Breakers Head Into Sunday's Home Opener With 1-0 Record

Published on April 16, 2010 under Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Boston Breakers News Release


The Breakers open their home slate this Sunday against the Philadelphia Independence at 6:00 p.m. at Harvard Stadium.

Boston (1-0-0) will look to carry momentum from last Saturday against the Washington Freedom (0-0-1), into Sunday's match up between the Breakers and the Independence. The game will be the first of four meetings between Boston and Philadelphia in 2010.

The Independence opened their season last Sunday, drawing 0-0 against the Atlanta Beat in a clash of WPS expansion teams. Former Breaker Amy Rodriguez led the Independence with six shots against Atlanta, include a breakaway opportunity in stoppage time that nearly sent Philly off with a win in their WPS debut. This Sunday's match will mark the return of former Breakers stars Rodriguez and Heather Mitts who departed for Philadelphia by trade and free agency respectively during the offseason.

"I don't know that much about their style of play just yet, being that they are a new team. But I think it's exciting because there are former Breakers on that team and it should be fun to compete against them," said defender Amy LePeilbet looking ahead to Sunday's game.

Sunday's match will be broadcast live nationally on Fox Soccer Channel at 6:00 PM. More than 5,000 tickets have been sold for the match. Tickets are available at Harvard Stadium on game day for $20 and $27. Advance ticket orders are available now at BostonBreakers.com for $17, $22 and $27 seats, which can be printed at home.

Breakers Take 3 Points On The Road

WPS Kickoff Week 2010 saw the Breakers travel to the Maryland Soccer Plex to face a veteran Washington Freedom side. The Breakers, who opened the 2009 season with a nationally televised last minute loss on the road to FC Gold Pride, quickly sent a message to WPS: this is a new season and a very different Breakers team.

Six minutes in, Lauren Cheney poked a cross from Kristine Lilly past Freedom goalkeeper Erin McLeod to stake the Breakers to a 1-0 lead and sap the energy from the crowd of 3,899 on hand at the Soccer Plex. Cheney, the former UCLA standout who was selected #2 overall in the 2010 WPS college draft, has established herself as a leading scoring threat on the U.S. National Team and had now announced her presence on the WPS scene as well.

At the twenty minute mark, Breakers newcomer Stephanie Cox sent a perfect ball into WPS All-Star forward Kelly Smith. Playing with her back to goal, Smith settled the ball and then turned a fired a picturesque volley into the far corner to put the visitors up 2-0.

Washington pressured in the second half, with Allie Long foiling the shutout bid of Breakers rookie goalkeeper Ashley Phillips in the 87th minute. From there, the Breakers held on to escape with 3 hard fought points and a spot atop the WPS standings after week one.

Ashley Phillips Elevated to 18-Woman Roster

After an impressive performance in her WPS debut last Saturday night against the Washington Freedom, goalkeeper Ashley Phillips was signed to a full player contact on Friday, April 16th. Phillips started the season as a developmental player.

"I was nervous when we first got there, but I settled down," said Phillips after she posted her first WPS victory. "Everyone was telling me they were confident in me, so that gave me confidence in myself."

Phillips originally joined the Breakers as a developmental player in 2009. She was a member of the U-16, U-17, and U-19 U.S. Women's National Teams, and holds Clemson's record for all-time saves with 326.

Goalkeeper Allison Lipsher was moved to the developmental squad in a related transaction.

Phillips is projected to make her second start in goal for the Breakers at the home opener this Sunday against the Philadelphia Independence.

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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from April 16, 2010


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