Athletica defeats FC Gold Pride, 2-0, in Season Opener
by WPS - Staff Report
04/11/2010 - 12:05 p.m.
Eniola Aluko celebrates scoring one of her two goals during the game.
Boxscore (all statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial)
ST. LOUIS, MO (April 11, 2010) – Saint Louis Athletica of Women’s Professional Soccer, WPS, opened the 2010 season on Sunday with a 2-0 win over FC Gold Pride in front of 3,356 at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park. Eniola Aluko struck twice for Athletica as Saint Louis made an early statement in WPS league play. Aluko’s two goals were both set up by Shannon Boxx, who was making her debut with Saint Louis.
“I could not have wished for anything better to be honest,” said Aluko. “I just wanted a team win, and for me to be able to contribute to the team win is even better. It was very important that we get off to a good start this year, especially after our start last year. We didn’t want to go through what we did last year, so hopefully it is onwards and upwards from here.”
Aluko’s first goal was courtesy of an FC Gold Pride turnover that Shannon Boxx forced. Boxx intercepted a flat pass near the midfield circle and quickly picked out Aluko making a run through the center channel. Boxx’s ball was weighted perfectly, allowing Aluko to finish cleanly past Nicole Barnhart.
Aluko’s second came in the 61st minute from a corner kick that Aya Miyama took. Miyama’s corner found Shannon Boxx who headed the ball back through the six-yard box finding Aluko who nodded home for a 2-0 Athletica lead. Aluko scored six goals in 2009, and is now one-third of the way to that total in 2010 after just 90 minutes.
“As a team we said lets start the season off right, let’s get a win,” stated Shannon Boxx. “Chalupny said it best before the game. ‘Lets show everyone what we are about, come out strong and hard, be in on every tackle’ and we did that today.”
As notable as the Saint Louis offense was it was the Athletica defense that kept Marta and company in check most of the afternoon. Hope Solo did make six saves, but the best chance for FC Gold Pride went wide off the foot of Tiffeny Milbrett.
Lori Chalupny played a full 90 minutes after returning to active play after taking time off for concussion related issues. Chalupny had also been suffering from back pain throughout the week leading up to the home opener.
“The team was very good today, all the team,” said Head Coach Jorge Barcellos. “Eniola Aluko was unbelievable. I think she will score a lot of goals this year. The support she got from Shannon Boxx was terrific. Plus, we did not make our defense do a lot of work today.”
Athletica will be back in action next Saturday night at Toyota Park in Chicago when the visit the Red Stars for a 8pm ET kick off (7pm CT). On the same day, FC Gold Pride will host Sky Blue FC at Castro Valley Athletic Stadium at 10pm ET (7pm CT).
Boxscore (all statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial)