The Equalizer

News

WPS Wednesday Wrap: Boston, Philly clinch home playoff games

Wednesday presented a full slate of games in WPS with six of the league's seven teams playing in games that had critical playoff implications.

The Boston Breakers clinched a home playoff game and moved into second place with a 3-1 win over the Atlanta Beat, a result that also officially knocked Atlanta out of playoff contention. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Independence fell 2-0 to the Chicago Red Stars and FC Gold Pride drew Sky Blue FC 1-1 off a stoppage time equalizer from Becky Edwards.

Boston 3-1 Atlanta

Boston scored three first half goals to jump on top of the Atlanta Beat early. Lindsay Tarpley opened the scoring in the 22nd minute off a feed from Kelly Smith and rookie Jordan Angeli scored her seventh goal of the season in the 33rd minute to double the Breakers' lead. Kristine Lilly added a third in first half stoppage time and that was more than enough to give Boston the win on the road.

"We said we had to go out and score early," Breakers Head Coach Tony DiCicco said. "So, Kristine Lily getting that third goal was big time. They probably deserved a goal or two, so we feel it's a good win for us."

The win puts Boston (10-7-5, 35 pts.) into second place and clinches a home playoff game for the Breakers. Failure to earn maximum points also eliminates Atlanta from playoff contention.

Philadelphia 0-2 Chicago

The Chicago Red Stars may had already been eliminated from playoff contention but that did not stop them from playing with pride Wednesday. Veronica Boquete scored in just the fourth minute to put Philadelphia in an early hole and Marian Dalmy clinched the victory in the 54th minute with a 25-yard blast into the far upper corner of the goal.

"Anytime we get that first goal it seems like if we can ride it out," Red Stars Head Coach Omid Namazi said. "Tonight was no different. We had decent spurts of play, but we could have scored a lot more. But overall, the possession wasn't as good as some of the games we've lost. Having said that, I'll take the win."

Philadelphia has now lost three-straight games but still clinched a home playoff game due to the other two results on the evening.

FC Gold Pride 1-1 Sky Blue FC

Sky Blue FC watched its playoff hopes take a significant hit when Edwards slid in to score the equalizer in second half stoppage time. The goal was Edwards' first of the season but it was a dagger to Sky Blue FC's playoff hopes.

Tasha Kai had put the home team ahead in the 72nd minute and three points would have put Sky Blue FC (7-10-5, 26 pts.) in a tie with the Washington Freedom for the fourth and final playoff spot. Instead, Sky Blue FC is two points back of Washington with two games to play. The Freedom holds the tiebreaker, so a Sky Blue FC loss or draw Sunday (away vs. Atlanta) combined with a Freedom win Sunday (away vs. Chicago) will put Washington into the playoffs. Even a Sky Blue FC loss and Freedom draw would secure a fourth place finish for the Freedom.

"It's very unfortunate to see such a well-played game end the way this one did, but we have to keep our heads up and continue to have the belief that we are still in this," Sky Blue FC Head Coach Rick Stainton said. "I am very proud of the effort that we gave tonight, and there are many positive aspects that we can take away from this game. We have a roster full of players who continue to fight, and we know our team will go out and put everything on the line in our final two games of the regular season."

Kennesaw State to host 2011 NCAA Women's College Cup

It did not take long for the premier women's soccer venue in the United States to line up key events. Kennesaw State University Soccer Stadium, the home of WPS side Atlanta Beat, will host the 2011 NCAA Women's College Cup.

The NCAA Women's College Cup is the final segment of the 32-team national tournament and consists of the semifinals and championship for Division 1 women's soccer. The matches will be played Dec. 2-4, 2011, at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Ga., just north of Atlanta.

“We are honored to host the 2011 Women’s College Cup, as well as this year&r ... More

Philadelphia Independence 1-2 Boston Breakers: Boston pushing for second position

The Boston Breakers defeated the Philadelphia Independence 2-1 Sunday in a match that had critical WPS playoff implications for the top of the table.

With the win, Boston remains in third place but is now just two points behind second place Philadelphia. The Breakers also have a game in hand, giving them the inside track to a second place finish and a berth in the WPS Super Semifinal.

Joanna Lohman opened the scoring in the 17th minute to put Philadelphia ahead 1-0. Lohman slotted the ball past Boston goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher after Naeher had saved Amy Rodriguez's initial shot.
< ... More

Atlanta Beat 1-6 FC Gold Pride: Beat-Down in Georgia

FC Gold Pride set a WPS record for goals in a game with a 6-1 thumping of the Atlanta Beat Saturday in Kennesaw, Ga.

The clash between the league-leaders and last-place Atlanta proved to be the mismatch it is on paper as the Pride piled on the goals. FC Gold Pride forward Tiffeny Milbrett opened the scoring in the 43rd minute to give the visitors the lead just before halftime and Marta scored twice for her league-leading 16th and 17th goals of the season.

Five of the Pride's goals came in the second half as Kelley O'Hara and Christine Sinclair added to the goal scoring and Camille Abily sc ... More

Washington Freedom 2-1 Sky Blue FC: Freedom win critical six-pointer

The Washington Freedom moved into the fourth and final WPS playoff spot with a 2-1 win Saturday over Sky Blue FC.

Tasha Kai opened the scoring for Sky Blue FC in the 29th minute to put the visitors ahead 1-0 with a chip over Freedom goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris. Sky Blue FC took that lead into halftime of this pivotal six point match, but the Freedom would not go down without a fight.

Washington scored twice in five minutes late in the second half to claim the victory and send Sky Blue FC back to New Jersey feeling disappointed with the result.

In the 79th minute, Sky Blue FC goalkeep ... More

Sky Blue FC 1-0 Philadelphia Independence: Averbuch strike powers Sky Blue FC

Sky Blue FC defeated the Philadelphia Independence 1-0 Sunday to earn its first win over the Independence in four tries this season. The win also snapped a three-game winless streak for Sky Blue FC.

A 112 minute weather delay cut into the action early in the first half as the two teams headed to the locker rooms just 16 minutes into the match. A scoreless encounter continued through halftime, but Sky Blue FC finally found a breakthrough in the 60th minute.

Heather O'Reilly served a ball into the box that Yael Averbuch volleyed into the back of the net to give Sky Blue FC a 1-0 lead midwa ... More