PISCATAWAY, NJ (June 28, 2009) – Saint Louis Athletica wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in New Jersey as Eniola Aluko notched an opening strike in just the second minute of action but it was Elise Weber’s game-winner in the 84th minute that gave Saint Louis a 2-1 win at Yurcak Field at Rutgers University in a Women’s Professional Soccer, WPS, Sunday night matchup.

Call it the ‘luck of the Irish’ as Weber, a University of Notre Dame product, struck for a most unexpected late goal that gave three crucial points to Athletica and moved them into third place in the WPS. Weber, who came into the game in the 79th minute for Tina Ellertson, found an opening and took a chance that paid off.

“I saw (Melissa) 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. The goal was her first as a professional. “I was just looking to get it across the goal and be dangerous with it.”

The ball certainly was dangerous as it arced from the right side of the penalty area to the back post. The cross/shot left Sky Blue FC’s Jenni Branam flat-footed on her line and she could only turn to see it curve into the far side netting well inside the near post. Melissa Tancredi was credited with the assist.

Saint Louis had been able to make Aluko’s opener stick until Julianne Sitch equalized for Sky Blue in the 76th minute. Athletica were unable to clear a ball out of their penalty area and Sitch pounced on a chance and was able to beat Hope Solo with a well-taken show to notch the game at 1-1. Sky Blue racked up a total of eight shots on goal culminating with Sitch’s strike. Meanwhile Athletica had just two shots on goal and scored both times.

“We didn’t play the best but we won the game,” said Aluko. “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.”

It was Aluko who stepped up herself in the opening minutes to score her fourth goal of the year. Lori Chalupny played a tight through ball to the England international who used a well-placed shot from the right of the six-yard box to beat Branam and stake Athletica to the early 1-0 lead.

“It was a great ball from Chalupny. I saw the keeper and slotted it behind her,” said Aluko. “I do a lot of that kind of finishing in training and it is definitely the type of chance I should be putting away. I am glad that I did.”

Athletica absorbed constant pressure from Sky Blue in both halves of the game but for the most part looked comfortable in defense. Hope Solo made seven saves on the evening, two of which really challenged her, and she survived a Natasha Kai bid for a penalty late in the game as the two players appeared to collide in the penalty area.

Sky Blue outshot Saint Louis 21-5 and had eight corners to Athletica’s none. The win moves Athletica up to 17 points for the year and starts off a four game road trip in fine fashion. Athletica are now 5-5-2 on the season and have drawn back to the .500 mark for the second time.

Next up for Saint Louis is a two game swing to California to face FC Gold Pride on July 5 and Los Angeles on July 8. Athletica finish their four game trip in Washington DC at RFK Stadium on July 18 against the Freedom. Saint Louis will return home to The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park on July 22 to face Sky Blue FC for a third and final time this year.

Saint Louis Athletica (4-5-2) vs. Sky Blue FC (3-5-3)
June 28, 2009 – Yurcak Field – Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey

SCORING SUMMARY:
2nd STL Eniola Aluko 4 (assisted by Lori Chalupny)
76th SBFC Julianne Sitch (no assist)
84th STL Elise Weber 1 (assisted by Melissa Tancredi)

LINEUPS:
STL: Solo; Logterman, Larsson, Ellertson (Weber 79), McNeill; Fletcher, Cinalli (Tancredi 63), Woznuk, Chalupny; Aluko, Welsh (Stoia 45)

SBFC: Branam; Schnur (McCallum 63), Asante, Rampone, Dowling; Averbuch (Busckowski 66), O’Reilly, Parker, Rosana (Sitch 70); Kai, White

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
None

STATS SUMMARY:

	STL	SBFC
Total Shots:	5	21
Shots on Goal:	2	8
Saves:	7	0
Fouls:	4	2
Corners:	0	8
Offsides:	7	2

 
Referee: Felisha Mariscal
Referee's Assistants: Steven Ambrus; Brian Dunn
4th official: Hakan Baydere
time of game: 1:48
attendance: 3,256
weather: calm, 83 degrees