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Ifeoma Dieke and the Breakers' defense kept Washington's Nikki Marshall (17) in check during Saturday's 3-1 win. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
The win gives the Breakers (6-6-4, 22 points) a massive boost in their quest for a playoff berth, while Washington continues to try and figure out where it�s all gone wrong.
Boston has been scoring at an impressive rate, with 14 goals in its last six, a stretch that includes three 3-goal performances. This time, it was Kelly Smith, Jordan Angeli and Lauren Cheney who did the honors for the Breakers.
Angeli scored what turned out to be the game-winner in the 56th minute. Left back Stephanie Cox sent in an early cross that Cheney chested down to Angeli, whose left-footed shot from just inside the penalty area beat Freedom keeper Ashlyn Harris to give the Breakers a 2-0 lead.
Washington made it 2-1 in the 67th, with Abby Wambach scoring her seventh goal of the season. Lene Mykjaland sent in a cross from the left wing and Wambach cut inside Cox at the far post to head it in.
Boston had its chances following that goal and took advantage in the 84th. Kristine Lilly played a corner from the right across the top of the box to defender Amy LePeilbet, whose shot was well saved by Harris. But the keeper couldn�t hold it, and Cheney was on the spot to tap it in.
Smith opened the scoring 19 minutes in, as a Cox free kick was headed on by Angeli to Smith, who put it in from just a few yards out. It was the English international�s team-leading seventh goal of the year.
After a 2009 season that often saw her as the team�s only offensive threat, Smith has welcomed the contributions of Angeli (five goals), Cheney (three goals) and plenty others.
�It�s taken a great weight off of my shoulders,� Smith said. �And it�s not just scoring goals, but having good individual performances - players like Leslie (Osborne), Tarps (Lindsay Tarpley) and Fabiana. The bench players really made a difference tonight in the game.�
Prior to the Breakers' 5-1 July, they lost three straight. Osborne was out for all three matches, something that head coach Tony DiCicco doesn't see as a mere coincidence, based on her steadying influence in midfield.
"When Leslie was hurt for those three games, we lost all three games," DiCicco said. "In the second half, she did a good job in possession for us. In the first half, we were struggling with that."
The coach also praised LePeilbet and fellow central defender Ifeoma Dieke for their efforts against Wambach and Nikki Marshall. Marshall, who scored against the Breakers in their last meeting July 18, was hardly a factor in this game.
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Lauren Cheney scored her third goal of the season in theh 84th minute to guarantee the three points. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
Wambach, meanwhile, was limited in the first half. She had two good chances in the second - one that led to the goal and the other, a header in the 53rd, that brought a good diving save out of Boston keeper Alyssa Naeher.
The Freedom�s scoring opportunities were otherwise few and far between, as the team�s freefall continues.
�Obviously, it�s not easy to lose this many games in a row. I know for me, it�s probably the longest losing streak I�ve ever had,� Wambach said. �We just need to focus on the positive challenges this poses for this team, because we feel we�re still in the playoff race. We just have to string a couple wins together.�
The Breakers have now taken 10 out of 12 points from Washington this season.
�I see tape of them giving up goals to other teams, but we couldn�t do it,� said Freedom head coach Jim Gabarra. �They just have our number and we�re glad to be done with them for the season.�
More comments from coaches and players
DiCicco on the importance of the match: �Coming into this game, there were five teams within two points of each other. You can�t have any bad efforts. We knew they�d put a lot into the game, and we had to match that. At times in the first half I thought we were very good, and other times I thought we gave the ball away too easily.�
DiCicco on the team�s young players: �Alyssa made a big save off of Wambach. Jordan Angeli and Lauren Cheney are very good complements to our veteran players. And Fabiana came in and played some very good minutes for us.�
Cheney on playing against Wambach after being teammates on the national team: �I love playing with Abby. She�s such a great player. It�s fun to see her and Amy (LePeilbet) and all of our other defenders battle. But I�d much rather play with her.�
Cheney on the Breakers� pink jerseys, worn as part of PUMA�s Project Pink, an initiative to raise awareness and funds in support of the fight against breast cancer: �My grandma had breast cancer and I know a lot of people that have been affected. To be playing for this cause and to be auctioning off these jerseys, it was fun, a good time and it made me want to work a little bit harder.�
Mark Goodman can be reached at newsdesk@soccernewengland.com.
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