Highlights & Lowlights

This weekend's scores:

St. Louis Athletica 1, FC Gold Pride 0 -Recap

LA Sol 0, Boston Breakers 0 - Recap

Chicago Red Stars 0, Sky Blue FC 2 - Recap

Highlights:
-St. Louis and Sky Blue FC won their first games of the season!

-St. Louis captain Lori Chalupny scored off her own corner kick! How many times do you see that happen?!

- FSC had new commentators this week! (Hopefully they stick around!)

- My old EPYSA teammate, Christie Shaner, played her first professional game as she subbed in for Sky Blue FC's Christie Rampone.

- Solid attendance figures: 3,664 @ Chicago; 3860 @STL; 6,210 @ LA

Lowlights:

- The Chicago Red Stars are no longer undefeated. Tonight's performance was disappointing, but according to Karen Carney (one of my fave Stars) they will bounce back!

- FC Gold Pride goalie Nicole Barnhart broke her nose in the 16' of the STL match (however she continued to play the entire game injured! Tough chica!)

- Bummed the Smith vs. Marta matchup was not available via TV or internet.

- Watched the preview for next week's FSC game: Breakers vs. Freedom. Is anyone else tired of seeing Washington besides me?

Smith Writes DailyMail Column

Thanks to a Twitter tip I received tonight, I am able to bring you an article by Kelly Smith from Sportsmail Online. Apparently, she'll be writing for them weekly!

Though the column talks about everything from Smith's experiences in the WUSA and WPS, and her thoughts on the upcoming match against St. Louis, I think my favorite part is : "There has been some debate about players updating their status during matches...Your mind isn't focused on the game or with your team-mates when you're on the phone or whatever, typing updates. You won't catch me doing that." It's always great when a pro player validates your opinion!

Kelly Smith and the Boston Breakers host St. Louis Athletica this Saturday, April 11, at 7pmEST. For those of you in Boston, head on over to Harvard Stadium and get your tickets.

Other games this weekend are: Sky Blue FC vs FC Gold Pride (which I'll be attending) and the Chicago Red Stars vs Washington Freedom (airing live on FSC @6pmEST).

Interested in following Kelly Smith on Twitter: http://twitter.com/kjs8eng

Player Spotlight: Kelly Smith

Many would consider Kelly Smith to be the best female footballer in England. Some would say she is one of the best in the world.

Growing up in Watford, England, Smith surrounded herself with soccer. At the age of 16, she became a member of the English National Team. Earning 74 caps and 30 goals, she has been a constant stronghold in the team's offense.

After Smith's freshman year of college in England, she transferred to Seton Hall University in South Orange, NJ. While at SHU, playing under head coach Betty Ann Kempf, Smith became the first athlete in any sport to win the Big East Conference's Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards...in the same year. The following two seasons, Smith took home Offensive Player honors yet again, and was the leading scorer among all NCAA Division 1 teams. Smith became the first athlete (in a sport other than basketball) to have her number retired for the Pirates.

In 2000, Smith was drafted by the WUSA's Philadelphia Charge where she teamed up with current WPS players, Cat Whitehill and Heather Mitts. Due to several injuries, Smith only played one full season with the Charge though she was on its roster from 2000-2003. Smith then transitioned to New Jersey's W-League team, where again she was sidelined by injury.

In 2004, Smith left the States and headed back across the pond to play for Arsenal Ladies. Again, Smith was injured, therefore, delaying her start. In 2005, she returned to the pitch, and has since scored 103 goals in 114 appearances for Arsenal Ladies. In 2006 and 2008, Smith was a top five finalist for the FIFA Women's World Player award ( 2006 honors went to Mia Hamm, 2008 honors went to Marta). This March, Smith, and teammate Alex Scott played their last Arsenal game before leaving to join the Boston Breakers in preseason training camp.

Good luck Kelly! I'd say break a leg, but with you it may be just a bit too literal. ;-)