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Kelly Smith (far right) jumps into the arms of teammates Angela Hucles (16) and Kristine Lilly (13) after Lilly's goal made it 2-0 late in Saturday night's win over Saint Louis Athletica. (Photo by Robin Chan) |
After a scoreless first half, Athletica controlled the opening minutes of the second, but it was Boston that got on board first against the run of play. Striker Amy Rodriguez sent a through ball toward Kelly Schmedes in the left side of box, and the ensuing clash between Schmedes and her marker saw the ball bounce right to Smith in front of the net.
The English international shot it past a diving Hope Solo to give the Breakers a 1-0 lead.
Smith had a hand in Lilly’s 87th minute goal, as well. Smith beat her defender to a long ball into the box and played it back to Lilly at the edge of the area, and Lilly curled a beautiful shot into the top left corner of the net to seal Boston’s win.
For the second straight match, it was Smith that spearheaded the Breakers’ attack.
“She’s one of the best players in the world,” said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco. “She makes players around her better. She has an unbelievable drive to win and she’s a professional, so it’s going to make everybody else look up to her as a role model.”
Smith and Lilly were the main targets of a very physical defensive approach from Athletica, but that, Smith said, is to be expected.
“It’s always going to be physical in a league like this,” Smith said. “There are some big, strong girls out there. That’s part of the game. There are going to be 50-50 battles going on all over the field - just make sure it’s the Boston Breakers that win the majority of them.”
Both sides struggled in the first half to put much together in terms of attacking soccer, as a lot of passes skidded across the wet turf field.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever played on a field that fast,” said Athletica midfielder and U.S. national team veteran Lori Chalupny. “It took, I think, the entire first half for both teams to get used to it.”
Athletica had the game’s first shot on frame in the 23rd minute. From the left flank, Chalupny crossed the ball in toward striker Kerri Hanks in the middle of the box. Boston keeper Kristin Luckenbill was happy to see Hanks’s header come straight at her for the simple save.
Solo didn’t have to touch the ball until the 25th minute, when Boston left back Heather Mitts sent a dangerous low cross across the box. Solo dove to get her hand to it and tip it out of danger.
Athletica’s most dangerous attack came in the 44th minute, as forward Eniola Aluko used her tremendous pace to get into the box and set up for a cross to strike partner Hanks. Hanks’s shot just to the right of the penalty spot was blocked by Breaker central defender Amy LePeilbet.
On the counter-attack, Kristine Lilly broke into the box on the left side, forcing Kia McNeill into a last-ditch sliding tackle break up the play.
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Christine Latham (7) is upended by a hard challenge from Athletica's Kia McNeill. (Photo by Robin Chan) |
After allowing Smith’s goal, Athletica began throwing bodies forward in search of an equalizer, but rarely tested Luckenbill. In the 82nd minute, Saint Louis midfielder Angie Woznuk whipped in a good cross from the left, but Mitts was in position to head it away.
And that was a theme for most of the evening. Athletica had its share of possession, but Mitts, LePeilbet, right back Alex Scott and center back Sue Weber were strong and composed in the back, handling just about everything that came into their third of the field.
Holding midfielder Kacey Moore, while at times off target with her ball distribution, was always combative in the middle of the pitch and effectively kept Chalupny from contributing to Athletica’s offensive efforts.
There were two changes from the Breakers’ starting lineup in their season opening loss to FC Gold Pride. Kelly Schmedes started in place of Christine Latham at center forward in the team’s 4-3-3 system, while Weber took over for Nancy Augustyniak-Goffi, who is battling through a minor knee injury.
“Both played very well, and I think that’s one of the strengths of our team, is our depth,” DiCicco said. “Kelly is very fit and she’s good at holding the ball. She’s pretty crafty and she’s a good goal-scorer.
“Sue Weber filled in and did a very nice job for us.”
Angela Hucles also had a good game for Boston in the middle third of the pitch, where most of the game was played.
While the team’s overall performance was better than it was the week before, there remains plenty of work to be done, said Smith.
“The team that we are now is not the team we’re going to be at the end of the season,” she said. “We’re going to be a lot, lot better, so we’re looking forward to that.”
As for Athletica, it was their second frustrating loss in as many games, having fallen at home last week to Chicago, 1-0.
“We’re pleased with the way we’re playing, but that only lasts so long. You need results,” Chalupny said. “We just have to put the ball in the back of the net. I think we’re doing everything else well. We’re playing well as a team and we’re getting our chances. We’re just not putting it away.”
Boston Breakers 2, Saint Louis Athletica 0
Scoring
Kelly Smith (Kelly Schmedes), 53’
Kristine Lilly (Smith), 87’
Lineups
Saint Louis: Hope Solo; Tina Ellertson, Kia McNeill, Sara Larsson, Melissa Tancredi; Angie Woznuk, Lisa Stoia (Elise Weber 73’), Lori Chalupny, Daniela Alves (Francielle, 55’); Kerri Hanks, Eniola Aluko (Sheree Gray, 46’)
Boston: Kristin Luckenbill; Alex Scott, Amy LePeilbet, Sue Weber, Heather Mitts; Kacey Moore (Stacy Bishop, 75’), Angela Hucles, Kelly Smith; Amy Rodriguez, Kelly Schmedes (Christine Latham, 80’), Kristine Lilly
Yellow cards
Boston - Kacey Moore, 58’
Saint Louis - Melissa Tancredi, 67’
Boston - Alex Scott, 78’
Boston - Stacy Bishop, 90’+2
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