Breakers Run Over Freedom

By Julian Cardillo

Cambridge – the Boston Breakers defeated the Washington Freedom 3-1 last night in front of 4,468 fans at Harvard Stadium, moving into third place in the WPS standings just five points behind the second place Philadelphia Independence.

Entering the match, the Breakers had dominated the Freedom this season, winning twice and drawing once against the DC soccer club. It only took 19 minutes for Boston to begin dominating the Freedom again when English International Kelly Smith scored to put the home team up. On a 35-yard freekick from Amy LePeilbet Smith headed in a loose header that deflected off of Jordan Angeli in front of goal, scoring her team leading seventh goal of the season.

Lindsay Tarpley nearly doubled the Breakers’ advantage going into halftime in the 36th minute, but her shot sailed over the cross bar after a give-and-go with Kristine Lilly.

Boston would eventually capitalize against the Freedom again, Jordan Angeli scoring her fifth of the season just nine minutes into the second half. Lauren Cheney laid the ball off for Angeli who shot a low, first time strike past the Freedom’s Ashlyn Harris to double the lead.

“I just want to get it on frame and hope it will go in,” said Jordan Angeli, “On that play Cheney [Lauren] did all the hard work. I just scooped it up and put it away.”

The Breakers scored a third goal in the 85th minute off of a short corner from Brazilian international Fabiana. Breakers’ defender Amy LePeilbet fired a bullet from outside the penalty area that connected with the foot of Lauren Cheney. Cheney’s touch into the back of the net was her third tally of the season.

“It feels good to score, I’m a forward and it’s my job,” Cheney said of her first goal scored at home this season.

Despite the Breakers’ dominance over the Freedom this season, one player the Breakers were unable to keep at bay was USA International Abby Wambach. Wambach was contained by the Breakers’ defense throughout the first half but scored the Freedom’s lone goal in the 67th minute. Wambach headed in a cross from Freedom teammate and French International Sonia Bompastor that bounced in the penalty area for her seventh goal of the season.

Wambach’s finish was only a consolation strike after the Breakers capitalized thrice on the Freedom backline. “This is probably my longest losing streak,” Wambach went on to say later about her team that is now winless in 9 attempts.

Though the Breakers let in a goal off of a defensive lapse, the team’s offense has been prolific as of late, scoring 9 goals in four matches. The Breakers’ momentum on the attack will face the last place Atlanta Beat on Wednesday and attempt to further solidify their place in the playoffs.

“It’s a good win for us,” said Breakers’ head coach Tony DeCicco. “It’s tough because there are 5 teams within 2 points of each other going into the week, but things are going well for us. We have to keep working hard.”