Breakers tie San Diego

Published on May 3, 2003 under Women's Professional Soccer (WPS)
Boston Breakers News Release


FOXBORO, Mass. (Sat., May 3, 2003) - Dagny Mellgren put the Boston Breakers in front early in the game but Julie Fleeting scored a second-half equalizer as the Breakers and the San Diego Spirit played to a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. This was the second game of a WUSA/MLS double-header. The New England Revolution fell to the San Jose Earthquakes, 2-0, in the first game of the afternoon. The Breakers are now 3-1-1 on the season while the Spirit move to 2-1-1. San Diego's lone loss of the season came at the hands of the Breakers, 2-1, at Torero Stadium on April 5 in the season-opener for both teams.

The Breakers will be on the road for games at New York and San Diego the next two weeks before returning home to host the Atlanta Beat at Nickerson Field on Sunday, May 25 (7 p.m.) Boston has a 13-game unbeaten streak at home. The Breakers are 1-0-1 at home this season and went 5-0-5 at home last season.

"I am very proud of the way the team played since we changed tactics at halftime due to Heather Aldama's injury (nose),'' said Boston coach Pia Sundhage.. "It changes the game for the midfield players and for Kate (Sobrero)."

Mellgren opened the scoring in the fourth minute. Maren Meinert received the ball on the right flank and crossed the ball to Mellgren from the side of the penalty area and the Norwegian international headed the ball past rookie goalkeeper Jenni Branam. The goal was Mellgren's third of the season and 25th of her career.

San Diego scored the equalizer in the 62nd minute. Zhang Ouying took advantage of a Boston turnover, receiving the ball from Julie Foudy, just outside the corner of the box and passed the ball to Fleeting who headed home the cross to the the left of goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc.

The Breakers had the better of play in the first half. With an early 1-0 lead, the Breakers kept up the pressure on Branam. In the 17th minute, Meinert received the ball from a Stephanie Mugneret-Beghe cross right on the doorstep of the near post. With her back turned and a defender between herself and the goal, Meinert's overhead kick was saved at the near post by Branam. Meinert forced Branam to make a spectacular diving save in the 36th minute after her free kick from the side of the penalty area curled around the wall to the near post.

Fleeting nearly leveled the score just before half-time, heading a Christine Latham cross and forcing LeBlanc to make a diving save at the near post.

Two minutes after the equalizer, Fleeting was on the doorstep once again but LeBlanc was there to make a left-footed kick save to turn the ball behind. In the 70th minute, Fleeting serviced a cross to Aly Wagner who found space at the far post but the rookie's header was high.

Boston had a good chance in the 82nd minute. Mellgren found space on the left wing, passed the ball back to Meinert at midfield, and the former German National Team star made a pin-point cross to Angela Hucles in the area, but her header was just over the cross bar.

Both teams had great chances to win the game off of free kicks in the final moments. Shannon MacMillan hit the cross bar from 25 yards out in the 88th minute and Meinert forced Branam to make another diving save at the near post following a 30-yard free kick in the first minute of stoppage time.

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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from May 3, 2003


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