The Boston Breakers took a commanding early lead in the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League standings with a 4-0 record and 12 points. After downing New York Fury in a close 2-1 match on Wednesday the Breakers took on old WPS foe Western New York Flash in a sold-out game at Dilboy Stadium on Saturday night, May 26.
Although the Flash dominated play early in the first half, it was Boston taking the lead in the 33rd minute when forward Katie Schoepfer netted the first goal in her hat trick. WNY came back in the 49th minute when Spanish international Adriana flicked a pass through a gap in the Breakers backline to Angela Salem who beat goalkeeper Alice Binnsfor the tying goal.
The tie lasted only five minutes before Australian international Kyah Simon was tripped in the Flash penalty zone and Schoepfer buried the penalty kick for her second goal and the 2-1 lead. Schoepfer completed her hat trick, her first since her senior year at Penn State, in the 67th minute. Flash would get one back in the 82nd minute when Adriana pounced on a loose ball in front of the Breakers net and beat Binns, but Boston would hold solid for the final minutes for the 3-2 win.
Wednesday, May 23 Boston Breakers 2, New York Fury 1: Boston spoiled the Fury’s home opener at Hofstra University and took sole possession of first place in the WPSL Elite League when they took a 2-1 win. The Breakers opened scoring in the 10th minute when Australian international Tameka Butt took a pass from rookie Courtney Jones and fired it in. It marked the first time the Fury had trailed in a match.
Boston added a second goal nine minutes later when Simon fed Schoepfer for the eventual game winner. In the second half Fury pulled on back when Merritt Mathias scored her then league-leading fourth goal of the season in the 67th minute. However, Boston’s defense shut New York down for the remaining minutes to close out the win.
Friday, May 25 Chicago Red Stars 2, FC Indiana 0: In a rematch between regional rivals the Chicago Red Stars improved their record to 2-0 while FC Indiana fell to 0-4 on the season. The Red Stars are the only team in the WPSL Elite that have not given up a goal this season. Chicago opened the scoring early when Alyssa Mautz fed Lauren Fowlkes who fired a strike past Indiana goalkeeper Geraldine Saintilus. The play had been initiated by Michele Weissenhofer who found Mautz making a run toward the end line and dropped a perfectly-placed pass in her path.
Indiana nearly evened the score in the 33rd minute but Chicago goaltender Jamie Forbes stretched out to deny the goal and keep the score 1-0 going into the half. In the 64th minute the Red Stars doubled their advantage when newcomer Vanessa DiBernardo found captain Lori Chalupny positioned for a 1v1 challenge. Chalupny leapt over the sliding Saintilus, recovered the ball and slotted the shot for the final 2-0 score. The Red Stars now sit in the second spot with six point, tied with New York Fury.
Sunday, May 27 ASA Chesapeake Charge 3, Philadelphia Fever 2: ASA Chesapeake Charge notched their first win of the season as they took down Philadelphia Fever by a 3-2 score at Egg Harbor High School.
Schedule for Week 4
Thursday, May 31 – Philadelphia Fever at New York Fury
Friday, June 1 – Boston Breakers at FC Indiana
Saturday, June 2 – Philadelphia Fever at New England Mutiny
Sunday, June 3 – Boston Breakers at Chicago Red Stars, Western New York Flash at New York Fury
