In a down-to-the-wire finish to the 2009 WPS Regular Season, the Washington Freedom and Sky Blue FC earned the final two playoff berths in Women’s Professional Soccer in WPS Week 20.
With a 3-1 victory by the Washington Freedom over Sky Blue FC on Saturday evening, the Freedom clinched third place in the WPS Standings and will again host Sky Blue FC in a rematch at the Maryland SoccerPlex on Saturday, August 15.
On Sunday afternoon, Sky Blue FC clinched the fourth and final spot in the WPS Playoffs when the Boston Breakers lost at home in a nail-biter to the Los Angeles Sol, 2-1. With the score tied 1-1 and Boston pushing everyone up late in the game for a score—and a potential playoff berth—the Sol sealed Boston’s fate when Shannon Boxx converted a stoppage-time PK.
The loss eliminated any playoff hopes for the Breakers, who needed a victory over the Sol to edge Sky Blue FC for the fourth playoff spot.
WPS Weekly – Tuesday, August 11
2009 Final Regular Season Standings
Team GP W L T GF GA Points
Los Angeles Sol 20 12-3-5 27 10 41
Saint Louis Athletica 20 10-6-4 19 15 34
Washington Freedom 20 8-7-5 32 32 29
Sky Blue FC 20 7-8-5 19 20 26
Boston Breakers 20 7-9-4 18 20 25
Chicago Red Stars 20 5-10-5 18 25 20
FC Gold Pride 20 4-10-6 17 28 18
Wednesday, August 5
Sky Blue FC 2, FC Gold Pride 0
Saint Louis Athletica 2, Chicago Red Stars 0
Saturday, August 8
Washington Freedom 3, Sky Blue FC 1
Sunday, August 9
Los Angeles Sol 2, Boston Breakers 1
FC Gold Pride 1, Saint Louis Athletica 1
Two teams, Saint Louis Athletica and Los Angeles Sol, already secured their playoff destiny prior to Week 20. The Athletica host the winner of the First Round between Washington and Sky Blue FC in the Super Semifinal on Wednesday, August 19.
As regular season champions, the Los Angeles Sol await the winner of the Super Semifinal in the WPS Championship presented by MedImmune on August 22 at The Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.
Washington Freedom 3, Sky Blue FC 1
Washington’s Abby Wambach continued her hot streak of late with two goals and an assist to lead the Freedom over Sky Blue FC and clinch third place in the WPS Standings. The loss forced Sky Blue FC to wait another day for their playoff fate, before Boston lost at home, thereby allowing Sky Blue FC to continue their season for at least another week into the WPS First Round.
Los Angeles Sol 2, Boston Breakers 1
Los Angeles scored twice in the second half for their first comeback victory of the season and the team’s first victory in four games since July 5th. Boston earned just one point in their final four games of the season to fall out of playoff contention and finish fifth in the final 2009 WPS Standings. Los Angeles awaits the winner of the Super Semifinal in the WPS Championship.
FC Gold Pride 1, Saint Louis Athletica 1
In a game with no bearing on the playoffs, FC Gold Pride earned a tie against second-place Athletica and could have won the game were it not for several spectacular saves by WPS All-Star selection Hope Solo in goal. Following a four-game losing streak, FC Gold Pride finished with six points in its final five games including draws against the league’s top two teams and a victory over third-placed Washington.
WPS Playoffs – TV Schedule (ET)
First Round Sat, Aug. 15 Maryland SoccerPlex, Boyds, MD 4pm – FSN
Super Semifinal Wed, Aug. 19 The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park, St. Louis, MO 7pm – FSC
WPS Championship Sat, Aug. 22 The Home Depot Center, Carson, CA 3:30pm – FSN
WPS All-Star Game Sun, Aug. 30 The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park, St. Louis, MO 5pm – FSC/FSN
TV listings for First Round: http://www.womensprosoccer.com/Home/schedule/2009-tv-schedule.aspx
Kick-Off Times (ET)
Lineup Notables
Boston Breakers: The Breakers fell to the Sol for the first time this season and ultimately out of playoff contention on Sunday. Boston took an early lead in Sunday’s match on a breakaway goal from Kelly Smith – a player who had not scored since May 31.
Chicago Red Stars: The Chicago Red Stars finished their season with a loss at their Midwest rival’s home turf last Wednesday. Goalkeeper Caroline Jönsson ended the regular season with every minute played for her team, a total of 1800 minutes, the only goalkeeper to do so in the league.
FC Gold Pride: In the Pride’s final match of the season, center back Rachel Buehler found herself dribbling with some open space outside the box. Buehler fired a shot past Athletica ‘keeper Hope Solo to tally her first goal this season and lift FC Gold to a 1-1 tie Sunday.
Los Angeles Sol: The Sol arose out of an end of the season slump, to win their first match in four games. Marta increased her goal total to ten, the best number in the league, on Sunday against the Breakers. In addition, Marta brought Boston’s season to a close when she drew a foul in the box at the end of the match, resulting in a converted penalty kick from teammate Shannon Boxx. Camille Abily sat out the first half, as the Sol were preparing for her absence in the WPS Championship presented by MedImmune.
Saint Louis Athletica: Hope Solo connected with forward Christie Welsh on a long ball blasted down the entire length of the field. The play resulted in Hope Solo’s first-ever assist and the second consecutive match Christie Welsh has scored for the Athletica. Welsh scored her first two goals of the season just last Wednesday against the Chicago Red Stars. Eniola Aluko did not enter Sunday’s match until the 69th minute, as Saint Louis was preparing for Semifinal play without her.
Sky Blue FC: Brazilian international Rosana ended the regular season on a two-game scoring streak posting a goal in each match this week for Sky Blue FC. Team captain Christie Rampone served her first two matches as Player/Coach and saw her squad secure a fourth-place playoff position after Boston fell to the Sol on Sunday.
Washington Freedom: Abby Wambach continued her end-of-the-season hot streak on Saturday against Sky Blue FC netting two goals and posting one assist. Wambach ended the regular season with eight goals, tied with Camille Abily for the second-most in the league. Fellow forward, Lisa De Vanna also tallied a goal and assist in Saturday’s match. The 3-1 game secured the Freedom a third-place finish to host the first round of the playoffs.
Quotables From Notables
A few words from players and coaches:
“It was more busy than I would have liked,” said Athletica goalkeeper Hope Solo. “But we are tweaking some things and getting ready for the playoffs. We let more chances come through than we usually do. When are defense doesn’t play its best its because of our mentality not our physical play.”
“I’m very excited,” said Head Coach Albertin Montoya of the future of FC Gold Pride. “I’m looking forward to next season because we have a special group here. When we put performances like we have till the end of the season, it makes my job very difficult when deciding what changes I need to make for next season. Obviously, we need to find a few players that will help us get over the hump, but I got to give credit to our team, they’ve come out and played hard in every game.”
“We’ll be taking a look [which players to bring back next year],” said Breakers Head Coach Tony DiCicco. “We have a good nucleus, but need to find some better players. Certainly we are looking for an international striker, because we just didn’t score enough goals.”
“I can’t believe I have gone this long without scoring,” said Athletica forward Christie Welsh. “This has been one of the most difficult soccer seasons of my life. The stats, the minutes played, the trade. I believe that I can score goals. The ball that came to me could have easily gone somewhere else but it came to me. Walsh made a run in and the ball from her took a deflection and it came to my left foot and anything that comes to my left I hit straight.”
I think it's definitely a little different as a coach,” said Sky Blue FC defender Christie Rampone of her newfound role as Player/Coach. “You're thinking about some changes you’re going to make as well as playing my role and making sure everyone's playing with confidence and trying to decide what formation we might have to change into if things aren’t working out, but I think we weathered the storm in the first half (against FC Gold Pride on Wednesday).”
WPS Player of the Week: Week 20
Washington forward Abby Wambach has been selected WPS's Final Player of the Week for Week 20 after scoring two goals and assisting a third to lead the Freedom to a 3-1 victory Saturday over visiting Sky Blue FC in a showdown for a playoff berth.
Wambach, who scored goals in the 20th and 49th minutes and assisted Lisa De Vanna's in the 57th, is the first player to win the weekly honor three times. The U.S. national team star also was voted Player of the Week in Weeks 5 and 18.
The victory gave the Freedom (8-7-5) WPS’s third postseason spot and a home game in Saturday's WPS First Round.
Wambach is one of three Washington players selected Player of the Week this season. Midfielder Sonia Bompastor won in Week 6 and goalkeeper Erin McLeod was honored in Week 13.
WPS's Player of the Week award is selected by a panel of writers with the North American Soccer Reporters.
WPS Players of the Week
Week 1: Aya Miyama (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 2: Marta (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 3: Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers)
Week 4: Aly Wagner (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 5: Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Week 6: Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom)
Week 7: Lori Chalupny (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week 8: Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride)
Week 9: Jillian Loyden (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week 10: Shannon Boxx (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 11: Camille Abily (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 12: Eniola Aluko (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week 13: Erin McLeod (Washington Freedom)
Week 14: Marta (Los Angeles Sol)
Week 15: Lindsay Tarpley (Chicago Red Stars)
Week 16: Cristiane (Chicago Red Stars)
Week 17: Natasha Kai (Sky Blue FC)
Week 18: Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Week 19: Lindsay Tarpley (Chicago Red Stars)
Week 20: Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Note: Weeks 1-2 selected by The Soccer Magazine; weeks 3-20 selected by North American Soccer Reporters panel.
Team by Team Regular Season Attendance
Game 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Avg.
LA 14,832 6,119 6,210 6,115 *dh 3,832 5,497 4,593 4,653 4,841 6,299
CHI 5,824 4,118 3,664 4,884 4,590 3,889 4,124 5,127 5,226 7,959 4,941
BOS 4,804 8,031 4,241 4502 3,128 3,105 4,009 4,075 4,125 6,631 4,665
WSH 5,028 4,232 5,149 *dh 4,474 5,049 5,143 4,606 3,123 4,573 4,597
STL 5,008 4,228 3,860 3124 2,731 3,014 3,726 4,212 4,986 3,437 3,833
FCGP 6,459 3,321 2,533 6,280 2,956 2,861 2,203 3,873 2,324 3,856 3,667
NJ 6,053 2,753 3,493 4138 2,611 3,256 1,878 3,746 3,130 5,455 3,651
*dh—doubleheaders with MLS not counted in attendance
WPS Hits 15,000 Members on Facebook
WPS continues to use social networking as a leading means of communications with fans and followers. On August 9th, the WPS Facebook page hit 15,000 members while it’s Twitter account continues to grow having doubled since the season began.
Goals by the Numbers
Top Scorers: Los Angeles Sol’s Marta (9), Los Angeles Sol’s Camille Abily (8), Washington Freedom’s Abby Wambach (8), Chicago Red Star’s Cristiane (7)
Goals by Team: Washington Freedom (32), Los Angeles Sol (27), Saint Louis Athletica (19), Sky Blue FC (19), Boston Breakers (18), Chicago Red Stars (18), FC Gold Pride (17)
Total Goals: 150 goals scored since WPS Inaugural Match on March 29, 2009 with an average of 2.14 goals per game.
Quickest Goal in League Play: 2nd minute of play, Eniola Aluko – Saint Louis Athletica vs. Sky Blue FC (6/28/09), Kelly Smith – Boston Breakers vs. Los Angeles Sol (5/2/09)
Quickest back-to-back goals by one team: 2 goals in 3 minutes – 42 minute, 45 minute – from Marta in Los Angeles Sol vs. Sky Blue FC match (4/5/09)
Quickest back-to-back goals by both teams: 2 goals in 58 seconds – 46 minute, 47 minute – from Kacey White and Lisa De Vanna in Sky Blue FC vs. Washington Freedom match (7/15/09)
Most Goals in One Game by one team: 4, Los Angeles Sol 4-0 Chicago Red Stars (6/27/09), Washington Freedom 4-3 FC Gold Pride (4/26/09), Chicago Red Stars 4-0 Boston Breakers (4/25/09), and Sky Blue FC 4-4 Washington Freedom (7/15/09)
Most Goals in One Game by both teams: 8, Sky Blue FC 4-4 Washington Freedom (7/15/09)
Most Goals in a Game by a player: 3, Cristiane (Chicago Red Stars vs. FC Gold Pride – 7/12/09)
Penalty Kick Rates: 64% success rate, 7 out of 11 attempted
Longest Scoring Drought: 451 minutes, Chicago Red Stars
WPS Media Info Section
The WPS Media Info Section is now up and running including specialty stats, attendance numbers, team media guides, contacts lists and other media information. It will become more comprehensive in the coming weeks in months in preparation for 2010.
Username: WPSinfo
Password: mediaWPS
Media Credentials – WPS Playoffs, WPS Championship and WPS All-Star Game
Media and photos credentials for the WPS Playoffs, WPS Championship and WPS All-Star Game will be handled by the local WPS team. Please direct media inquiries about any post-season games to the host team no later than 48 hours in advance of the game.
The 2009 WPS All-Stadium credential will get you into the stadium for the post-season, but does not guarantee a spot in the press room unless you have contacted the local team in advance to request a spot. To obtain a credential application for the inaugural WPS Championship, please email your full name and media affiliation to: WPSChampionship@leaderenterprises.com.
Saturday, August 15:
WPS Playoffs – First Round
Washington Freedom vs. Sky Blue FC (4 pm ET – FSN)
Maryland SoccerPlex, Boyds, MD
These I-95 rivals played some riveting games this season, including the highest-scoring affair in WPS, when the Washington Freedom scored late in stoppage time to steal a 4-4 tie in mid-July. In three games this year, the Freedom outscored Sky Blue FC 9-6 going 2-0-1 against their East Coast rivals.
This WPS First Round will be a re-match of last week’s playoff clinching match-up at the Maryland SoccerPlex, when the Freedom rode two goals by Abby Wambach to a 3-1 victory and the right to host the first playoff game in WPS history.
The rematch was made possible when Boston lost to Los Angeles the next day, clinching a spot for Sky Blue FC. The Freedom are coming in hot, having won four of their last five games and were a solid 5-2-3 at home this year, the second-best home record in the league (some games played at RFK Stadium).
To have any chance at advancing to the Super Semifinal, Sky Blue FC will have to neutralize Washington’s potent offense like they did to other teams’ this season with stingy defense. The Freedom’s nine goals against Sky Blue FC accounted for almost half of the goals scored against the New Jersey side all regular season; indeed, the rest of the league notched only 11 goals against Sky Blue FC.
Goalkeeper Jenni Branam will need to come up with some big stops, while player-coach Christie Rampone and the defensive backline will need to put Wambach and speedy Lisa De Vanna on lockdown.
One huge X-factor for Washington will be the absence of French midfielder Sonia Bompastor, one of the most exciting players in WPS this season. Bompastor had a hand in one-third of the Freedom’s nine goals this year against Sky Blue FC with an assist or score. She is now with the French national team at the 2009 European Championships and the Freedom will look to Ali Krieger, who joined the team from FFC Frankfurt in midseason, or perhaps Allie Long to carry some of the pressure of that playmaking midfielder role.
On the Sky Blue FC’s offensive side, getting goal production from star forward Natasha Kai will be absolutely crucial. Sky Blue FC is an impressive 4-0-1 this season when Kai puts the ball in the back of the net, the only blemish being the 4-4 tie with Washington when Kai scored twice.
Unlike Washington, Sky Blue FC doesn’t have a variety of players who can score, with Rosana and Kacey White the only others who’ve shown consistent scoring ability. Winning on the road hasn’t come easy for Sky Blue FC – they are 2-6-2 this year – but nothing this season has come easy, as they have stared down adversity time and again, both on-and-off the field in 2009 to make the playoffs.
This game could come down to one fantastic play – a key save or a great score – and how the team that falls behind after the first goal in the history of the WPS Playoffs stares adversity in the face. Expect an exciting match down to the final minute.
On TV
First Round of the WPS Playoffs between the third-seeded Washington Freedom and fourth-seeded Sky Blue FC will air on Fox Sports Net on Saturday, August 15 at 4 pm ET/1pm PT. TV listings for First Round.
Photo Credit Quinn | isiphotos.net
The previous story was excerpted from a press release by the WPS. What's News is the alternate profile of Bleacher Report writer Todd Civin and is used to publish from press releases by the WPS, AHL and the NY/Penn and Can Am Baseball Leagues.
