WPS Weekly - Week 16
August 3, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) News Release
As teams closed out their July schedules, this past weekend, two teams made big statements during the mid-summer month.
FC Gold Pride went 5-0 in July before notching a 0-0 tie with Atlanta this past Sunday, stopping them just one win short of the all-time record for consecutive wins in WPS history, which remains at five. The Bay Area side has notched two five-game win streaks in 2010 and finds itself just a point away from clinching a playoff berth and with an 11-point cushion on second-place Philadelphia in the chase for the regular season crown. FC Gold Pride has played one more game then Philadelphia.
The Boston Breakers were also the big movers in July going 5-1 in that time and scoring 14 goals in the month, after recording just seven goals in the three previous months. The surge included a 3-1 victory over the reeling Washington Freedom on Saturday and put them in sole possession of third place in the WPS Standings entering Week 17. The Freedom had a dismal July going 0-5-2 and could set the WPS record for consecutive losses with six, if they lose Wednesday at home against Philadelphia. A loss would break the current record of five held by Washington and Atlanta. A draw on Wednesday would also set a WPS record for consecutive games without a victory at 11 - with the winless streak record of 10 currently held by the Freedom and 2009 FC Gold Pride.
Other pivotal games this past weekend included Chicago's 2-1 victory over Sky Blue FC who have a four-game losing streak of their own as they look to rebound this weekend in Atlanta. It was Chicago's second win over Sky Blue FC in the past month after losing the first two games against the New Jersey-side in April. Chicago now stands in fourth-place playoff position with a two point lead over Sky Blue FC, who have two games in hand on the Red Stars.
Just three points separate the fourth and final playoff position from last place in the 2010 WPS Standings through Week 16.
Wednesday
Atlanta 3, Washington 2
Philadelphia 3, Chicago 0
Saturday
Boston 3, Washington 1
Sunday
Atlanta 0, FC Gold Pride 0
Chicago 2, Sky Blue FC 1
League Leaders
Goals
Marta (FC Gold Pride) 13
Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia) 11
Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride) 8
Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers) 7
Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom) 7
Eniola Aluko (Atlanta Beat) 6
Assists
Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom) 8
Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride) 7
Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence) 6
Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom) 4
Shannon Boxx (FC Gold Pride) 4
Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence) 4
Caroline Seger (Philadelphia Independence) 4
Saves
Hope Solo (Atlanta Beat) 74
Erin McLeod (Washington Freedom) 68
Karen Bardsley (Sky Blue FC) 56
Jillian Loyden (Chicago Red Stars) 53
Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride) 51
Atlanta's Solo is WPS's Week 16 Player of the Week
U.S. national team goalkeeper Hope Solo is Women's Professional Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 16 after leading the expansion Atlanta Beat through its best week, with four points gained in a victory over the Washington Freedom and a draw with first-place FC Gold Pride.
Solo made five saves as the Beat (4-7-5) rallied for a 3-2 triumph Wednesday night over Washington, then made six more -- highlighted by big stops on Kelley O'Hara in the 42nd and 67th minutes and Shannon Boxx in the 62nd -- in a 0-0 draw with Gold Pride.
The results enabled Atlanta, in last place all season, to climb even with the Freedom at the bottom of the WPS standings and move within three points of fourth place, which will reach the playoffs.
This is the first time Solo, who played for the U.S. at the 2007 Women's World Cup and 2008 Beijing Olympics, has been honored as Player of the Week. She's the first Beat player to win the award.
The WPS Player of Week is selected by a panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters.
Week 1: Eniola Aluko (Saint Louis Athletica)
Week 2: Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom)
Week 3: Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence)
Week 4: Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom)
Week 5: Karen Bardsley (Sky Blue FC)
Week 6: Marta (FC Gold Pride)
Week 7: Kosovare Asllani (Chicago Red Stars)
Week 8: Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence)
Week 9: Marta (FC Gold Pride)
Week 10: Danesha Adams (Philadelphia Independence)
Week 11: Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence)
Week 12: Marta (FC Gold Pride)
Week 13: Ella Masar (Chicago Red Stars)
Week 14: Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride)
Week 15: Caroline Seger (Philadelphia Independence)
Week 16: Hope Solo (Atlanta Beat)
2010 WPS Playoff Race Heats Up, FC Gold Pride Needs Single Point to Clinch Playoffs
With most teams having just about a third of their schedule left in the 2010 regular season, the chase for the 2010 WPS Playoffs has taken off.
Current league leaders FC Gold Pride are just one point away from securing the first spot in the 2010 WPS Playoffs, as a win or tie this weekend against the Chicago Red Stars at Pioneer Stadium would guarantee them a spot. Even with a loss, FC Gold Pride could get in with a combination of several other results from Week 17 giving FC Gold Pride a place in the post-season depending how the other games play out.
Philadelphia currently lies 11 points behind FC Gold Pride in the chase for the regular season title that includes the right to host the 2010 WPS Championship presented by Citi, but the Independence have a game in-hand on FC Gold Pride and play the Bay Area team in the final game of the regular season on September 11.
Boston has begun its march to the playoffs, taking the inside track on third-place in the standings that comes with a home playoff game in the WPS First Round, while four teams are currently vying for the final playoff berth with just three points separating Chicago, Washington, Sky Blue FC and Atlanta.
Every game and every point will prove pivotal over the final month of the regular season with this weekend's match-up between host Atlanta and slumping Sky Blue FC an especially important game in the 2010 playoff picture.
Team Points Games Remaining Maximum Points
FC Gold Pride 38 7 59
Philadelphia 27 8 51
Boston 22 8 46
Chicago 20 6 38
Sky Blue FC 18 8 42
Washington 17 7 38
Atlanta 17 8 41
Rodriguez Continues to Chase Marta for PUMA Golden Boot
Notching two goals in the first 25 minutes of Philadelphia's 3-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars, 2010 All-Star Amy Rodriguez has pulled within two goals of FC Gold Pride forward Marta in the race for the league scoring title and the PUMA Golden Boot award. Rodriguez now has 11 to Marta's 13 goals on the season.
Marta, whose 13 goals is an all-time season high in WPS, was shut out this weekend in FC Gold Pride's 0-0 tie with Atlanta. And with Philadelphia having a game in hand on FC Gold Pride, Rodriguez will have another chance to pull closer to Marta's tally as Philadelphia plays twice this week on Wednesday at Washington and Sunday at home to Boston.
PUMA® Mixes Up Its Signature Red with Project Pink
PUMA and several WPS teams have helped launch Project Pink at WPS games across the country. WPS teams kicked off the initiative this past weekend with the Boston Breakers sporting pink uniforms in their 3-1 victory over Washington. PUMA athlete and Boston Breakers midfielder Leslie Osborne took time out from her schedule to talk about PUMA's new breast cancer awareness and fundraising initiative, Project Pink, and how fans can get involved:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zDXA4aaG9w
For more information, check out wps.pumafootball.com/projectpink. Upcoming games featuring PUMA's project pink include:
* FC Gold Pride v. Chicago Red Stars: August 7 at Pioneer Stadium
* Philadelphia Independence v. Boston Breakers: August 8 at John A. Farrell Stadium
* Sky Blue FC v. Washington Freedom: August 11 at Yurcak Field
* Washington Freedom v. Sky Blue FC: August 28 at Maryland SoccerPlex
WPS Week 17 Preview
Wednesday, August 4
Washington Freedom vs. Philadelphia Independence (7:30pm ET)
Maryland SoccerPlex, Boyds, MD
- Washington is currently tied with the all-time WPS records for consecutive losses (5, with Atlanta) and consecutive games without a victory (10, with FC Gold Pride) and could break both or one of those marks with a loss or tie on Wednesday. The Freedom started 4-2-1 before their slide.
- Philadelphia currently leads the season series 2-1 between the two teams but lost in their previous outing at the Maryland SoccerPlex in late May, 2-1. A tie or win by Philadelphia would guarantee the head-to-head tiebreaker between the two teams in the standings.
- Philadelphia's Amy Rodriguez scored two goals against Chicago over the weekend to put her just two goals behind Marta in the chase for the WPS scoring title, while three Independence players are among the top four leaders in assists on the season: Lori Lindsey (6), Amy Rodriguez (4) and Caroline Seger (4).
- Washington has given up 21 goals during its 10-game winless streak during the past two months after giving up just eight goals in the first two months of the season.
Wednesday, August 4
Boston Breakers vs. Atlanta Beat (7pm ET)
Harvard Stadium, Cambridge, MA
- A match-up of two teams that have been hot of late with only two losses between these two teams in the past month.
- Boston has gone 5-1 in the month of July to move into sole possession of third place in the WPS Standings. After scoring just seven goals in April, May and June, Boston has scored 14 goals during their surge, led by four goals in five games from Jordan Angeli.
- Atlanta has lost just once in the past six games - losing on the road 3-1 to Boston - going 3-1-2 in that time to move into playoff contention.
- Atlanta Beat keeper Hope Solo is the league leaders in saves (74) and became just the second goalkeeper after Karen Bardsley in Week 5 to win WPS Player of the Week honors.
- Boston's Kelly Smith notched her seventh goal of the weekend and has quietly climbed back among the top four league leaders in goals.
Saturday, August 7
Atlanta Beat vs. Sky Blue FC (7pm ET)
KSU Soccer Stadium, Kennesaw, GA
- Potentially the most pivotal game of the weekend in the playoff race as both teams are within striking distance of the fourth and final playoff spot.
- The teams are deadlocked at one win apiece and one goal apiece in the season series with each team winning 1-0 on the road.
- The two teams will face off again on September 5.
- Sky Blue FC has yet to score on Atlanta with the goal on May 9 coming on an own-goal by Atlanta defender Leigh Ann Robinson.
- Sunday's loss for Sky Blue FC to Chicago saw the return of pre-season starter Jenni Branam in the net. She notched four save in six shots on goal by the Red Stars.
Saturday, August 7
FC Gold Pride vs. Chicago Red Stars (10pm ET)
Pioneer Stadium, Hayward, CA
- League leading FC Gold Pride has a chance to clinch a playoff berth with a single point or a combination of other results during Week 17.
- Chicago is the only team against which FC Gold Pride doesn't currently hold a winning record this season. The two have split their two-games thus far with FC Gold Pride winning 2-0 at Castro Valley High School in May before dropping a 1-0 loss to Chicago at Toyota Park three weeks later.
- This will be Chicago's first trip to FC Gold Pride's new stadium at Cal State, East Bay and the two teams will meet again August 22 in Chicago for the fourth and final time.
- Chicago will be the only team with just five games remaining in the season following this weekend's games as all other teams will still have six games remaining (except for Sky Blue FC with seven)
Sunday, August 8
Philadelphia Independence vs. Boston Breakers (8pm ET - FSC)
John A. Farrell Stadium, West Chester, PA
- A match-up of two teams that have been playing good soccer over the past few weeks and each of them have a Wednesday night game in advance of this weekend's clash.
- Boston currently leads the head-to-head series 1-0-1 and the two teams will play twice in the month of August giving Boston a chance at a run for a second-place finish in the WPS standings and the number two seed in the 2010 WPS Playoffs that comes with it.
- Philadelphia's Amy Rodriguez is among the league scoring leaders and notched a goal at home in Philadelphia's 2-1 loss to Boston the last time these teams played.
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Women's Professional Soccer Stories from August 3, 2010
- WPS Weekly - Week 16 - WPS
- GK Solo Named WPS Player of the Week - Atlanta Beat
- Washington Freedom Celebrates U.S. Coast Guard's 220th Birthday - magicJack
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