Athletica Shut Out Breakers

Boston Barely Clinging to Final WPS Playoff Spot

August 2, 2009

Eniola Aluko scored her sixth goal of the season to lead Saint Louis Athletica past the Boston Breakers, 1-0, in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) action Saturday night at the Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo.

As a result of the win and Washington’s 3-2 loss at FC Gold Pride, Saint Louis (9-6-3, 30 points) has clinched the second seed in the WPS Playoffs and will host the WPS Super Semifinal on Aug. 19. Boston (7-8-4, 25 points) would have clinched a playoff spot with a victory, but now remains in fourth place.

The Breakers are one point behind third-place Washington, and two points ahead of Sky Blue FC, but the New Jersey side has one match in hand over Boston. The top four teams make the playoffs.

“I think we played pretty well,” said Breakers assistant coach Lisa Cole, who filled in for head coach Tony DiCicco tonight following his suspension handed down by the league on Friday. “There were moments in the first half in which we kind of got away from our game plan. We put together a good half and put together several good opportunities that just didn’t fall for us. I’m proud of how we played and competed, but we have to finish.”

Athletica got on the board in the 36th minute. Amanda Cinalli sent a low cross from the right side that found its way past a line of players along the top of the penalty area and fell to Aluko, who then beat Boston goalkeeper Alli Lipsher with a low shot from close range.

The Breakers had a couple of threats to open the scoring earlier in the half. The first came in the fifth minute when Kristine Lilly and Jennie Nobis pressured Saint Louis defender Kia McNeill into giving up the ball. Lilly then broke in on goal but fired her shot wide of the near post.

Boston had another chance in the 16th minute off a corner. Lilly’s corner was headed out of the box by the Athletica defense right to Kelly Smith at the top of area, but her shot went just over the crossbar.

The hosts had a chance to add to their lead in first half stoppage time when Niki Cross took a free kick from 30 yards out that went just wide of the left post.

Smith had a great chance for an equalizer in the 65th minute when Heather Mitts sent a pass to her in the penalty area. Smith turned and shot toward the upper right corner but Hope Solo was able to turn the shot away for a corner.

Sara Walsh nearly put the game away for Athletica in the 86th minute when she took a shot from distance that hit the left post and bounced safely back to Lipsher.

The Breakers’ last good opportunity came when Kelly Schmedes sent a cross to Maggie Tomecka in front of goal in the 88th minute, but she wasn’t able to get enough of her head on the ball to trouble Solo.

Boston returns home for the team’s regular season finale on Sunday, Aug. 9, to face WPS regular season champions Los Angeles at Harvard Stadium at 6 p.m. By that time, Washington and Sky Blue FC - the other two teams competing for the final two playoff spots - will have finished their seasons, meaning the Breakers will know exactly what is needed to get in.