This article has been reprinted with the permission of the author.  The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Women’s Professional Soccer or womensprosoccer.com.


Plenty of action this week in Women's Professional Soccer. By the way, a Happy Independence Day to you all. Even though this article is posted before the holiday, I believe that coming prepared for what will happen in the future is key to surviving the cruel realities of the present.

Now, it's no surprise who is first this week. I mean, do we even need to figure it out?

1. LOS ANGELES SOL   

Three games. Seven days. All wins.

If the Los Angeles Sol, through some Act of God, do not run away with the WPS Regular Season title, it will be the most shocking news since Michael Jackson's cardiac arrest or the USA winning the Confederations Cup.

Abner Rogers's club is flattening opponents in their wake. A goal differential of +18. 23 goals scored. Only five conceded. The Home Depot Center has been a fortress for Los Angeles. The Sol have never lost at home, and only one goal has been scored on their turf.

On Wednesday the Sol traveled to Fenton, Missouri, to take on Saint Louis Athletica at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park.  Second-half goals by Han Duan (50') and Marta (73', Aly Wagner assist) paced the Sol to a 2-1 win over Athletica.

On Saturday morning, the Sol wrapped up their three-game week against the Chicago Red Stars, the only team that scored on Victoria Street. This time around, the tenuous 1-1 performance in their first minute was replaced by a thorough 4-0 blowout. The Sol pounced on the Red Stars from the get-go, with a 15th minute goal by captain Shannon Boxx and a 20th minute score for Camille Abily.

In the second half, Marta slammed the door and took all the wind out of Chicago, with goals in the 62nd and 90th minutes.

Marta and Abily are now tied for the most goals in a season with eight, while Karina LeBlanc is one shutout away from becoming the first WPS goalkeeper to earn ten clean sheets. With the victory, Los Angeles Sol are the first team to clinch a WPS postseason berth. The question now is which seed will the Sol clinch.

Barring a stumble similar to the U.S. Men's National Team's second-half demise against Brazil on Sunday, the venue that hosted the WPS Inaugural Game will also host the WPS Championship Game.

It's only fair. Wouldn't you agree?

The Sol look to extend their lead on their opponents at the top of the table with a post-Independence Day jaunt to Germantown's Maryland SoccerPlex.  Kickoff against the Washington Freedom is scheduled for Sunday, July 5 at 6:00pm ET and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel.

2. BOSTON BREAKERS

Only one match was on tap over the week for Tony DiCicco's Breakers at Harvard Stadium. The Washington Freedom traveled to Cambridge in the hopes of catching their rivals to the Northeast.

They faced a stiff roadblock in Christine Latham. In the 37th minute, Latham scored off a Heather Mitts set piece to give Boston a 1-0 victory.

"I thought it was a stronger performance, and I am really proud of our team," DiCicco said after the match. "We’ve strung some good performances here, and I know the team is happy about tonight.

"I thought the first half was probably our best soccer from both an offensive and defensive standpoint. Washington is a good team and we just didn’t let them play in the first half.

Boston goalkeeper Ali Lipsher was a rock in front of the net, making four of her fives saves in the second half.

“Ali is doing well," said DiCicco on her performance. "She had a couple of moments today where it wasn’t decisive goalkeeping, but the job of a goalkeeper is to keep the ball out of the back of the net. She seized her opportunity and now she has two shutouts in a row."

Boston also more shots (14 to 11) and corners (seven to one) that Washington.

“It’s very satisfying," said Heather Mitts after the match, "especially considering the fact that in the first couple of games before this stretch we were not playing our best soccer. We were having a hard time finding the back of the net. I think that we came together and had some good results.”

Mitts welcomed the bye this weekend.

“We’re all going to rest our legs and come back," she said. "Then, it’s crunch time and we’re really looking to make the playoffs.”

Currently, the Breakers are sitting in second place, one point above the Freedom 16 points behind Los Angeles Sol. Boston will travel down the Turnpike to take on Sky Blue FC in an Independence Day contest at Yurcak Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00pm ET.

3. WASHINGTON FREEDOM

The Freedom needed to win against Boston to stay second in the standings. However, a 1-0 loss to the Breakers moved them down to fourth. 

Jim Gabarra wasn't impressed with Sonia Bompastor's performance in the backfield after moving her from her comfort zone as a midfielder.

“We had to address our defensive structure in giving up so many goals," said Garbarra after the match. "When we first brought Sonia here it was as a left back, and I think our wide defenders were not possessing the ball well enough for us. This allowed us to have two more experienced defenders in the flank defensive position, players who can get forward and are good on the ball.

"I think I was a little disappointed that she didn’t get forward as much tonight, especially in the last 10-15 minutes of the game. We needed her to get higher.

"I think we could get the ball, we couldn’t string a pass together. Our first touch was disappointing; we couldn’t play the ball to feet. Part of it might be the surface; we came from Saint Louis where the grass was long and played slow. And we came here on turf, and the field was wet so it is even quicker. We played too slow, we couldn’t possess the ball."

Abby Wambach continued to battle a nagging hamstring injury in the loss.

"Obviously I would feel a lot better if we came away with a win," Wambach said after the match. "I strained my hamstring on Saturday so we were definitely nursing it a bit. Unfortunately, I think that me not starting puts us on our heels and puts us in a defensive mindset, and it’s hard to break that once the game gets going. But credit Boston for taking advantage of a couple of mistakes that we made and punishing us for those."

Wambach downplayed the speculations on suspensions carrying over to the game.

"I think that those are all league-mandated suspensions," she said. "The game refs itself, and when the game starts and finishes, you go back to your own club and don’t worry about what everyone else has done.

"The 90 minutes that we played is in the past. I didn’t think about it once today, and I am sure the rest of my team feels the same way."

Two games await the Freedom this week. On Wednesday, Washington will travel to Toyota Park to face the Chicago Red Stars. Kickoff for that contest is scheduled for 8:30pm ET.

On Sunday, July 5, the Freedom will host the Los Angeles Sol at the Maryland Soccerplex in Germantown. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00pm ET and will be televised by Fox Soccer Channel.

4. ST. LOUIS ATHLETICA

Jorge Barcellos' Athletica had a modest week of soccer.

On Wednesday, they hosted the Los Angeles Sol at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, Missouri.  Kerri Hanks' first goal of the season was not enough for Athletica to overcome a 2-0 deficit as they fell 2-1 to the league leaders.

Saint Louis out shot Los Angeles 25-12, made more shots on goal (10 to six), and earned more corners (12 to two). But as much as they tried to get one past Karina LeBlanc, she would frustrate the home side by making eight saves.

The fortunes changed for Athletica when they faced Sky Blue FC at Yurcak Field. Eniola Aluko set the tone early for Athletica two minutes into the match. But the unlikeliest of heroines, Elise Weber would open her account with the game winner in the 84th minute to give Saint Louis a 2-1 victory on the road.

Despite the victory, Aluko admitted that the little things needed to be ironed out after observing a contrast in the the level of play over the past couple of matches.

“We didn’t play the best but we won the game,” she said after the match with Sky Blue FC. “We played very well against Los Angeles and lost and we played so-so here tonight but we got the result and that is what counts.

"We kept going and Elise Weber stepped up.”

“I saw Tancredi take the throw in, and their defender was paying attention to her so I just made the run and hoped for something good,” said Weber on her goal. “I was just looking to get it across the goal and be dangerous with it.”

St. Louis goalkeeper Hope Solo was a workhorse, making all seven saves in the contest.

Athletica continue their four-game road stand with a Sunday match with FC Gold Pride at Buck Shaw Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00pm ET.

5. SKY BLUE FC

Kelly Lindsey's Sky Blue FC needed to win against Saint Louis Athletica to claw back into contention for a playoff spot. Unfortunately, a 2-1 defeat was not the answer.

Lindsey remained optimistic in spite of the dire circumstances surrounding her club.

"It's very encouraging that we were able to come back as we did - I really believe in this team and I think we will still have many successes this season," said Lindsey following the match. "We're going to do great things this season; all we need is a little more consistency in our game to reach our goals."

Julianne Sitch equalized for Sky Blue FC in the 76th minute before the home side gave up the winner to Elise Weber.

Sky Blue FC outshot Saint Louis 21 to five. But Hope Solo's seven saves, combined with a sucker punch in Eniola Aluko's 2nd-minute score, would doom the Jersey girls.

There are eight games remaining on the schedule for Sky Blue FC. And they cannot afford to underperform in any of them. If the do, the dark clouds above Yurcak Field will only continue to gather above Rutgers University.

Sky Blue FC will host the Boston Breakers on Independence Day. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:00pm ET.

6. FC GOLD PRIDE

The month of July could not be any more important for Albertin Montoya and FC Gold Pride. The Lionesses of the Bay have had plenty of time to regroup after their 2-0 defeat to the Los Angeles Sol. Five of the eight matches remaining are at Buck Shaw Stadium, including one final crack at their rivals to the south.

The next match for the Pride, a Sunday clash with St. Louis Athletica, will commemorate the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup. The final of that contest against China saw 90,185 attend. While crowds of that magnitude are harder to come by these days, the memory of FC Gold Pride's Brandi Chastain's winning penalty kick, as well as the performance of the team, certainly remain in the hearts of those who follow the women's game.

Fans will have an opportunity to take a photo with Chastain, Lorrie Fair and a replica FIFA Women's World Cup trophy on the pitch on July 5. Kickoff for the match with Athletica is scheduled for 8:00 pm ET.

7. CHICAGO RED STARS

Two months ago, the Chicago Red Stars were on top of the rankings after busting the Boston Breakers 4-0.  It's amazing how optimistic circumstances can turn ominous in such a short period of time.

Emma Hayes's Red Stars are now in a state of flux.

No goals in 403 minutes. Bradycardia.
Blown out of the water by the Los Angeles Sol 4-nil. Tachycardia.
23 points off the pace, and in danger of missing the postseason. Ventricular fibrilation.

Get the shock pads out, Doctor Who; we have a patient in this league on life support.

The onslaught on Saturday was a complete opposite of the defensive 1-1 draw at the Toolbox.  Chicago did outshoot the Sol 17 to 12, but the Sol had more precision by having twice as many on target (eight shots to four). It didn't help Chicago by having two goals called back due to offsides.

Even worse, three players (Chioma Igwe, Brittany Klein and Karen Carney) were cautioned in the second half for cheap shots against the Sol. This only added to the frustration of what has been a difficult season for the Women of the Windy City.

Don't be surprised if a number of Chicago sports journalists sitting on the fence write the Red Stars off in spite of Hayes' shallow warnings. Time and points are running out for Chicago as they head back to Toyota Park for a Wednesday night contest against the Washington Freedom. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:30pm ET.

On Sunday, the Red Stars will host a friendly against the Republic of Ireland women's national team. Kickoff against the Ireland Senior Women's Squad is scheduled for 4:00pm ET at St. Benedictine University in Lisle, IL.


This article has been reprinted with the permission of the author.  The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Women’s Professional Soccer or womensprosoccer.com.

.