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WPS Weekly

August 17, 2010 - Women's Professional Soccer (WPS) News Release


After another offensive week for WPS in which 14 goals were scored, two teams continue to pull away from the bottom half of the table, while FC Gold Pride inches closer to the regular season title. The Boston Breakers and Philadelphia Independence ended WPS Week 18 with victories, as they battle for second place and the right to host the WPS Super Semifinal on September 23.

Boston continued their sizzling run since the start of July with an offensive assault on Sky Blue FC to win 4-0 - the team's biggest margin of victory in its WPS history and only the fourth time in the two-year league history that a WPS team has won by a four-goal margin. Four different Breakers scored as the Breakers look to keep pace with the expansion Philadelphia Independence for the second spot in the league. Philadelphia's trade for Amy Rodriguez has continued to pay off this season, as she was named WPS Player of the Week for the third time following her Week 18 performances. During the midweek 2-1 win at Chicago, Rodriguez scored the first goal of the game just 12 minutes in, and in the weekend contest at home against the Atlanta Beat, Rodriguez showed her versatility with two assists that helped the Independence come back for a 3-2 victory. Philadelphia now has three players among the top six league leaders in assists.

Just as the Breakers and Independence continue to show their offensive prowess, FC Gold Pride struggled again to get on the board. The 0-0 draw with Washington at home on Saturday was their third straight 0-0 result and keeps them scoreless through 271 minutes of play. Despite having two of the top five scorers in the league, FC Gold Pride has struggled to put the ball in the back of the net in the month of August as their lead over Philadelphia narrowed to six points. FC Gold Pride has one game in hand on their cross-country rivals, as the two will clash in the final game of the regular season on September 11.

The battle for the fourth and final position in the WPS Playoffs continues to be close between the remaining four teams in the table. Washington and Sky Blue drew during their Wednesday contest and following the Freedom's draw against FC Gold Pride and Sky Blue's loss to Boston, Washington is tied with New Jersey for the fourth spot with 22 points. The two face off again August 28 in what will surely have huge playoff implications, as well as the decider in the head-to-head tiebreaker between the two. After the close loss to Philadelphia, Chicago trails both Sky Blue FC and Washington by a single point, making Thursday's contest at the Maryland SoccerPlex against the Freedom a massive game for the Red Stars playoff hopes.

And despite the tough defeat at the hands of the Independence, Atlanta still sits only five points behind a playoff position at 17 points with five games remaining. The Beat have a tough stretch with two games against Boston and one against first-place FC Gold Pride in the coming two weeks. As the clock ticks down each and every match now has major playoff implications that will make for exciting finish to the 2010 WPS Regular Season.

Wednesday

Philadelphia 2, Chicago 1

Sky Blue FC 1, Washington 1

Saturday

FC Gold Pride 0, Washington 0

Sunday

Philadelphia 3, Atlanta 2

Boston 4, Sky Blue FC 0

League Leaders

Goals

Marta (FC Gold Pride) 13

Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia) 12

Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers) 10

Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom) 9

Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride) 8

Assists

Abby Wambach (Washington Freedom) 8

Lori Lindsey (Philadelphia Independence) 7

Christine Sinclair (FC Gold Pride) 7

Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence) 6

Sonia Bompastor (Washington Freedom) 5

Caroline Seger (Philadelphia Independence) 5

Saves

Hope Solo (Atlanta Beat) 80

Erin McLeod (Washington Freedom) 68

Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride) 58

Jillian Loyden (Chicago Red Stars) 58

Karen Bardsley (Sky Blue FC) 56

Philadelphia's Rodriguez is WPS's Week 18 Player of the Week

U.S. national team forward Amy Rodriguez is Women's Professional Soccer's Player of the Week for Week 18 after leading the expansion Philadelphia Independence to the brink of playoff berth with victories over the Chicago Red Stars and Atlanta Beat.

Rodriguez scored the first goal in the Independence's 2-1 triumph Wednesday at Chicago, then assisted the tying and winning goals as Philly roared back from a three-goal deficit at home against Boston for a 3-2 victory.

The goal was her 12th of the season, one off FC Gold Pride star Marta's league-leading total of 13, and her assists Sunday were on Tina DiMartino's second goal of the night and Joanna Lohman's 81st-minute winner. Philadelphia, at 10-6-4, can clinch a postseason berth with a loss or tie by Washington on Thursday night, or can clinch a playoff berth and a home playoff game with a win or tie Sunday against Sky Blue FC.

This is the third time this season the former USC All-American has been honored as Player of the Week -- she also won in Weeks 8 and 11 -- and the sixth time an Independence player has captured the award. Lori Lindsey won in Week 3, Danesha Adams in Week 10 and Caroline Seger in Week 15.

Only five-time winner Marta and four-time recipient Abby Wambach of Washington have been Player of the Week more times than Rodriguez.

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)

Week 17: Kelly Smith (Boston Breakers)

Week 18: Amy Rodriguez (Philadelphia Independence)

Playoff Scenarios - Week 19

FC Gold Pride - Has clinched a home playoff game. Can clinch at least WPS Super Semifinal with a win on Sunday and a Boston tie or loss on Saturday. Can clinch at least a tie for first in regular season with a win on Sunday combined with a loss by Philadelphia and tie or loss by Boston, but could still be edged out mathematically by Philadelphia on goal differential in final standings, so the right to host WPS Championship cannot be clinched outright this weekend.

Philadelphia Independence - Will clinch playoff berth with a loss or tie by Washington on Thursday. Will clinch a playoff berth and a home playoff game with a tie or win against Sky Blue FC on Sunday.

Boston Breakers - Has a few different ways to clinch playoff berth. The most obvious is that Boston can clinch a playoff berth with a tie between Chicago and Washington on Thursday, combined with a win on Saturday. Can also clinch with a win on Saturday combined with a Washington loss on Thursday and a Chicago loss or tie on Sunday.

The other four teams cannot clinch in Week 19 nor can they be eliminated from playoffs in Week 19.

Boston Has Second-Best Crowd of 2010; FC Gold Pride Set Attendance Mark at Pioneer Stadium

As WPS heads into its final month, two games showed promising attendance in Week 18. Last year, WPS posted week-over-week increases in attendance from Week 17 through the final week of the season and the 2009 WPS Championship. This year, the playoff countdown has begun with the Boston Breakers having 6,108 come through the turnstiles at Harvard Stadium in their 4-0 victory over Sky Blue FC. The game was the second-best attendance in the league in 2010 and the 13th-highest WPS crowd ever since the league launched in March 2009.

Across the country on the west coast, FC Gold Pride drew 3,328 fans to Pioneer Stadium on the campus of Cal State, East Bay in FC Gold Pride's match against Washington. It was the best crowd at Pioneer Stadium since the stadium's opening day on June 19 drew 3,588.

All-Time Top WPS Attendances

3/29/09 Los Angeles Sol vs. Washington Freedom Home Depot Center 14,832

5/2/09 Boston Breakers vs. Los Angeles Sol Harvard Stadium 8,031

8/2/09 Chicago Red Stars vs. Los Angeles Sol Toyota Park 7,959

5/9/10 Atlanta Beat vs. Sky Blue FC KSU Soccer Stadium 7,248

8/22/09 Los Angeles Sol vs. Sky Blue FC Home Depot Center 7,218

8/9/09 Boston Breakers vs. Los Angeles Sol Harvard Stadium 6,631

4/5/09 FC Gold Pride vs. Boston Breakers Buck Shaw Stadium 6,459

5/30/09 Los Angeles Sol vs. Saint Louis Athletica Home Depot Center 6,288

5/24/09 FC Gold Pride vs. Los Angeles Sol Buck Shaw Stadium 6,280

5/10/09 Los Angeles Sol vs. Boston Breakers Home Depot Center 6,210

4/19/09 Los Angeles Sol FC vs. Gold Pride Home Depot Center 6,119

5/15/09 Los Angeles Sol vs. Sky Blue FC Home Depot Center 6,115

8/15/10 Boston Breakers vs. Sky Blue FC Harvard Stadium 6,108

Philadelphia Sets All-Time Goal Mark

In its expansion year with the league, the Philadelphia Independence have set the new mark for offensive firepower in the league, moving its goal total for the season to 35 during its 3-2 victory over Atlanta Sunday and eclipsing the previous mark of 32 goals set by the Washington Freedom during the 2009 WPS Inaugural Season which featured 20 regular season games.

The Freedom averaged 1.6 goals per game for a total of 32 goals during the 2009 regular season. The 2010 WPS Season is a 24-game season but the Independence have scored 35 goals during the first 20 games with an average scoring rate of 1.75 goals per game unquestionably making them the current record holders for goals in a season. FC Gold Pride currently has 30 goals on the year, but has not scored in three consecutive games.

Atlanta Fires Head Coach

Kennesaw, GA (August 17, 2010) - Atlanta Beat General Manager Shawn McGee today announced that head coach Gareth O'Sullivan and assistant coach Robbie Nicholson have been relieved of their coaching duties with the Atlanta Beat effective immediately. Acting as interim head coach is James Galanis.

"We truly respect Gareth and Robbie and thank them both for everything they have contributed to this organization,"said McGee. "We wish them all the best and believe our talented players will perform well as they contend for a playoff berth this inaugural season."

The Atlanta Beat have five games remaining and are currently five points out of the playoff position with games still left against both Sky Blue FC and Washington, each of whom are chasing the fourth and final playoff berth.

WPS Week 19 Preview

Thursday, August 19

Washington Freedom vs. Chicago Red Stars (7:30pm ET)

Maryland SoccerPlex, Boyds, MD

- This will be the third match-up between the two sides with more more game to follow between the two on September 5 at Toyota Park. Each of the previous two matches ended in a draw.

- Playoff implications are huge as Chicago sits one point behind Washington for the final WPS Playoff spot in the current WPS standings.

- Neither team picked up a victory last week, as Washington grabbed two points off two draws, and Chicago fell to Philadelphia, 2-1, midweek.

- Chicago ranks last in total team offense and Washington sits in last for total team defense on the season. The Red Stars rank second on total team defense thanks in part to Jillian Loyden's 1.11 goals against average.

- This will be the Red Stars' final road game of the 2010 season. They close out the season with a three game home stand.

Saturday, August 21

Boston Breakers vs. Atlanta Beat (5:00pm ET)

Veterans Stadium, New Britain, CT

- The Breakers come in 4-0-1 in their five previous matches and 7-1-1 since July 1, while Atlanta has lost their last three contests following a four-game unbeaten streak.

- This will be the third match between the two teams. Boston has won both previous match-ups including a 2-0 victory over Atlanta at Harvard Stadium on August 4.

- Kelly Smith of the Breakers comes in to the match third in WPS scoring with 10 goals on the season.

-Atlanta is 1-3-1 in their past five road matches. However, this will be Boston's first match played at Veterans Stadium in New Britain, Connecticut as Harvard Stadium is unavailable for the rest of the WPS season.

- Boston will be without Leslie Osborne for the remainder of the season following a season-ending injury (fractured collarbone).

- Since acquiring Hope Solo, Atlanta's defense has improved to sixth in the league with a 1.47 goals against average. Solo also is second in shutouts with five on the season.

Sunday, August 22

Sky Blue FC vs. Philadelphia Independence (4pm ET - The Comcast Network)

Yurcak Field, Piscataway, NJ

- This marks the final meeting of the season between New Jersey-Turnpike rivals Sky Blue FC and Philadelphia. The Independence hold a 3-0-0 advantage over Sky Blue FC, outscoring them 10-3.

- Sky Blue FC currently is tied at 22 points with Washington in the race for the final playoff spot. Philadelphia can clinch a playoff spot with a Washington loss or tie on Thursday night against Chicago and can clinch home game in the playoffs with a win or draw on Sunday.

- Philadelphia's Amy Rodriguez (12) is second in scoring behind FC Gold Pride's Marta (13) and fourth in assists (6).

- Sky Blue FC only holds one victory at home this season, coming in the season opener against the Red Stars. Their home record is 1-4-3, the worst home record in WPS.

- The top-ranked Independence offense average 1.75 goals per game and are coming off a comeback victory over the Atlanta Beat scoring the final three goals after being down 2-0 in the first half.

Sunday, August 22

Chicago Red Stars vs. FC Gold Pride (6pm ET - Fox Soccer Channel)

Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL

- The match will be the final meeting this season between the two teams. The close series stands at 1-1-1.

- FC Gold Pride has slipped to second among offensive production in the league following their three-match scoreless streak. The scoreless streak currently stands at 271 minutes.

- This will mark the first match of Chicago's three-game home stand to finish out the season.

- FC Gold Pride keeper Nicole Barnhart extended her league lead in shutouts to seven following the 0-0 draw with Washington Freedom last week.

-The Red Stars hold a 3-4-2 record at Toyota Park this season. FC Gold Pride are 6-2-1 on the road - the best road record in the league - and are unbeaten in their last five road trips with their last road loss coming at Toyota Park on May 29.

- Marta continues to lead the league in scoring in the chase for the PUMA Golden Boot with 13 goals - one more than Philadelphia's Amy Rodriguez - but like her team has not scored in three consecutive games.



Women's Professional Soccer Stories from August 17, 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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