Breakers Win Home Opener 2-0

Game pictures are online here

BOSTON, Mass. – You have to think that five years ago, Kristine Lilly couldn’t have pictured the scene that transpired at Harvard Stadium Saturday night.

On a cold and damp April night, with temperatures hovering in the thirties, 4,804 shivering souls turned out to see the Breakers triumphant return to Beantown with an impressive 2-0 victory over a physical Saint Louis Athletica squad.

“It was important to win for our fans,” said Lilly, the club’s captain. “It was a great crowd despite the terrible weather conditions.”

And it wasn’t just the fans who had to brave the elements. Both clubs struggled with organization early on, as the slick surface created a pinball-like match for much of the match.

“The field was so fast,” said Athletica midfielder Lori Chalupny. “I don’t know if I’ve ever played on a field that fast. I think it took the whole first half for both teams to get used it.”

Although both teams searched for ways to adapt to both the pitch and the elements, it appeared that Athletica was the team in control of the match after battling fiercely in the midfield going into the second half.

That was until Breakers’ striker Kelly Smith took a pass from Kelly Schmedes on the right flank and coolly pushed it past a diving Hope Solo in the 53rd minute to give the Breakers the first lead of the match.

“Kelly Schmedes put the ball across and I was just in the right place at the right time,” said Smith. “I was lucky enough to slide it past Hope Solo.”

But luck had nothing to do with the Breakers performance during the final third of the match. Smith and strike partner Amy Rodriguez constantly pressured the Athletica backs by having regular goes on goal, keeping the all-world Solo on her toes.

As regulation waned, nobody would’ve blamed the Breakers for dropping back to protect their one goal advantage. Instead, they continued to force the issue, hoping to catch Athletica, desperately pushing forward whenever possible, wildly out of position.

And that’s exactly what happened in the 87th minute. Off a set piece from about forty yards, Smith gathered the ball and fed it to an unmarked Lilly right before the box. Then, the skipper took care of the rest by launching a twenty yard rocket that sailed above the dive of Solo.

“As soon as I saw her pop up through the top of box, I was like ‘that’s going in because she doesn’t miss from there,’” said Chalupny.

Although Lilly was proud of her club’s resolve and the resulting victory – the club’s first of the young season – she was quick to turn the spotlight back onto the boisterous home crowd that braved the raw elements.

“That speaks volumes for our fans,” said Lilly. “It was a great night for us, to get that win and to show our appreciation for them. I think that was important for us.”