WPS Weekend Recap

I didn't think it was possible, but indeed it is. I am even more psyched for the remainder of the WPS season! This past weekend we saw some of the most exciting soccer yet -- we had 11 goals, 2 saved penalty kicks and the opportunity to watch two games, instead of just one. (Thank you Chicago!)

Los Angeles Sol vs. St. Louis Athletica, 0-0

Alright, as many of you know I have two teams in this league that I support -- The Chicago Red Stars and St. Louis Athletica. I really felt like this week would be the week for St. Louie. Marta would be missing from the Sol's lineup (as would Camille Abily and Han Duan - all on national team duty), so this was the perfect time for Athletica to take out the no.1 team in the league.

The game started out pretty evenly fought, with St. Louis racking up 7 shots in the 1st half, LA 5. It was during the 2nd half when things really started to get exciting. In the 73rd minute, St. Louis defender Tina Ellertson, on a late slide tackle, took down Sol's Katie Larkin in the box, resulting in a penalty kick. Aly Wagner took the kick for the Sol, but was denied by goalkeeper Hope Solo. (Hello, of course it was denied. Solo is the best keeper in the world. Sorry Jonsson fans!)

St. Louis continued to dominate, outshooting the Sol 10-3 in the 2nd half. In the 83rd minute, St. Louis had a chance to secure a win when Sol defender Allison Falk committed a handball in the box. Athletica midfielder Lori Chalupny took the penalty, but shot right down the middle and into the hands of LA keeper Karina LeBlanc. I mean if you have a free shot on goal, why not shoot right at the goalie? No disrespect to Chaloopa, I'm just frustrated that they remain scoreless after 3 games.

It's like a broken record with Athletica. They seem to outplay their opponents, yet can't find the net. I'd like to give my opinion on what's going on with the team, but I have yet to see them play. Luckily St. Louis will be on FSC next Sunday when they take on Washington (a team who, by the way, has been on Fox Soccer Channel 3 of the 5 weeks! What's up with that?)

Chicago Red Stars vs Boston Breakers, 4-0

During preseason I predicted that the Red Stars were going to take this league by storm. How could they not? They have the talent, and they have the magic that is Emma Hayes. It may have taken them a few games to get going, but this weekend the Red Stars found their groove and showed everyone why they are the team to beat.

Coming into the game, the Boston Breakers were ranked 2nd in the league. They also had the league's co-scoring leader in Kelly Smith. It was going to be a hard-fought game -- or so we thought. In the 21st minute Carli Lloyd opened up scoring for Chicago off a set piece from 25 yards out. (That's right, to all those critics who gave Lloyd a hard time, step off. She is back!) Then 20 minutes later, Chicago's Brittany Klein found Megan Rapinoe running into the box. Rapinoe received the ball, cut to her left and shot the ball into the upper left corner of the net. GOOOOAL! Three minutes later, teammate Karen Carney mimicked Rapinoe's shot, almost to a tee, and tallied the 3rd goal for the Red Stars. At halftime they broke out in song..."Anything you can do, I can do better..." (Ok, not really, but it's a fun mental image, no?)

When the 2nd half started, all were suprised to see that Smith was not in the game for the Breakers. Apparently Coach DiCicco didn't want to risk an injury to Smith if the game was that far gone for his team. In the 51st minute, Brittany Klein sealed the deal for the Red Stars by putting one in the back of the net. 4 goals against and no Smith -- it's a wrap for Boston.

The Red Stars were phenomenal. Coach Hayes has been trying all season to dominate in the final third and Saturday night they finally did it. Her team was aggressive in the attack, but also strong on defense allowing no goals against. LA watch out...Chicago is nippin' at your heals for that #1 spot.

For highlights of the Red Stars/Breakers game, click here.

FC Gold Pride vs. Washington Freedom, 4-3

In this season's most exciting game to-date we saw Abby Wambach return to scoring glory and we had Tiffany Weimer show us just how bright the future of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team really is. Wambach came into the match with the most shots on goal of anyone in WPS, but had failed to actually score. Well, that was the case...until the 18th minute when Wambach, off a free kick from Cat Whitehill, redirected the ball into the back of the net off her good ol' noggin. FC Gold Pride countered 12 minutes later when Tiffeny Milbrett scooped up a great ball from Tiffany Weimer and chipped a ball over the head of Freedom keeper KJ Spisak. The teams went into the half tied 1-1, but the score wouldn't stay that way for long.

In the 51st minute, Wambach took the ball down the left side of the field and served the most beautiful cross in front of the net. Freedom midfielder Lori Lindsay, who timed her run perfectly, effortlessly got a head on the ball and guided it past FCGP keeper Nicole Barnhart. Lindsey returned the favor minutes later and slotted in a well-placed ball through the Pride's defense for teammate Allie Long who finished strong. However, Gold Pride wasn't ready to throw in the towel just yet. FC Gold Pride answered with goals from Tiffany Weimer and Christine Sinclair to even things up at 3-3 in the 83rd minute.

Just when fans thought this game would end in a tie, things came full circle. In the 90th minute, with only seconds left, Abby Wambach and Cat Whitehill finished the game just like they started it...connecting for a goal. With this win, the Freedom move up to 5th place, just below FC Gold Pride.

For highlights of the game, click here.

Quick Recaps: WPS Sunday

This past Sunday, two games were on the WPS schedule:

Los Angeles Sol vs. FC Gold Pride (1-0)
Bay Area's Gold Pride took a trip down the coast to visit California rivals, LA Sol. FC Gold Pride was fired up, especially since Sol midfielder Aly Wagner was dissing its team name the week prior on Twitter!

Both teams battled their way through the first half, each tallying 6 shots (only 3 of 12 were actually on net) but things opened up for the Sol 2 minutes into the second half when Wagner chipped a ball over Gold Pride's backline and into the box. Marta was, of course, on the recieving end and took a quick shot on net, putting it past Gold Pride goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart. This gives Marta 3 goals so far this season, tying for the league goal leader spot with Boston Breakers Kelly Smith.

The LA Sol sit atop the league in first place, while the Gold Pride drop to 4th place.

Sky Blue FC vs. Chicago Red Stars (0-0)
Now this was one game I was really looking forward to watching. I've become a huge Red Stars fan over the last few weeks, despite the fact that I cover NY/NJ for OleOle.

The Red Stars were able to bring out almost 6,000 fans in the rainy, cold Chicago spring weather. My bet is, had the sun been shining, 7,500 people would've showed up. Eventhough the game ended in a 0-0 tie, I saw some great soccer. Chicago dominated the first half and I wish they could've continued that attacking energy throughout the 2nd half, but they let SBFC back in the game. Check my recap on OleOle.

Red Stars Players of Note:
Karen Carney was phenomenal. She made great runs and served some excellent balls into the attacking third. She is a playmaker, period. Megan Rapinoe deserves a shoutout, if not solely for her amazing bicycle kick in the first half. She is a great player. I thought there were a couple of balls she held onto too long or served too early, but ultimately she will prove to be quite an asset to the Stars. And lastly, Carli Lloyd ... you've picked up your game lady and are looking like the old Lloyd we know and love. Keep it up!