Washington Freedom lose momentum, lack service in loss to Boston

By Joe Dougherty, Potomac Soccer Wire Staff Writer/Youth Editor

The two words of the day for the Washington Freedom on Saturday: momentum and service.

Washington had the former for a while – then lost it – and was missing the latter for much of the evening as the Freedom fell to Kristine Lilly and the Boston Breakers, 3-1 at the Maryland SoccerPlex.

Boston goalkeeper Kristen Luckenbill saved Abby Wambach’s penalty kick in the 71st minute, and the Breakers netted two highlight film goals in the final 15 minutes to drop Washington to 0-2-1 overall. Boston improved to 2-1-0.

After a sluggish first half in which both teams battled between the penalty areas, Kelly Smith put the Breakers ahead from the spot in the 56th minute after Freedom goalkeeper Briana Scurry came off her line a bit aggressively and slammed into Virginia Beach native Angela Hucles, sending the midfielder to the ground and giving the young WPS league its first ever penalty kick.

But holding midfielder Lori Lindsey tied the game at 1-1 with a stunning 20-yard left-footed blast in the upper right corner.

The Freedom continued to press, and in the 71st minute was rewarded with a penalty kick of its own when a free kick from midfielder Sonia Bompastor struck the hand of a Breaker defender. With no hesitation, Wambach stepped up to take the kick. Momentum: Washington.

“We go ahead 2-1 and the game’s probably over,” said Freedom coach Jim Gabarra. Wambach – who Gabarra expected to go to the right corner with her shot – instead went left, and Luckenbill -- who has spent time in the U.S. National Team training camp with Wambach in the past -- moved as if knowing it, diving hard to her right to push the low, hard shot wide of the net.

Momentum: Boston.

While the Freedom seemed deflated after the missed opportunity, Boston recovered quickly and just four minutes later, went ahead on Christine Latham’s expertly executed far-post header over a helpless Scurry. Defender Alex Scott provided the perfectly placed cross from the right side, and Latham – who had entered the game just minutes before – lofted her header over Scurry and inside the far post netting.

Washington looked to push forward, but a Boston counterattack produced an 80th minute corner kick. Hucles, who played college soccer at Virginia, calmly collected the rebound 20 yards from goal and ripped a right-footed shot inside the far post to put the game away. While Latham had the service, Wambach did not. Boston defender and national team star Heather Mitts was surprised at the lack of crosses sent into the box by Washington’s wide players.

“We were surprised, especially considering that we average about 5’-4” in the back,” Mitts said. “We expected more balls in the air to Abby’s head, but luckily they didn’t do that. But then again, Abby’s got a lot of offensive weapons.”

“Abby’s great in the air and dangerous on the field,” Hucles said. “Anytime you can minimize her, that’s a good thing.”

Gabarra acknowledged that there’s “room for improvement. Our wide defenders need to do better with the service chances they get. But you can’t put it all on them. You need to have the runs there as well. But it will come. It’s just a matter of time until it all gets together.”

The Freedom next face FC Gold Pride (San Francisco Bay area) on Sunday, April 26 and are next at home on Sunday, May 3 against St. Louis Athletica.

Freedom Notes

Hucles goal was an excellent example of how to properly prepare a ball before shooting. Chasing it down at the corner of the penalty area, her first touch was played toward the goal, allowing her to turn her hips to her target: the far post. “They were slow to get on me, and I wanted to focus on getting a good first touch and getting it on goal in time.” The result – a screamer inside the far post…

Bompastor and Lisa De Vanna, who routinely torched the Chicago Red Stars in last week’s 1-1 tie at the SoccerPlex, did not have the same success Saturday. Much of it, no doubt was due to the experience of Boston’s outside defenders – national team starter Mitts on the left, and former Arsenal Ladies defender Scott on the right. Both backs had the speed and insight to close both attackers down, although Bompastor had some success over Scott at times…

Wambach’s competitive nature is well known, and on display Saturday. While Gabarra said the coaches have not designated one player to take penalty kicks, Wambach certainly wanted to net her first goal of the season, stepping up to take the shot without hesitation. The miss won’t help her demeanor. “She has to be patient,” Gabarra said. “As frustrating as it is, she still has a way to go physically (after recovering from a broken leg last year). Once she gets one in, she won’t put so much pressure on herself.”

The match featured five former University of North Carolina Tarheels: midfielder Allie Long and defender Cat Whitehill for Washington, and midfielder Maggie Tomecka, Lilly and defender Ariel Harris…

Both teams brought professional experience to the table, with 14 players overall having competed in the defunct WUSA. For Washington: Krisin Dedycker, Emily Janss, Lori Lindsey, Homare Sawa, Briana Scurry and Wambach. For Boston: Nancy Augustyniak Goffi, Abby Crumpton, Hucles, Latham, Lilly, Luckenbill, Mitts and Smith…

Freedom WUSA players Mia Hamm and Siri Mullenix will be honored by the Washington Freedom on Sunday, May 3 when the team hosts Saint Louis Athletica at the Maryland SoccerPlex (6 p.m.) Hamm and Mullenix will be part of the first class inducted into the team’s Hall of Freedom, which honors former players and staff for his/her contributions to the franchise…

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About the author:
Joe Dougherty is a long-time player, coach and soccer columnist in Northern Virginia. He played his rec and travel soccer with Braddock Road Youth Club, where he also coached and served as tournament director. Joe also coached with McLean Soccer Club, Great Falls Soccer Club and VISTA. He currently coaches the VSA Heat (rising) U13 girls team. Joe has written frequently about soccer in The Connections Newspapers and Journal Newspapers, and is excited to be a member of the Potomac Soccer Wire team. He lives in Haymarket with his wife and three kids, two of which play travel soccer with VSA. The third is a budding gymnast aiming to follow in Paul Hamm’s footsteps. Joe has a USSF “C” license and holds the NSCAA National Diploma. Joe can be reached at joedoc@potomacsoccerwire.com