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Freedom start title defense with season opening win

10 May, 2008

The Washington Freedom opened the defense of their 2007 W-League title with a 3-1 win over the Long Island Rough Riders in their season opener.  After the long trip up to Michael Tully Field in Long Island the Freedom started off strong, controlling much of the play and possession.

Long Island native Christie Welsh opened the scoring in the on the 6 minute mark after some great combination play and a quick switch of the point of attack when Emily Janss played the ball into Welsh, who turned her defender the wrong way to finish from 12 yards out.  The Freedom continued to press through the first half but finished the half leading 1-0.

The second half continued with much of the same theme until the 65th minute when Lori Lindsay took the ball down the left side of the field to cut a nice cross back to Sarah Huffman who lost her defenders well to slot the ball into the net from 8 yards out.  Eight minutes later Welsh found the net again after Lori Lindsay again played the roll of the supplier after she found herself free and behind the Rough Rider defense for a 40 yard run.  She took on the Rough Rider keeper who did well to keep Lindsay from shooting and again found herself on the left side of the box and cut another great cross into Welsh who finished off the play with a great goal in the 73rd minute.

Long Island's Pardini found the back of the net in the 80th minute off a ball from McCabe after the Freedom made several changes to their backline.  In the end, a lone goal was all Long Island could come up with and the match ended 3-1 in favor of the Freedom.  The Freedom were able to celebrate in front of a great group of Freedom fans, many from friends and family from Long Island to see the Freedom's New York natives, Christie Welsh, Rebecca Moros and Alex Singer.

"Overall it was a great start to the season.  We played very well at times and maintained posession through the match.  We needed to manage the end of the game better, but this result was exactly what we needed to start the season off on the right foot," said Coach Gabarra.

The Freedom head to the Rocky Mountains this week as they will be playing a double header with the Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park against the Fort Collins Force as a part of the annual "Women's Soccer Celebration."  The game will be at 4:30pm on Thursday, May 15.  The Freedom will then play Real Colorado on Friday, May 16 before heading home.  The Freedom have one more away match on May 24 at the Fredericksburg Lady Gunner's at 5:30pm.  The team's home opener is on June 1, 6:00pm against the Boston Renegades at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Maryland.

Game Summary

        Wash. Freedom            Long Island
Goals         3                                1
Shots        19                               6
Saves        3                                12
Corners      6                                1 

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