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WPS Weekly

July 6, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) News Release


After the 2010 WPS All-Star Game presented by U.S. Coast Guard Reserve on Wednesday, June 30, WPS teams quickly got back to regular season action as Week 12 featured three games over the course of the Fourth of July weekend. FC Gold Pride returned to their winning ways and extended their lead at the top of the table, while the Boston Breakers collected their first win since opening weekend.

Saturday's action saw FC Gold Pride go on a goal-scoring rampage as they topped the Atlanta Beat 4-0 at KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, GA. Pride forward Christine Sinclair got things started quickly as she netted her fifth goal of the 2010 season just 31 seconds into the game. That broke the previous record held by Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers) and Eniola Aluko, then with the Saint Louis Athletica, both of whom scored in the second minute in games in 2009.

Forward Marta added to the Pride's lead by scoring two goals to increase her league-leading total to eight. Rookie Kelley O'Hara would cap off the game by scoring the fourth goal in stoppage time to secure the win and three points for the Pride. The Beat played much of the game with 10 players following a red card to Atlanta defender Kia McNeill for a studs up challenge to FC Gold Pride goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart.

On Sunday, the Boston Breakers celebrated the Fourth of July with their own fireworks by earning their first win since opening weekend defeating second-place Philadelphia Independence, 2-1, on the road. Independence forward Amy Rodriguez scored her seventh-goal of the season in the 18th minute to give her team the early lead. Despite trailing at the half, Boston proved relentless and scored two goals in the second half to complete their come-from-behind victory. Boston rookie Lauren Cheney found the equalizer just a minute in to the second half and veteran midfielder Kristine Lilly got the game-winner in the 84th minute. It was Cheney's second goal of the season and the first for Lilly in 2010.

In other Fourth of July action, the Washington Freedom hosted the Chicago Red Stars as the two teams played to a scoreless draw. Both teams had several good scoring chances but goalkeepers Erin McLeod and Jillian Loyden came up with big saves to each earn a blank sheet. It was only the second time all season Washington has been held scoreless. With the draw and one-point, the Freedom remains in the fourth spot in league standings while the Red Stars remain in fifth.

Saturday

FC Gold Pride 4, Atlanta 0

Sunday

Washington 0, Chicago 0

Boston 2, Philadelphia 1

League Leaders

Goals

Marta (FC Gold Pride) 8

Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia) 7

Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride) 5

Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom) 5

Assists

Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom) 7

Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence) 5

Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom) 4

Shannon Boxx (FC Gold Pride) 4

Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride) 4

Saves

Karen Bardsley (Sky Blue FC) 56

Erin McLeod (Washington Freedom) 54

Jillian Loyden (Chicago Red Stars) 40

Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride) 38

Karina LeBlanc (Philadelphia Independence) 38

FC Gold Pride's Marta is WPS's Week 12 Player of the Week

Brazilian superstar Marta is Women's Professional Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 12 after leading first-place FC Gold Pride to a 4-0 romp Saturday over the Atlanta Beat.

The four-time reigning FIFA World Player of the Year fed Christine Sinclair for the first goal, after just 40 seconds -- the fastest goal in WPS history -- and added two more, one in each half, as the Bay Area club improved to 8-3-1 and extended its lead over Philadelphia to four points.

The goals were the third and fourth Marta scored in Kennesaw, Ga., last week. She also scored the first two goals en route to MVP honors Wednesday at the WPS All-Star Game, in which her team defeated one captained by Abby Wambach, 5-2.

This is Marta's third Player of the Week award this year and fifth in WPS's first season and a half. She also was honored in Weeks 6 and 9 this season.

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)

Christine Sinclair Breaks Record for Fastest-ever WPS Goal

FC Gold Pride forward Christine Sinclair scored the fastest goal ever in WPS history Saturday at KSU Soccer Stadium when she got FC Gold Pride on the board just 31 seconds into the game during the Pride's 4-0 victory over the Atlanta Beat. Prior to that goal, both Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers) and Eniola Aluko, who last year played for the Saint Louis Athletica, had scored in the second minute of play during the 2009 WPS season.

The sequence started on FC Gold Pride's first foray down the field just after kick-off. The Atlanta Beat defense misplayed a ball, FC Gold Pride forward Tiffeny Milbrett ran onto the 50-50 ball in the box, but Solo came out to block her shot. Marta gathered up the rebound about 15 yards from goal and played a square ball to Sinclair who used her right foot to slot the ball in the right side netting, thereby becoming the first WPS player ever to score in the first minute of play.

WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci Featured in NY Times Q&A

WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci was interviewed by NY Times sports business writer Ken Belson during the 2010 World Cup™ to discuss the World Cup, WPS and next year's 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany.

To read the interview, click: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/04/sports/soccer/04seconds.html

President Obama Honors WPS Champions Sky Blue FC at the White House

WASHINGTON, DC & SAN FRANCISCO, CA (July 1, 2010) - President Barack Obama welcomed 2009 Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) champions Sky Blue FC to the White House last Thursday afternoon to honor the team's championship run during the WPS Inaugural Season. In conjunction with the event, the league also announced the launch of its "Get Active!" campaign that supports First Lady Michelle Obama's initiative of fighting childhood obesity across the country.

The event was featured prominently in several news stories including AP and USA Today.

AP

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5in5a-eQRisDRGKPxlvTTlKy2QUEAD9GMJLK01 (including slideshow)

USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2010-07-01-sky-blue-fc-honored_N.htm

WPS Week 13 Preview

Wednesday, July 7

Washington Freedom vs. Sky Blue FC (7 pm ET)

Maryland SoccerPlex, Boyds, MD

- This is the first match-up between the east coast rivals this season since Sky Blue FC ended Washington's 2009 campaign with a first-round playoff victory, 2-1, at the Maryland SoccerPlex last August.

- With the teams in positions 3-4 in the table for much of this season, the game will be a key test in jockeying for home field playoff position.

- These two teams won't face off again until August 11 and will play each other twice in the final six weeks of the season.

Wednesday, July 7

Chicago Red Stars vs. Atlanta Beat (8:30 pm ET)

Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL

- Since replacing Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes, the Red Stars have gone 2-1-3, collecting nine points in the five weeks of play compared to 4 points in the first month of the season.

- These two teams played twice in June with Atlanta winning one and tying once, giving the Beat their first-ever WPS victory.

- The two teams will play against each other twice in the month of July to close out their four-game season series

Saturday, July 10

Chicago Red Stars vs. Sky Blue FC (7:00 pm ET)

Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL

- This is the third time the two teams will meet this season, as Sky Blue FC has claimed a 1-0 victory in both of the previous meetings.

- Chicago goalkeeper Jillian Loyden is currently boasting a 0.83 GAA which makes her tied for first in the league. She has also recorded four shutouts, making her tied for the second-most in 2010. Chicago is boasting the stingiest defense, as they've allowed only 10 goals in 12 games.

- This will be the third game all season in which Sky Blue FC have played without starting goalkeeper Karen Bardsley who is out for several weeks with an injury suffered at the 2010 WPS All-Star Game.

- Sky Blue FC forward Laura Kalmari has tallied four goals this season which has her tied for fifth for the most goals among league leaders.

Sunday, July 11

Boston Breakers vs. Atlanta Beat (6:00pm ET)

Harvard Stadium, Cambridge, MA

- This is the first time the two teams will face each other.

- The Boston Breakers are coming off of their second win of the season and are still looking for their first win at home in 2010.

- Atlanta forward Eniola Aluko has scored four goals, which ranks her tied for fifth in WPS.

- Atlanta goalkeeper Hope Solo is currently boasting a 0.89 GAA which is the third-best in the league.

- Lauren Cheney has scored both times that Boston has notched a victory, tallying goals in the team's opening game and in their 2-1 come-from-behind-victory over Philadelphia on Saturday.

- Atlanta's 4-0 loss to FC Gold Pride was the expansion team's most lopsided loss of the season.

- Prior to Boston's victory, the Breakers 3-game losing streak was the second-longest of the season behind the Beat's five game streak from April 18-June 6.

Sunday, July 11

FC Gold Pride vs. Washington Freedom (6:00 pm ET, FSC)

Pioneer Stadium, Hayward, CA

- This will be the second time the two teams will meet this season, as they tied the previous game 1-1 in FC Gold Pride's final game at Castro Valley Stadium before FC Gold Pride moved to renovated Pioneer Stadium.

- The Pride and the Freedom boast the second- and third-most productive offenses in the league, as they've scored 17 and 19 goals, respectively, behind league leaders Philadelphia.

- Pride forward Marta has scored a league-leading eight goals in 2010.

- Freedom forward Abby Wambach leads the league with seven assists.

- Pride forward Christine Sinclair scored the quickest goal in WPS history last weekend tallying a score against Atlanta just 31 seconds into the game.



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from July 6, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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