Breakers Bust Out Against Freedom

Boston Scores 3 Second Half Goals in Win over Washington

April 19, 2009

Offense took center stage Saturday night, as the Boston Breakers became the first team in the WPS to score three goals in their 3-1 win over the Washington Freedom at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Christine Latham scored the game-winning goal in Saturday night's win over the Washington Freedom. (Photo by Robin Chan)

The first two penalty kicks in league history each turned out favorably for Boston as Kelly Smith opened the scoring from the penalty spot while Kristin Luckenbill saved what would have been a go-ahead penalty from Abby Wambach 16 minutes later.

Smith, the reigning WPS Player of the Week, put the Breakers (2-1) in front with her league-leading third goal of the season in the 56th minute. Angela Hucles was fouled inside the area by Freedom keeper Briana Scurry to lead to the spot kick.

The Freedom (0-2-1) came right back and leveled the score just four minutes later on a goal from Lori Lindsey, assisted by Rebecca Moros, and then had a chance to take the lead in the 72nd minute after Boston defender Amy LePeilbet was called for a handball in the box.

Wambach�s penalty attempt was saved by a diving Luckenbill, who read correctly toward the lower righthand corner.

The Breakers made the Freedom pay for the miss by capitalizing four minutes later on a header by substitute Christine Latham. After a nice run by Kristine Lilly led to a Latham cross that was cleared by Scurry, right back Alex Scott sent the ball back in to Latham, who headed the ball past Scurry.

Hucles added to the Breakers� lead in the 81st minute with an unassisted goal from the edge of the penalty area into the upper corner of the goal.

�There was some good and some bad,� said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco. �I thought our back line and our goalkeeper Luckenbill defended very well. Offensively we finished very well in the second half. I didn�t think we passed the ball as well as we normally have, and we gave a lot of balls away, but give credit to Washington for that.

�I�m proud of this team, though. The best teams find a way to get results even when not playing their best, and I thought we did that tonight.�

Boston�s three goals on the night, as well as the four combined goals by the two teams, are both season-highs for the young WPS season.

The teams battled in an evenly contested first half with chances on both sides despite the 0-0 scoreline. Boston�s best chance of the first half came in the 36th minute when Lilly turned and beat a Freedom defender inside the penalty area, beat Scurry, but had her effort headed away by Washington defender Becky Sauerbrunn in time to prevent the goal.

The Breakers are back on the road next weekend to take on the Chicago Red Stars Saturday, April 25 (8:30 p.m. ET). The Breakers� next home game will be against three-time reigning FIFA World Player of the Year Marta and the Los Angeles Sol on Saturday, May 2 at Harvard Stadium (7 p.m.).

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: Blink Del.icio.us Digg
Furl Google Simpy Spurl Technorati Y! MyWeb