The Boston Breakers won their Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League home opener 4-1 against FC Indianabefore a standing-room-only crowd of 2,312 fans at Dilboy Stadium in Somerville, Mass. Fans lined up over an hour before the gates opened for the chance at the remaining tickets for the sold-out match. Media from as far away as Haiti, home of several members of FC Indiana, joined the Boston faithful for the opening of the second week of WPSL Elite League play.
Boston picked up two goals from Australian international Kyah Simon, one from Simon’s Australian National Team teammate Tameka Butt, and one from second year Breaker Katie Schoepfer. For Simon and Butt, it was their WPSL Elite debuts. FC Indiana’s goal was scored by Nadia Libertin.
“We didn’t know what we were going to expect tonight with FC Indiana, so we had to be prepared for anything,” captain Leslie Osborne said. “But I think the most exciting thing is the new stadium, a new city, and a great sellout crowd that we heard the whole game. Just to be back in a Breakers uniform and playing again in front of our fans and to get a win for them and score some goals, it’s a good day.”
The Breakers opened the scoring in the ninth minute when defender Cat Whitehill found open space and let loose a shot from 30 yards out. FC Indiana keeper Geralda Santilus managed to punch the ball upwards, but it hit the crossbar and came out. Schoepfer streaked in and hit it past Santilus to give Boston a 1-0 lead. It was Shoepfer’s second goal of the season.
“They gave me too much space and from long range, my eyes get really wide, so (I said) I’m going to shoot this ball,” Whitehill said. “It had a wicked curve on it. The keeper wasn’t able to control it, and Shep was able to finish it, so I was really excited.”
But the lead was short-lived as FC Indiana pulled level in the 11th minute when Sophia Batard fed Libertin inside the box. Libertin beat Alice Binns, chipping it over her and just under the bar.
The Breakers came right back and took the lead for good. In the 13th minute, Simon scored her first-ever WPSL Elite goal as a Breaker. With her back to goal inside the box, Simon worked a give-and-go with Schoepfer, receiving the pass back and calmly sliding it past Santilus to put Boston ahead, 2-1.
Less than 10 minutes later, Simon struck again. Osborne intercepted a clearance just past midfield and quickly played it wide to Jessica Luscinski. The rookie forward took a few steps before cutting in, finding an opening and sending a perfect cross to Simon, who flicked a header into the far post to make it a 3-1 game in the 22nd minute.
“I am pleased to get the two goals, but I think I should’ve had a few more. But we stuck in there against a hard opponent to play,” Simon said. “It was one of those games where you had to finish your chances when you can.”
The Breakers added their fourth and final goal in the 57th minute. It began when Butt sidestepped an FC Indiana defender and played it outside to Simon, who quickly fed it back to Butt. The Australian duo’s combination worked to perfection as Butt volleyed home Simon’s cross for her first-ever goal as a Breaker.
“It’s always good to come away with a W. The girls are pleased with how we played, and it’s good to do it here in front of the home crowd,” Butt said. “It was good getting my first goal for the Breakers. It’ll always be a memorable one, and my teammate from Australia set me up, so it was a good goal to get.”
Breakers Head Coach Lisa Cole was pleased with the team’s performance, a win that sent the team’s record to 2-0 and put the team in first place in WPSL Elite.
“I had an idea they would sit in a bit and look to counter, and that’s kind of what they tried to do,” Cole said. “They were a little more physical than I thought they’d be, but we decided to come out and play our game and get the result we’d be happy with.”
Lineups Boston: Alice Binns, Cat Whitehill, Taryn Hemmings, Courtney Jones (Emma Thomson, 71’), Leslie Osborne, Tameka Butt, Jessica Luscinski (Katherine Donnelly, 80’), Katie Schoepfer (Veronica Napoli, 61’), Kyah Simon (Kate Incerto, 90’), Mary Frances-Monroe (Kristi Lefebvre, 79’)
Subs not used: none
FC Indiana: Geralda Santilus, Kencia Merseille, Fiorda Charles (Natasha Cajuste, 58’), Carmela Aristilde, Dina Jean Pierre, Nadia Libertin (Shenel Gall, 74’), Jordan Clark, Lovely Placide, Wisiline Dolce (Woodlyne Robuste, 58’), Sophia Batard, Manouchecka Pierre Louis (Abby Skoda, 74’)
Subs not used: none
