Bridgeview, Ill. (April 25, 2009) – The Boston Breakers came in with strong momentum on the heels of back-to-back wins, but saw its streak come to an end in a 4-0 loss to the Chicago Red Stars in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) action Saturday evening at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill. With the win, Chicago (2-0-2) jumps ahead of Boston (2-2-0) into second place in the league standings.

Brittany Klein led the way with a goal and two assists for the Red Stars, while Megan Rapinoe added a goal and an assist.

“Chicago was better in every aspect of the game,” said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco. “We have to extract the lessons learned from this game and get better.”

Carli Lloyd got the scoring started in the 21st minute when she took a low free kick off the feed from Karen Carney from 25 yards out, which redirected off a Breakers defender in the box and bounced harmlessly into the right side of the goal.

Rapinoe made it 2-0 in the 39th minute after she ran into the box from the right side after receiving a pass from near the top of the area by Klein. Rapinoe ran toward goal, cut to her left shot the ball into the upper left corner.

Carney added a third just moments later in the 42nd minute off another assist from Klein and from a similar area inside the box with a shot into the upper left corner.

Klein added a goal of her own in the 52nd minute after a run by Carney down the right side.  Carney sent a low cross along the top of the 18-yard box that was touched by Lindsay Tarpley into the path of Klein, who was had a clear shot into the lower left hand corner of the goal from the top of the area.

The Breakers had an opportunity to grab an early lead in the 5th minute. Alex Scott built the play from the back along right flank and found Amy Rodriguez who ran toward the area. She tried to find Hucles in front of goal but Jönsson covered it up.

Boston also had some late opportunities. First in the 82nd minute, Amy LePeilbet had a header in the center of the area off a Kristine Lilly free kick but it was saved by Jönsson.  A minute later, Lilly ran onto a through ball from Christine Latham into the box, but she was forced to the left and her shot went wide of the lower right post.

Breakers midfielder Kasey Moore cleared two balls off the line in each half, the first in the 14th minute to prevent Klein from giving Chicago the lead with an open net goal from six yards out.

Boston played without WPS co-scoring leader Kelly Smith following her match for the English National Team on Thursday against Norway, although the forward was available.

"If it was a closer game we could have played Kelly, but I didn't want to risk her," said DiCicco. "It is no excuse though. There will be times later on this season when we are going to have to play without her as well."
 
The Breakers return home to face Brazilian three-time reigning FIFA World Player of the Year Marta and the first-place Los Angeles Sol on Saturday, May 2 at Harvard Stadium (7 p.m.). It is the first of back-to-back games between Boston and L.A. as the teams will meet at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on May 10.

Box Score
April 25, 2009
Bridgeview, Ill. – Toyota Park

GOALS 1  2 – Total
Boston 0  0 –  0
Chicago 3  1 –  4

SCORING SUMMARY
First Half – 1, Chicago, Lloyd 1 (Carney), 21st minute. 2, Chicago, Rapinoe 1 (Klein), 39th minute. 3, Chicago, Carney 1 (Klein), 42nd minute.

Second Half – 4, Chicago, Klein 1 (Tarpley), 52nd minute.

STATS
Shots: CHI 20 BOS 8; Shots on Goal: CHI 10 BOS 3; Saves: Caroline Jönsson (CHI) 3, Kristin Luckenbill (BOS) 3, Allison Lipsher (BOS) 2; Corners: CHI 3 BOS 3; Fouls: CHI 16 BOS 6.

LINEUPS
Boston: Kristin Luckenbill (Allison Lipsher, 62nd minute); Alex Scott, Amy LePeilbet, Sue Weber, Heather Mitts; Kasey Moore (Candace Chapman, 62nd minute), Angela Hucles, Kristine Lilly, Stacy Bishop; Kelly Schmedes, Amy Rodriguez (Christine Latham, 46th).

Chicago: Caroline Jönsson; Marian Dalmy, Nikki Krzysik, Ifeoma Dieke, Chioma Igwe; Frida Östberg, Brittany Klein, Carli Lloyd; Karen Carney (Heather Garriock, 61st minute, Ella Maser, 70th minute), Lindsay Tarpley, Megan Rapinoe.

Cautions – Boston, Hucles, 30th minute; Chicago, Dalmy, 74th minute; Chicago, Nikki Krzysik, 82nd minute.

Ejections – none

Weather – 44 degrees, rain.

Officials - R: Veronica Brito; A1: Veronica Perez; A2: Miguel Panduro, Jr.; FO: Stephanie Toth.

Attendance: 4,118