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Ashley Phillips made enough of an impression during the preseason to be named the Breakers' No. 1 keeper. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
Phillips got her chance in Saturday’s season-opening 2-1 in Washington, however, and did enough to convince the club to release Alli Lipsher - a starter in 10 of the team’s 20 matches last season - and promote her to full-time status on the roster.
Phillips, who made seven saves in the win, said she found out two days before the match that she would be starting.
“The team was really good about talking to me and telling me they were confident in me, which let me be more confident in myself,” Phillips said after Friday’s practice. “It was just really exciting to play, and we won, so that was extra nice. Especially scoring early, that helped me settle down.”
Lauren Cheney and Kelly Smith scored in the first 20 minutes, and Boston held the Freedom scoreless until an 86th minute consolation goal from Allie Long. In keeping last year’s highest scoring team out of the net for most of the game, Phillips made an impression on her teammates in her first professional game.
“It’s my first time playing in a game with her, but I wouldn’t have thought that,” said fullback Stephanie Cox. “I think she played like a veteran out there with so much confidence, and I had so much confidence in her.”
Head coach Tony DiCicco said he had an idea early in the week that he would start Phillips, and didn’t see anything in the game Saturday to prevent her from starting again tonight against Philadelphia (6 p.m. kickoff at Harvard Stadium).
“She was confident, she was quick off her line, she won some good through balls before shots could be taken. I thought she did well,” he said. “First game, you’re playing against one of the best players in the world in Abby Wambach, I thought she responded very well to the challenge.”
Phillips attributed her ascendance up the depth chart to a rigorous offseason training regimen with Competitive Athlete Training Zone (CATZ) to improve her fitness and agility. The keeper wasn’t the only one to notice the difference when the preseason began.
“She came into preseason and definitely was at another level,” DiCicco said. “She’s competed well and she’s probably been our most consistent goalkeeper to this stage, so she earned the start.”
In general, the coach was impressed with his team’s ability to defend set pieces against Washington, particularly considering the aerial ability of Wambach up top. Central defender Amy LePeilbet drew the assignment of marking Wambach on those set pieces, and while giving up six inches and considerable strength in that matchup, the Breaker defender made things difficult for the Freedom star.
“We put Amy on Abby even though it’s kind of a mismatch,” DiCicco said. “Amy just plays her tough and makes it hard for her to get her head on it, and then everyone else has to do their job, too. Set pieces are so key in this league. Us scoring on a set piece and us denying them scoring on a set piece was huge.”
The Breakers will look to keep the early momentum on their side as they host the Independence tonight. In its opener last weekend at home, Philadelphia drew 0-0 with fellow expansion side Atlanta.
The Independence feature a pair of notable former Breakers, striker Amy Rodriguez and fullback Heather Mitts. Rodriguez played the full 90 minutes against the Beat, and Mitts has made the trip to Boston and will likely start after missing the opener with an injury.
DiCicco will be looking to his defense to have another solid outing.
“I thought Amy played a good game against Atlanta…and Lianne Sanderson is a big target player, so they’re going to be dangerous,” DiCicco said.
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