Boxscore (All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.)

BOYDS, Md. (May 3, 2009) – Saint Louis Athletica's three goals weren't enough to keep the Washington Freedom from mounting a late-match attack, scoring two goals in the final 15 minutes to see the game end in a 3-3 tie.
 
After having gone three games without scoring a goal, Athletica (0-2-2, 2 pts.) got on the scoreboard in just the 7th minute. Freedom goalkeeper Katie Jo Spisak made a blind save on a Melissa Tancredi shot but the rebound fell to Daniela who hammered it into the back of the net for the franchise's first ever goal. Daniela and teammates celebrated with a samba dance.
 
The Freedom (1-2-2, 5 pts.) answered back in the 29th minute when Sonia Bompastor headed in a ball from Jill Gilbeau. It was Bompastor’s first goal with the Freedom while it was Gilbeau’s second assist.
 
Four minutes before halftime Daniela made a one on one move to create space 25 yards out from goal and her strike was hard and true finding the upper corner of the net as it streaked past a stranded Spisak.

In the 69th minute, Kerri Hanks, a second half Athletica substitute, played a through ball to England’s Eniola Aluko who used her pace to get onto the end of it. Aluko reached the ball in the penalty area and her one-timer to the far post beat Spisak cleanly giving Athletica a comfortable two goal margin with just over 20 minutes to play. It wouldn’t last.

“I would have taken the win rather than score,” said Aluko. “The draw took away any joy that came with that goal. Everyone is very disappointed. To go 3-1 up in any game and lose it in the 90th minute and lose Daniela is very tough to take.”

Washington cut the lead to 3-2 just 10 minutes after Athletica’s goal as a Lisa De Vanna header found the back of the net for her first goal with the Freedom. De Vanna was set up by Abby Wambach, her second assist of the season.

On the ensuing kickoff, Wambach slipped trying to make a tackle and got tangled up with Daniela, the latter going down with a knee injury. After being carried off the field on a stretcher, Daniela was taken to the hospital as a precaution for the injury.
 
Wambach received a yellow card for the play. “We’re real sorry that Daniela went down,” Wambach said. “I never want to be on that end of a collision, never want to see a player go down and I sure hope she’s alright considering especially what I’ve been going through the last nine months.”

Needing a final goal to salvage a tie, Bompastor equalized in the first minute of stoppage time. Bompastor got to the end of a long Cat Whitehill free kick and out jumped all Athletica defenders to head the ball over the top of Hope Solo who was stranded on her line. The goal was Bompastor’s second of the match.

“It’s one of those games,” Wambach said. “If it bounces your way you can get momentum, the game changes. I’m really proud of our team because it’s not easy with 20 minutes left to come back from a two-goal deficit and at least walk away with a point.”

Saint Louis Athletica return to action at home on Saturday, May 9th against FC Gold Pride at 8pm ET/7pm CT, and will be celebrating Civic Worker's Appreciation night and Mother's Day.  Washington Freedom will play their next game at RFK Stadium against Sky Blue FC on Saturday, May 23rd at 5pm ET.  Tickets are available.

Boxscore (All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.)

QUOTES

Abby Wambach
On lessons learned in comeback
“I think the things that we take away from this game are all positive in terms of coming back from a two-goal deficit. Sonia, obviously, basically carried us today – put us on her back and carried us. Lisa came in, scores a big goal. I think if we were able to break this game down it was a will of who was going to let the last goal in.”

Jim Gabarra
On Sonia Bompastor and Lisa De Vanna scoring on headers
“You never expect to have three goals scored from players heads and Abby not be one of them. Lisa, that’s probably the weakest part of her game so it was kind of nice for her to get her first goal off her head.”

Tina Ellertson
On the tie
Everyone fought hard in those last minutes. Washington kept pressing and they capitalized on the changes we were forced to make because of my coming off and then Daniela going down. We can’t lapse at any point though. We have to stay focused for 90 minutes.