Breakers capture WUSA Regular Season Title

Published on August 10, 2003 under Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Boston Breakers News Release


SAN JOSE, CA (August 10, 2003) - The Boston Breakers captured the regular season title with a 1-0 victory over San Jose today at Spartan Stadium in San Jose. The Breakers win, combined with a tie by the Atlanta Beat (vs. New York, 1-1), gives Boston the WUSA Regular Season Championship.

Boston finished the season with a 10-4-7 record for 37 points, while San Jose drops to 7-10-4. With the Atlanta/New York tie (1-1), the Beat finished the season in second place with a 9-4-8 record for 35 points. The Breakers will host the first-ever playoff game at Nickerson Field on Saturday, August 16th against the Washington Freedom (4 p.m. on PAX TV).

For Boston it is the first time the team has made the playoffs, won 10 games in a season and captured the regular season championship. Boston won the final three games of the season. It is the first time in the Breakers three-year history that they have won three straight games. The Breakers have not lost since June 21st against Carolina at Nickerson Field. They have gone 5-0-5 in the last 10 games. Boston finished in sixth place two straight years.

"It's been an emotional roller-coaster this season,'' said Breakers coach Pia Sundhage. "The first thing with the Breakers was just to make the playoffs and we have a home game ... and now it ends up we're in first. I'm just so proud of the players.''

Boston scored the game-winner in the 75th minute on a penalty kick by Kristine Lilly. The Breakers captain received a ball from Maren Meinert in the box.. Lilly made a number of moves and turned the corner on CyberRays defender Thori Bryan on the end line. Bryan took Lilly down just as she was breaking towards the goal in the box. Lilly stepped up and placed a hard left-footed shot to the left corner. CyberRays goalkeeper Dawn Greathouse picked the correct side but was not quick enough to make the stop.

Lilly (3 goals, four assists, 10 points in 2003) has scored a goal or assist in four of the last five games.

The Breakers were helped out again by the play of goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc. The third-year veteran had four saves but none bigger than the two she made in the final five minutes of the match. The CyberRays had a set piece from about 40-yards out to the left of LeBlanc. Sissi lofted a ball into the box and Brandi Chastain broke free from the Boston defense. Chastain half-volleyed the ball from six-yards out and the LeBlanc deflected the ball wide. In stoppage time, LeBlanc made a kick save on former teammate Keri Sanchez to preserve her second consecutive shutout and sixth career shutout. She finished with four saves.

The Breakers should have been up 1-0 in the first half but the goal was called back. Maren Meinert popped a ball over the defense and Dagny Mellgren ran onto the ball and went far post. The call was offside on Mellgren in the 50th minute.

Game Notes: Tickets for the Breakers first home playoff game on Saturday, August 16th against the Washington Freedom are on sale. Fans can go through TicketMaster and or call the Breakers at 1-866-GO-BREAKERS ... Breakers reserve player Rebekah Splaine saw her first time of the season. Splaine came in for Dagny Mellgren in the 81st minute ... Karina LeBlanc has not missed one minute this season.

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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from August 10, 2003


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