Michael Pimentel | isiphotos.com

FC Gold Pride's Christine Sinclair scored her fifth goal of the season in her team's 1-1 tie with the Boston Breakers.

Boxscore (all statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial)

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (June 17, 2009) -- The Boston Breakers and FC Gold Pride played to a 1-1 tie Wednesday evening at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Mass.  The tie coupled with Sky Blue FC's 1-0 victory over the Chicago Red Stars on Wednesday left the Breakers (3-4-3, 12 points) and FC Gold Pride (3-5-3, 12 points) locked in a three-way tie with the New Jersey club for fourth place in the WPS standings. 

"A point on the road is always good,” said FC Gold Pride Head Coach Albertin Montoya. “We would prefer three points especially since we're batting with Boston for the fourth place spot.  We had an exceptional first half and created some great chances.  In the second half Boston came out with a lot of energy and high pressed and made it a little difficult to play.  It took us all the way until they scored a goal for us to get settled in and start playing good soccer again. It’s interesting how the game works out, they get a goal, and we start playing well again.  At the end of the day you have to be pleased to go on a long trip and getting a point.”

“Anytime you go on the road and get a point you can walk away with your head held high,” said FC Gold Pride Assistant Coach Jay Cooney. “Today we were in a good position to get three points. Our team fought back after conceding the tying goal. I think we controlled a good portion of the game on the road and on a different surface [turf].  We did well, I think we're a little disappointed not to walk away with a win.”

The Pride took control of the game in the first half, creating numerous scoring opportunities and out shot the Breakers, 7-1, in the first 45 minutes of play. The Pride made the most of their early attack as a ball deflected from a defensive tackle right to Christine Sinclair’s feet, about 25 yards out. The Pride’s leading goal scorer fired off a shot right to the bottom right corner of the net for her fifth tally of the year.  Canada’s female all-time leading goal scorer has now scored for the Pride in the last three consecutive games, giving Sinclair the longest active scoring streak in the league.  She trails Boston striker Kelly Smith (4/11-5/2; 4 games) and the Sol’s Camille Abily (5/24-6/7; 4 games) for the longest streak of consecutive games with a goal.

"Sinclair is a player that has gotten better with each game,” said Montoya. “Forwards it’s all about getting on a hot streak, and she has been.  Unfortunately, today she was sick and even questionable to play, she was outstanding.  Five minutes into the second half it was clear she had given everything she had to her team and we had to take her out.  That was a big loss for us.  She has been so valuable not only in scoring, but how she's holding the ball and creating opportunities for her teammates."

The Bay Area team maintained a composed possession throughout the half, giving the Breakers only a few scoring chances, such as in the 33rd minute, when Amy Rodriguez ran onto a through ball to cross to Christine Latham who jumped but just missed the header. Two minutes later, Kasey Moore got onto the end of a free kick but Barnhart was right behind her to make the save.

The second half looked like it would be much of the same as FC Gold Pride came out again with high pressure. Within the first minute Sinclair, looking for another, had a dangerous shot, but Lipsher tipped it to hit off the crossbar.

Then the tables turned and the Breakers dominated play and pressured the FC Gold Pride defense. Boston would outshoot the Pride, 12-4, in the second half.

With a series of opportunities, it was only a matter of time before they grabbed a goal.  Nobis, who came on at halftime, had several close calls leading up to her goal, one which was a shot sent just over the crossbar and another where Barnhart beat her in the foot race to the ball.

In the 76th minute, Smith, who is hampered by a knee injury and came on in the second half, sent a corner kick to Nobis on the far post, who then headed the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal for the tie. The goal was Nobis’ first of the season, and the assist was Smith’s second.

“We would have liked to have gotten a win; we saw the worst and the best in this team,” said Breakers head coach Tony DiCicco in pointing out the vast differences in his team between halves. “It’s a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story. It was really disappointing in the first half, and then they came out and showed how good they really can be.”

Following their goal, the Breakers pushed hard for a win. Kristine Lilly hit a shot in the 80th minute that hit the crossbar, and in stoppage time Nobis had another header that this time went into Barnhart’s hands.

Marisa Abegg and Kimberly Yokers - defensive substitutions for the Pride in the second half - helped to preserve the tie.

The Breakers, head to Chicago to take on the Red Stars on Sunday at 4pm ET/1pm PT.  FC Gold Pride, meanwhile, travels to Los Angeles to face the league-leading Sol on Sunday in a match that will be broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel and webcast at womensprosoccer.com(6pm ET/3pm PT). 

“We talked about preparation for Sunday already, it’s about being prepared for the game, getting a good meal, getting hydrated and taking care of your body,” said Montoya.  “We have to start preparing now, not when we get back.  It’s as simple as take care of your body, and get the proper rest so we can go into LA and play as well as we did in the fist half here. Right now, it’s more about rest than anything else.”

Boxscore (all statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial)