Tiffeny Milbrett knows how to be in the right place at the right time.

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

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (April 5, 2009) - FC Gold Pride and the Boston Breakers opened their Inaugural Season of WPS Action today, facing off at Buck Shaw Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara, Calif.  The Pride took the first of three cross-coast meetings between these teams, by a score of 2-1.

The match was a significant one for both teams, marking numerous firsts including the first-ever meeting between these clubs as well as first-ever WPS goals for each team.  Striker Eriko Arakawa put away the game’s first goal and first-ever for FC Gold Pride, flicking the ball into the net off of a perfectly served ball from Tiffany Weimer in the 32nd minute of play.      
 
After numerous fruitless scoring opportunities for both teams, Kelly Smith scored the Breakers’ first- ever WPS goal, unassisted in the 79th minute, tying the score at 1-1.
 
A lot of credit is due to Pride goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, who came up big, twice saving close range shots from Boston’s attack.
 
“Nicole was fabulous, she kept us in the game,” said Albertin Montoya, head coach of FC Gold Pride. “I think she is one of the best keepers in the world and I can’t say enough about her.”
 
FC Gold Pride subbed in strikers Tiffeny Milbrett and Kandace Wilson in the 69th and 83rd minute respectively.  The late addition of speed on the front line seemed to be the tipping point for the Pride, as Milbrett put away the  game winner in the 89th minute of play, knocking in a deflected save by Boston’s keeper Kristin Luckenbill.  The save was made on a shot from Kandace Wilson, setting up Milbrett for the close range goal. 
 
“I just took a poke at it to bring the ball back under control.  I knew that I needed to cut it back a little bit and put some steam on it so it could get through there.”   Milbrett said of her goal. “It was a good day at the office.”
 
Both teams will be back in action on Sunday, April 11.  The Breakers will return home tonight to prepare to host the Saint Louis Athletica in their home opener, while FC Gold Pride will hit the road on Thursday for the first road game of the season, heading to the East Coast to take on Sky Blue FC. 

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

POST-GAME QUOTES

Brandi Chastain
On the vibe at the stadium…
“I gave a talk to the team before the game, as the oldest player, I told them about the importance of this game and how we’re going to make a huge impact on the community both locally and across the country.  We showed it by coming back to win it.” 

On the game, coming back to win it…
“I could see it in our eyes, we all had that attitude kind of saying we have to get it together and we did.” 
On the crowds cheers as she came into the game…
“I didn’t hear anything except the beating of my heart, the excitement was overflowing.  I was like a rookie out there, I was so excited.”

Tiffeny Milbrett
On getting the game winning goal…
“I just took a poke to bring it back, put some steam on it and shot it in.  It was a good day at the office.”

Rachel Buehler
On what team and league mean to the community…
“It’s so great to have an avenue for soccer, it’s exciting to have it back for women.”

Nicole Barnhart
On her performance during the game…
“It got a little hectic towards the end but our defense held strong, we weathered the storm.  Kelly Smith is just a great player, they chipped it in behind us and it was a bullet of a shot, great finish.  I love being back there, any save I can make, it helps keep us in it.”

Tiffany Weimer
On having Brandi out on the field, crossing it to Eriko for the first goal…
“I heard her, you could always hear Brandi.”

Eriko Arakawa (through a translator)
On the game, scoring the first goal in FC Gold Pride History…
“I felt like, yes, I made it, it’s a goal.  We practice plays like that over and over in practice and it happened.  I knew what to expect because we had gone over it in practice.  I received the ball and knew it was coming back and I finished it.  I came to this country to play professional football because in Japan I had played in an amateur league.  To make the inaugural goal is so special and I appreciate my teammates and coaching staff and everyone surrounding me.”

Albertin Montoya
On the goal conceded...
“We did a good job most of the game, we gave it up to Kelly Smith and she made us pay.”

On the game, and why he chose not to start Brandi and Tiffeny…
“We got a little tired towards the end and I take responsibility for that.  Our fitness will come with time.  So far it’s been about playing with heart, desire and passion.”

“We needed ball winners to start out, as soon as the players started getting tired, we were kind of losing it, it was a good chance to bring it that experience of Brandi and Tiffeny and it worked out well for us.”

On Tiffeny not being drafted and trying out for the team…

“Tiffeny is one of the best players in history, how can I not give her a shot?”

On the game…
“I thought to myself do I play to tie or to win it at home for the fans and everyone who came out and I took a chance and it paid off.  It means a lot to win the way we did it.  We faced adversity and found a way to pull off a win.”
“It’s a valuable attitude to have and helps the players buy into what the coaches are trying to do.”

On Nicole Barnhart…
“Nicole was fabulous, she kept us in the game.”
“I think she is one of the best keepers in the world and I can’t say enough about her.”

On Tiffany Weimer
“She is my type of player.  I wasn’t the tallest player and I couldn’t rely on physical advantages and she is so creative and unpredictable and I let her play like that.  She’s the type of player that excites you, her play was fabulous.”