Washington Freedom ends five game losing streak with 2-0 win over Philadelphia Independence

Washington Freedom and Philadelphia Independence played a competitive game for fans who braved the DC-area heat and lightning storm at the Maryland SoccerPlex to support their home team.  Freedom started the game in an action-packed fashion with four corner kicks within the first 14 minutes of play. In the 17th minute, a Philadelphia defender took Lene Mykjåland down leading to a subsequent penalty kick by Abby Wambach which was saved by Independence goalkeeper Val Henderson.
 
A lightning and rain storm moved into the area in the 32nd minute and delayed play for 46 minutes.  The game resumed at 8:55pm and started off with a free kick by Cat Whitehill that soared over the net. In the 39th minute, Sonia Bompastor delivered a corner kick to Abby Wambach who headed the ball into the back of the net putting the Freedom overtop the Independence 1-0.
 
Wambach scored Freedom\'s second goal, again with a header, just two minutes after the first with a great shot from a long centerfield service by Cat Whitehill. With an extra minute of stoppage time added to the first half of the game, Freedom headed into the locker room with a 2-0 lead at the half.
 
The second half started with Freedom controlling play in the Independence end.  In the 50th minute, Rebecca Moros made a fierce run forward sending the ball flying past the post.  A close call in the 55th minute came from Philadelphia midfielder Joanna Lohman, but her shot flew over the top of the goal as well.  The half proceeded with Wambach shots on goal in the 61st and 68th minute and shots on goal in the 68th minute and 71st minute by Philadelphia Forwards Danesha Adams and Amy Rodriguez respectively.  In the 79th minute, a yellow card was issued to Freedom player Allie Long for delay of game.
 
The game winded down with hustled play by both sides although neither team scored in the second half.  The game ended with Freedom on top 2-0 ending their 10-game winless streak.

 
PHILADELPHIA INDEPENDENCE VS. WASHINGTON FREEDOM POST-GAME QUOTES
 
Abby Wambach, Washington Freedom Forward
 
"We have to play our best when it comes down to it.  Our team made each other proud tonight.
 
"It is always an honor to have a captain band on your arm.  Just because I am wearing it doesn\'t mean there aren\'t other leaders on this team and tonight it showed.
 
"We have to come out and play hard all 90 minutes.  It has become a recurring theme for us to sort of die in the second half and that was not the case tonight.
 
"We had a five game losing streak and we wanted to play with pride.  We all had each other\'s backs and you could feel it.
 
"After the lightning break, there was a shift.  We could have scored 15 goals after that."
 
 
Ashlyn Harris, Washington Freedom Goalkeeper
 
"I\'m very proud of everyone.  All of the players made my life a lot easier tonight and I really appreciate it.
 
"Tonight we showed a lot of grit and a lot of heart.  That is why we came out with a win.  I am thrilled and ready for the next game; ready to play.
 
"We came out ready and focused and it showed.
 
"Other teams think because I am a rookie they can keep raining balls on me and I will make a mistake, but I am going to make big saves."
 
 
Jim Gabarra, Washington Freedom Head Coach
 
"The bounces really went our way tonight.
 
"We were ready to go out and really show that we are serious about winning and serious about playing the game.
 
"Wambach was able to make the shots we needed to win and it was great to have Ashlyn there being solid."
 
 
Mark Washo, Washington Freedom President and General Manager
 
"We have been facing a little adversity recently. It is nice to have that behind us.
 
"There was a tough delay and we really appreciate the fans sticking around.  That was really great.  [To the fans] Thank you for being here.
 
"We have six more games to go and 18 more points at hand.  We have to keep it rolling in the right direction."
 
 
Val Henderson, Philadelphia Independence Goalkeeper
 
"In our last game, Wambach took a penalty kick and she beat me.  I knew another one would be just as difficult...and it was.
 
"I let the team down on my part.
 
"Freedom have nothing to lose.  They had to get themselves back in it.  The season is by no means over."
 
 
Paul Riley, Philadelphia Independence Coach
 
"Today all four of our midfielders were bad on the same day unfortunately and we could just never get moving. Amy Rodriguez didn\'t get good service and we didn\'t get good service to the front line.
 
"I thought Sawa was very good for them tonight.  Abby did a good job tonight. She got loose.  We didn\'t do a good job on Abby.
 
"Their midfield was better. Huffman and Long they just controlled the midfield and the tempo of the game. Their back line was good. Cat had a good game, Becky had a good game.
 
"We made two catastrophic mistakes on the two set pieces and we paid the price.
 
They\'re all playoff games from here on in. Every single game is a cup final. You can see Freedom\'s emotions tonight. They treated it like a cup final, we treat it like just a regular season [game] and that\'s unacceptable."

Washington Freedom (5-8-5) vs. Philadelphia Independence (8-6-3)
Wednesday, August 4, 2010 — Maryland SoccerPlex
FINAL

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