LOS ANGELES SOL vs. WASHINGTON FREEDOM
MARYLAND SOCCERPLEX – BOYDS, MD
SUNDAY, JULY 5 – 3:00 PM (PT)
TV: Fox Soccer Channel (FSC)

MATCH AT A GLANCE
SOL (10-1-4) vs. FREEDOM (4-4-4)

HEAD COACHES:
Los Angeles - Abner Rogers
Washington– Jim Gabarra

PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Los Angeles - M Shannon Boxx, M Camille Abily, F Marta
Washington – F Lisa De Vanna, M Sonia Bompastor, F Abby Wambach

2009 RECORD VS. FREEDOM: 2-0

REFEREES: Kari Seitz (R), Stephanie Toth (SAR), Ron Harnage (JAR), Dean Fairweather (FO)

LOS ANGELES SOL VS. FREEDOM
This game marks the third meeting between the Los Angeles Sol and Washington Freedom this season. The teams first met in the WPS Inaugural Match on March 29 when the Sol won 2-0, with goals from Allison Falk and Camille Abily. The second match between the teams, on June 7, ended 3-1 in favor of the Sol. Camille Abily contributed two goals for the Sol and Brittany Bock added another, while Sonia Bompastor scored the only goal for Freedom.

LAST GAME RECAP
The Sol defeated the Chicago Red Stars, 4-0, at The Home Depot Center on June 27. The Sol opened the scoring in the 14th minute when McCall Zerboni, making her first start of the season, found Shannon Boxx inside the penalty area. Boxx fired a shot past Red Stars goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson that bounced off the far post and into goal to give the Sol a 1-0 lead. Five minutes later, the Sol added to their lead when French international Camille Abily scored her league-leading eighth goal after receiving the ball at the top of the box from Aya Miyama. Marta scored the Sol's third goal in the 62nd minute after receiving a lead pass from Miyama in the box and slipping the ball in past Jonsson into the back right of the net. In the 90th minute, Marta touched a pass from midfielder Aly Wagner past Jonsson for her second goal of the game, capping off the Sol's 4-0 victory. With the second goal, Marta tied teammate Abily for the league lead in goals scored.

LOS ANGELES SOL INJURY REPORT
Allison Falk - QUESTIONABLE (Facial Laceration)
Val Henderson - PROBABLE (Ankle)

NOTE TO MEDIA: The team name Los Angeles Sol should be pronounced like "Soul" or "Sole" not "Saul."

LOS ANGELES SOL NEWS & NOTES

Sol Acquire Shaner
The Sol recently acquired defender Christie Shaner from Sky Blue FC. In return, the Sol sent Sky Blue a third round pick in the 2010 WPS draft. The 24-year-old Shaner attended Notre Dame, where she helped the Irish capture four consecutive Big East regular season titles from 2003 to 2006. Additionally, she helped lead her team to the NCAA College Cup championship in 2004 and the championship game of the NCAA College Cup in 2006. She then played for FC Indiana in the W-League and WPSL from 2003 to 2008, where she claimed titles in 2005 and 2007. In 2009, she was selected by Sky Blue FC in the fourth round of the WPS draft and appeared in two games totaling 40 minutes.

First to Clinch Playoff Berth
The Sol is the first team in Women's Professional Soccer to clinch a playoff spot. The Sol's 4-0 home victory over the Chicago Red Stars last Saturday, combined with the saint Louis Athletica's 2-1 road defeat of Sky Blue FC (NJ/NY) on Sunday, means that the Sol has wrapped up one of the league's four available postseason berths. The top four teams in the WPS standings at the conclusion of the regular season will advance to the WPS Playoffs, which consists of a unique format that heavily rewards the team that finishes atop the 2009 WPS Regular Season table. The top team during the regular season will become WPS Regular Season Champion and earn an automatic place as host of the WPS Championship, the league's championship game.

Marta WPS Player of the Week
This week's Women's Professional Soccer Player of the Week is Los Angeles Sol forward Marta. She receives this honor for the second time this season after registering a two-goal performance against the Chicago Red Stars last Saturday and a goal on Wednesday against the Saint Louis Athletica. Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc and midfielders Aya Miyama, Camille Abily and McCall Zerboni were all nominees for the award as well. The WPS Player of the Week is selected by a panel of writers from the North American Soccer Reporters.

Sol Players Among League Leaders
The Sol has four players who are leading the WPS in five different statistical categories. Goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc leads the league in saves with 50 and has more than double the amount of clean sheets, 10, than Saint Louis Athletica's Hope Solo, who currently has the second most with four. Midfielder Aya Miyama leads the league in assists with five and today's opponent, Washington Freedom midfielder Sonia Bompastor, is close behind with four. Meanwhile, Marta and Camille Abily lead the league in goals with eight.

Final Home Game July 8
Next Wednesday, July 8, the Sol will head back to Los Angeles for their final home game of the season. The Sol is currently undefeated at home with a record of 7-0-2 and will face the third-place Saint Louis Athletica. Although the Sol has a 2-0-1 record against Saint Louis, the Athletica are in a tight race and will be battling to win one of the last three remaining playoff spots. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 1-877-4-SOL-TIX or visit www.LosAngelesSol.com.

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