July 9, 2010
WPS THIS WEEK – PART II
A look at the weekend’s games

Chicago Red Stars (3-5-5, 14 pts) vs. Sky Blue FC (5-4-3, 18 pts), 7:00 pm ET,
Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL
Two teams coming off midweek draws meet at Toyota Park on Saturday. The Chicago Red Stars, who hammered out 18 shots but managed only a single goal in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Atlanta, have one of the league’s most vigorous, and least productive, offenses. Since opening day, they have seemed on the verge of a breakthrough on attack, and might get the break they need from Sky Blue, whose first- and second-string goalkeepers are both on the injured list. Current netminder Kristin Luckenbill is experienced, but still shaking off the rust after having not been a regular starter since mid-2009. Ella Masar has scored three goals in the Red Stars’ last three games, including a brace against the Breakers on June 25 and the equalizer against the Beat on Wednesday. Still, coach Omid Namazi is looking for more scoring from forward Kosovare Asllani, rookie Casey Noguiera and Brazilian veteran Cristiane to help his team mount a push for the playoffs. Sky Blue slogged to a scoreless draw with Washington Wednesday night, on a sultry night that left both teams at less than their best. Luckenbill made four saves, starting with a crucial third-minute stop on Washington’s Lene Mykjaland, and got some clutch help from Christie Rampone, who blocked a shot off the goal line. Italian striker Patrizia Panico made her WPS debut, and created a solid scoring chance for Laura Kalmari with her first touch of the ball. The teams have met twice before this season, with Sky Blue taking both decisions 1-0. A win would leave the defending champs tied with Philadelphia for second place.


Sunday, July 11
Boston Breakers (2-5-4, 10 pts) vs. Atlanta Beat (1-6-4, 7 pts), 6:00pm ET,
Harvard Stadium, Cambridge, MA
If the Boston Breakers and Atlanta Beat hope to squeak into the WPS playoffs, they need every point they can get through the rest of the season. Boston took advantage of a second-half collapse by the host Philadelphia Independence to snatch their second win of the season, 2-1, last Sunday, but have yet to win at home this season. Lauren Cheney opened the scoring with a stunner of a goal in the opening minutes of the second half, and Kristine Lilly closed things out on a breakaway in the 84th. Cheney has scored in both Boston wins this season. The win put the brakes on a three-game skid, the second longest losing streak in the league this season behind Atlanta’s five straight losses from April 18-June 6. The Beat salvaged a point from Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Chicago, thanks in no small part to goalkeeper Hope Solo’s nine saves. The U.S. National Team netminder is one of the best in the league, despite a goals-against average (1.50) puffed up by last weekend’s 4-0 rout by FC Gold Pride. Joanna Rasmussen scored her first goal of the season against the Red Stars.


FC Gold Pride (8-3-1, 25 pts) vs. Washington Freedom (4-3-5, 17 pts), 6:00 pm ET, Pioneer Stadium, Hayward, CA (FSC)
FC Gold Pride have a secure hold on the top spot in the standings, especially with second-place Philadelphia idle this week, and will probably have fresher legs than Washington, who battled to a scoreless draw with Sky Blue FC in 92-degree heat on Wednesday before hopping a cross-country flight for Sunday’s match. The two most productive offenses in WPS (17 goals for Gold pride and 19 for the Freedom) played ton a 1-1 tie in their only other meeting this season, and Washington will have home field advantage for the final two games of the series. Gold Pride also has the league’s most productive goal scoring tandem in Marta (8) and Canadian international Christine Sinclair (5), who scored the fastest goal in WPS history 31 seconds into last weekend’s 4-0 win over Atlanta. Washington’s Abby Wambach also has five goals, as well as a league-leading seven assists.