Lynn Williams scored twice in short order for the Flash on Friday night. (Photo Copyright Jeff Kassouf for The Equalizer)
The Flash went ahead after the Breakers were first to a corner kick but could not clear it to safety. Smith outworked Katie Schoepfer for possession at the top of the 18 an drove a shot that meandered through a few players and in for her first NWSL goal. Each team then had a ball cleared off the line and Williams ripped one off the inside of the post that stayed out, leaving the score 1-0 at halftime.
Breakers coach Matt Beard decided to turn in all of his sub cards at halftime. Out came Schoepfer, Kristie Mewis, and Brooke Elby. In went Stephanie McCaffrey, Louise Schillgard, and Eunice Beckmann, the latter making her debut in the league after joining the Breakers from Bayern Munich.
The mass substituting appeared to be working early as the Breakers opened the second half with good energy and possession. It turned on a dime though when Jess McDonald took on Kassey Kallman and won entry into the box by way of a nutmeg. McDonald then laid it off to Michaela Hahn who one-timed it to Williams for an easy finish. Less than a minute later Williams cut in toward goal from the left on Christen Westphal and beat Jami Kranich from a challenging angle.
Dahlkemper finished it after Mollie Pathman took down Jeon Ga-Eul in the box. Britt Eckerstrom, making her first professional start in place of injured Sabrina D’Angelo, picked up the win and clean sheet.
The Flash (4-3-0, 12 pts) join the Pride and Thorns a point off the top of the table and next host the Pride on Saturday, June 11. The Breakers (1-6-0, 3 pts) have still not scored in the run of play this season. They are back home to host the Spirit on Friday, June 10.
