Breakers busy preparing for 2011 WPS campaign

March 28, 2011

In all likelihood, this is a make or break year for Women's Professional Soccer. The league has struggled since its inception to maintain stability, but though the Boston Breakers haven't drawn as well as they did in the old WUSA, they have been a standard bearer for the league. Kristine Lilly may be gone, but the new-look Breakers are preparing to carry on her legacy and hopefully play a role in firming up the league's long-term foundation. As the preseason rolls along, the Breakers have been playing some exhibitions and making some roster moves.

So far in the preseason, the Breakers have made a trip down to Florida where they beat the University of Florida 5-0 and the Weston FC U-16 boys' team 4-1. After returning to Boston, the team took care of Boston College on March 25th by a score of 5-1 behind two goals from top draft pick Keelin Winters, and goals from Kelly Smith,Taryn Hemmings and Katie Schoepfer. Most recently, the Breakers announced some roster changes, releasing Whitney Palmer, Tara Macdonald and Michelle Betos while resigning Peabody, Mass. native and goalkeeper Ashley Phillips.

The Breakers are next in preseason action at Parsons Field on Tuesday, March 29 at 7 p.m. against the Northeastern women's soccer team. The 2011 WPS season starts for Boston on April 9 at Atlanta before their home opener against the Western New York Flash on April 17.