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September 5, 2010 5:00 AM BST
Pioneer Stadium, Hayward, CA
September 5, 2010 5:00 AM BST
Pioneer Stadium, Hayward, CA
FC Gold Pride Downs Boston Breakers In A Potential Playoff Preview
FC Gold Pride set a WPS record with 12 games without a loss after its 2-0 win over Boston on Sunday night.
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By Giovanni Albanese Jr.
HAYWARD, Calif. -- In front of 2,447 fans at Pioneer Stadium, the 2010 WPS regular season champions FC Gold Pride (15-3-5, 50 points), with an early two-goal second half surge, downed the second-place Boston Breakers (10-8-5, 35 points), 2-0, on Sunday night, Sept. 5.
The match-up featured WPS’ top teams -- and the two hottest teams in the league -- with both clubs soaring of late: Boston 9-2-1 in its last 12 matches; FC Gold Pride 8-0-3 since the all-star break. The game could serve as a WPS Championship Game preview.
Despite his club’s loss, Boston coach Tony DiCicco thought his side did a positive job overall.
“I thought it was a good soccer game,” said DiCicco. “I like the way my team responded (after going down 2-0). We need to be a little bit better, but I’m still happy with my team.”
After playing to a scoreless first half, goals by Marta -- a league-leading 18th -- and Tiffeny Milbrett catapulted the league's best offence to a two-goal lead it would not let up.
In the 47th minute, Rachel Buehler played a ball to Christine Sinclair's feet on the left flank. Sinclair beat her defender before sending a low ball across the box that Marta ran onto and shot into the goal past Breakers rookie keeper Alyssa Naeher for the 1-0 lead.
And just three minutes later, in the 50th minute, the Pride's eldest player, Milbrett (37) put the Pride up 2-nil. Milbrett and Kelley O'Hara teamed up for a great one-two. O'Hara's ball into Milbrett split the Boston defence, then Milbrett's shot hit the upper-90, virtually un-savable for Naeher.
“We just came out sharp and put the game away,” said Gold Pride coach Albertin Montoya.
It was all keeper Nicole Barnhart and the defence needed, as they did the rest, shutting down the Breakers and collecting a clean sheet.
“It’s definitely important for us to keep the momentum going so we can go in (to the championship) with confidence,” said Barnhart, who notched her eighth clean sheet.
Barnhart made two great saves in the game, stopping five shots total. In the first half, rookie Lauren Cheney tested her from close range. Cheney received a cross from Jordan Angeli, turned and fired a shot, but Barnhart blocked it off her line and defender Kristen Graczyk cleared it away; and in the second half, in the 87th minute, Alex Scott beat the defensive trap, but Barnhart came off her line to make a diving stop.
Gold Pride’s defensive unit also made a number of crucial stops, blocking a number of shots taken by the likes of Kelly Smith, Cheney, Lindsay Tarpley and Angeli.
“Our defense is awesome, maybe a little bit underrated and glanced over from our offence,” said Barnhart. “We’ve had a consistent back four (this year) and everyone is on the same page.”
Despite being shut down, DiCicco feels his team is a confident bunch. “We’re pretty confident,” said DiCicco despite the loss. “Our young players are playing good. We just need to keep getting better.”
Last year, the Gold Pride finished in the league’s basement, totalling four wins. With its win on Sunday, they now have 15.
“The difference between last season and this season is we have the pieces to the puzzle,” said Milbrett, whose goal was her fifth of 2010. “That’s been the key to individual and team performances. It makes it easy to play.”
Having already clinched the regular title, the goal was to improve as a team heading into the championship tilt on September 26.
“We definitely took a step forward tonight,” said Montoya. “Playing one of the hottest teams and coming out and getting a clean sheet defensively and on the attack, we had two but could have easily had four or five.”
Even with the 12-game unbeaten streak, Montoya still believes his team is beatable. They just need to continue to do what they have been doing and they will get the results.
“I’ll never feel (we can’t lose),” said Montoya. “When you play with the way we did today, with heart and desire … more often than not, you’re going to win.”
Boston could have locked up second in WPS with a win. They can still do so with a win in its regular season finale, September 11 at Sky Blue FC. Should the Breakers be on the losing end of that match, they’ll be rooting for FC Gold Pride, who takes on third-place Philadelphia, also September 11, at Pioneer Stadium. A Philly win and Boston loss would give the Independence second.
The match-up featured WPS’ top teams -- and the two hottest teams in the league -- with both clubs soaring of late: Boston 9-2-1 in its last 12 matches; FC Gold Pride 8-0-3 since the all-star break. The game could serve as a WPS Championship Game preview.
Despite his club’s loss, Boston coach Tony DiCicco thought his side did a positive job overall.
“I thought it was a good soccer game,” said DiCicco. “I like the way my team responded (after going down 2-0). We need to be a little bit better, but I’m still happy with my team.”
After playing to a scoreless first half, goals by Marta -- a league-leading 18th -- and Tiffeny Milbrett catapulted the league's best offence to a two-goal lead it would not let up.
In the 47th minute, Rachel Buehler played a ball to Christine Sinclair's feet on the left flank. Sinclair beat her defender before sending a low ball across the box that Marta ran onto and shot into the goal past Breakers rookie keeper Alyssa Naeher for the 1-0 lead.
And just three minutes later, in the 50th minute, the Pride's eldest player, Milbrett (37) put the Pride up 2-nil. Milbrett and Kelley O'Hara teamed up for a great one-two. O'Hara's ball into Milbrett split the Boston defence, then Milbrett's shot hit the upper-90, virtually un-savable for Naeher.
“We just came out sharp and put the game away,” said Gold Pride coach Albertin Montoya.
It was all keeper Nicole Barnhart and the defence needed, as they did the rest, shutting down the Breakers and collecting a clean sheet.
“It’s definitely important for us to keep the momentum going so we can go in (to the championship) with confidence,” said Barnhart, who notched her eighth clean sheet.
Barnhart made two great saves in the game, stopping five shots total. In the first half, rookie Lauren Cheney tested her from close range. Cheney received a cross from Jordan Angeli, turned and fired a shot, but Barnhart blocked it off her line and defender Kristen Graczyk cleared it away; and in the second half, in the 87th minute, Alex Scott beat the defensive trap, but Barnhart came off her line to make a diving stop.
Gold Pride’s defensive unit also made a number of crucial stops, blocking a number of shots taken by the likes of Kelly Smith, Cheney, Lindsay Tarpley and Angeli.
“Our defense is awesome, maybe a little bit underrated and glanced over from our offence,” said Barnhart. “We’ve had a consistent back four (this year) and everyone is on the same page.”
Despite being shut down, DiCicco feels his team is a confident bunch. “We’re pretty confident,” said DiCicco despite the loss. “Our young players are playing good. We just need to keep getting better.”
Last year, the Gold Pride finished in the league’s basement, totalling four wins. With its win on Sunday, they now have 15.
“The difference between last season and this season is we have the pieces to the puzzle,” said Milbrett, whose goal was her fifth of 2010. “That’s been the key to individual and team performances. It makes it easy to play.”
Having already clinched the regular title, the goal was to improve as a team heading into the championship tilt on September 26.
“We definitely took a step forward tonight,” said Montoya. “Playing one of the hottest teams and coming out and getting a clean sheet defensively and on the attack, we had two but could have easily had four or five.”
Even with the 12-game unbeaten streak, Montoya still believes his team is beatable. They just need to continue to do what they have been doing and they will get the results.
“I’ll never feel (we can’t lose),” said Montoya. “When you play with the way we did today, with heart and desire … more often than not, you’re going to win.”
Boston could have locked up second in WPS with a win. They can still do so with a win in its regular season finale, September 11 at Sky Blue FC. Should the Breakers be on the losing end of that match, they’ll be rooting for FC Gold Pride, who takes on third-place Philadelphia, also September 11, at Pioneer Stadium. A Philly win and Boston loss would give the Independence second.
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