 12 points) is in a three-way tie for fourth place. The Breakers are fresh off a 1-1 draw with FC Gold Pride. The Breakers have found the net 11 times this season. Almost have of those goals are courtesy of striker Kelly Smith. Smith leads the club with five goals on the season. But Wednesday night, it was Jennifer Nobis who led the club to a 1-1 draw. Boston has options when it comes to scoring. Don’t be surprised for them to turn up the heat in Chicago. Defensively the Breakers still have some work to do. Goalkeepers Kristin Luckenbill and Allison Lipsher have allowed 13 goals on the year.
The bottom line… if Chicago throws all their offense at Boston, they should come up with a win. However if the Breakers sneak through the tiny holes in Chicago’s defense, they could pull off the victory.
Los Angeles Sol vs. FC Gold Pride, Sunday, June 21 at 6pm ET, Home Depot Center, Carson, CA (showing on FSC)
The Los Angeles Sol, far and away the number one team in WPS, come home this weekend and host FC Gold Pride. With 25 points, the Sol has more than double the points of Gold Pride, who are in a three-way tie for the fourth spot.
The Los Angeles Sol (7-1-4) is on a seven game unbeaten streak. Their most recent match, a road trip to Sky Blue FC, ended in a 0-0 draw. To date, the Sol offense has put away 15 goals, while the defense has only allowed 4 goals. Starting goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc has posted eight shutouts, with deputy goalkeeper Val Henderson adding one herself for a team total of nine. Los Angeles has two players in the top five league goal scorers. Camille Abily is number one with six goals, and is fourth with Marta four goals to her name.
FC Gold Pride (3-5-3) went on the road and faced the Boston Breakers on Wednesday. Christine Sinclair notched her fifth goal of the season to put Gold Pride up 1-0, but they couldn’t hold on to the lead and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. It was the third time this season they’ve given up an early lead and settled for a tie. Gold Pride’s last win came more than a month ago, when they managed a 1-0 victory over the Red Stars. They will need to find that winning formula again if they hope to clinch one of the four play-off spots.
Los Angeles and FC Gold Pride have met twice before, and both times L.A. emerged victorious. Gold Pride did not manage a goal against the Sol in either game. However, L.A. has allowed a goal in each of their last two home games, so they do have some cracks in their defense. Still, all signs point to a win for the Sol.
Jennifer Dawson & Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
For more on Women’s Professional Soccer, go to Goal.com’s women’s soccer page.
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
DEMPSEY'S DIARY: Playing in the World Cup was the ultimate dream
In his latest diary entry for Goal.com, the U.S. international and Fulham midfielder talks about playing in his first World Cup despite a back injury and what it meant to score.
-
ROGERS: Capello resigns as coach, but the villain is FA chairman Bernstein
Capello and John Terry are far from blameless in the England saga, but the real culprit is the FA chairman.
-
LABIDOU: Is MLS falling behind? The league's new younger direction
With high-profile players like Nicolas Anelka and Luca Toni rejecting MLS for other developing leagues, is the league falling behind its competition?
-
ROSANO: Mexican soccer needs to address referee treatment
Nick Rosano argues that Mexico's continued officiating problems may have less to do with referees themselves and more to do with how they are treated by the federation.
-
VERTELNEY: MLS owners take to Twitter to spread their team's word
"Any time you tweet, it's a mini press conference," says Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson.
Advertisement
Advertisement