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Amy LePeilbet and the Breakers' defense kept Los Angeles off the scoreboard Sunday. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
The result leaves the top of the standings unchanged with Los Angeles (3-1-2) and Boston (3-2-1) in first and second place with 11 and 10 points, respectively, from six matches. Boston is two points clear of third-place Chicago - who lost at home, 2-0, to Sky Blue FC Sunday - although the Red Stars have a game in hand.
�Getting the point on the road is not a bad result,� said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco. �I�m not totally satisfied, but I think it was probably the right result. It was an even game and hard-fought by both teams. I�m proud of the way our players responded in the second half. It was a little hot out here for us and they stood strong through the end, which is a compliment to our fitness staff.�
Despite the league�s top two goal scorers on display, Boston�s Kelly Smith (four goals this season) and Los Angeles� Marta (three), both defenses kept a clean sheet. Amy LePeilbet and the Breakers back line were instrumental in warding off the intentions of Sol forwards Marta and Han Duan, while the Los Angeles kept Smith off the scoresheet for the first time in WPS play.
The Breakers held an 11-8 shot advantage in the game, with the most pressure coming in the second half. The Sol outshot Boston, 7-5, in the first half, although both teams managed to hit the woodwork.
First it was Los Angeles forward Han Duan, who was one-on-one with Breakers keeper Kristin Luckenbill, but the Chinese international hit the post with her effort in the 39th minute. Just before the break, Boston�s Christine Latham hit the top of the crossbar with a header that went out of bounds.
The Breakers came out strong in the second half, and looked close to grabbing a late winner on one of a series of set pieces. LePeilbet had a ball cleared off the line after a header with less than five minutes remaining. Kristine Lilly, Kasey Moore and Smith each also got on the end of services late, but were all defended successfully by the Sol.
The draw was Boston�s first of the year.
Sunday�s contest was a rematch from last weekend in Boston when the Breakers handed Los Angeles its first loss of the season, 2-1. The teams will face each other once more in the final match of the regular season, Aug. 9 at Harvard Stadium.
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