Carson, Calif. (May 10, 2009) – In a match featuring two of the league’s biggest offensive stars, it was the defenses that took center stage as the Boston Breakers held the Los Angeles Sol to a 0-0 draw on the road in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) action on Sunday afternoon at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

The result leaves the top of the standings unchanged with Los Angeles (3-1-2) and Boston (3-2-1) in first and second place with 11 and 10 points, respectively, from six matches. Boston is two points clear of third-place Chicago, although the Red Stars have a game in hand.

“Getting the point on the road is not a bad result,” said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco. “I’m not totally satisfied, but I think it was probably the right result. It was an even game and hard-fought by both teams. I’m proud of the way our players responded in the second half. It was a little hot out here for us and they stood strong through the end, which is a compliment to our fitness staff.”

Despite the league’s top two goal scorers on display, Boston’s Kelly Smith (four goals this season) and Los Angeles’ Marta (three), both defenses kept a clean sheet. Boston's Amy LePeilbet and the Breakers back line were instrumental in warding off the intentions of Sol forwards Marta and Han Duan, while the Los Angeles kept Smith off the scoresheet for the first time in WPS play.

The Breakers held an 11-8 shot advantage in the game, with the most pressure coming in the second half. The Sol outshot Boston, 7-5, in the first half, although both teams managed to hit the woodwork. 

First it was Los Angeles forward Han Duan, who was one-on-one with Breakers keeper Kristin Luckenbill, but the Chinese international hit the post with her effort in the 39th minute. Just before the break, Boston’s Christine Latham hit the top of the crossbar with a header that went out of bounds.

The Breakers came out strong in the second half, and looked close to grabbing a late winner on one of a series of set pieces. LePeilbet had a ball cleared off the line after a header with less than five minutes remaining. Kristine Lilly, Kasey Moore and Smith each also got on the end of services late, but were all defended successfully by the Sol.

Today's contest was a rematch from last weekend in Boston when the Breakers handed Los Angeles  its first loss of the season, 2-1. The teams will face each other once more in the final match of the regular season, August 9 in Boston.

The Breakers return home to face the Washington Freedom on Sunday, May 17. The team will honor former star Maren Meinert at halftime by inducting her as the first member to the Breakers “Pillars of Excellence”. Meinert played for the WUSA’s Boston Breakers from 2001-03 and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2003. For more information about the Boston Breakers, go the www.bostonbreakers.com

Box Score
May 10, 2009
Home Depot Center – Carson, Calif.

GOALS 1  2  – Total
Boston 0  0  –   0
Los Angeles 0  0  –   0

Scoring Summary
First Half:
None

Second Half:
None

Stats
Shots: LA 8 BOS 11; Shots on Goal: LA 1 BOS 3; Saves: Karina LeBlanc (LA) 3 Kristin Luckenbill (BOS) 1; Corners: LA 3 BOS 3; Fouls: LA 18 BOS 16.

Lineups
LOS ANGELES Karina LeBlanc; Brittany Bock, Stephanie Cox, Martina Franko, Manya Makoski (Katie Larkin, 46th minute), Aly Wagner (Camile Abily, 77th minute), Shannon Boxx, Aya Miyama, Allison Falk; Marta, Han Duan.

BOSTON: Kristin Luckenbill; Alex Scott, Amy LePeilbet, Sue Weber, Heather Mitts (Nancy Augustyniak-Goffi, 78th minute); Angela Hucles, Kristine Lilly, Stacy Bishop (Kasey Moore, 85th minute), Kelly Smith; Kelly Schmedes, Christine Latham (Amy Rodriguez, 51st minute).

Misconduct Summary                                                                                              
Cautions:
Boston -  Hucles, 50th minute; Augustyniak-Goffi, 89th minute.
Los Angeles - Boxx, 79th minute; Abily, 90th+2 minute.