Christen Press scored a hat trick in magicJack's 4-0 win over the Boston Breakers on Saturday. Press now has eight goals this season. (Photo Credit: Geoff Solomon)
In a game where both the Boston Breakers and magicJack needed their star players to shine, magicJack rookie Christen Press shined the brightest. With her first professional hat trick and an early goal from player/coach Abby Wambach, magicJack ran all over the Breakers to a 4-0 win.
Playing in front of a sold out crowd of 3,064, Wambach left fans screaming and chanting after a beautiful goal in the 16th minute. Press danced around the ball at the top of the box, creating space for an outlet pass to midfielder Megan Rapinoe. Rapinoe crossed the ball in, one touch, to a wide-open Wambach at the far post, where Wambach volleyed the ball past Breaker’s goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher. This was Wambach’s fifth goal of the season and Rapinoe’s first assist on the season.
Press scored her first of three goals in the 36th minute. The goal came off a pass from Wambach, who found Press for the one touch volley into the back of the net. The speed of Press, Wambach, and magicJack midfielder Sarah Huffman caused confusion to the backline of the Boston Breakers throughout the first half.
In a surprise halftime substitution, Ella Masar replaced player/coach Wambach, and Nikki Washington came on for midfielder Sophie Schmidt. The Breakers gave Women’s World Cup champion Aya Sameshima a rest at halftime, bringing in Keelin Winters to replace her. MagicJack continued to create scoring opportunities early and often. Taryn Hemmings played a strong game at center back for the Breakers, but the speed of Masar, Press, and Washington proved to be too much for Boston’s backline of U.S. Women’s World Cup defenders Amy Lepeilbet, Rachel Buehler, and Stephanie Cox.
In the 76th minute magicJack midfielder Marian Dalmy slotted the ball to Press, who was at the top of the 6-yard box. Press patiently took two touches and beat Naeher to score her second on the night. The final piece of the hat trick came off a speedy heads up play by Washington, who flew down the right flank, beating out Cox and Buehler, and passing the ball across the 6 yard box to Press who beat Naeher far post. When asked about her third goal, she said, “that’s the kind of goal that happens at the end of the game, when everyone’s tired”.
This was Wambach’s first win as player/coach of magicJack, and when asked about the win she immediately gave credit to Press saying, “I’m proud of her”. Christen Press is now tied with Philadelphia Independence forward Tasha Kai, for second in the league in goal scoring with eight, making a strong statement in her rookie season.
For full audio from Wambach and Press, click here.
