WASHINGTON D.C. (July 18, 2009) – Homare Sawa’s second half goal was all the offense that the Washington Freedom needed to get past Saint Louis Athletica as the Freedom handed Saint Louis a 1-0 loss on Saturday afternoon at RFK Stadium.

Sawa’s scored as she came down the right side of the penalty area, deflecting her shot off the foot of Kia McNeill and past goalkeeper Jillian Loyden just inside the near post. The goal came in a game that saw few quality chances for either team. The win propels Washington to 20 points and back into the hunt for a second place finish in the WPS. The loss keeps Saint Louis on 23 points and in second place for the moment pending the outcome of the Boston Breaker’s game on Sunday.

The match started with promise as Head Coach Jorge Barcellos introduced a new look lineup as he sent Niki Cross out to play as a forward. The move almost paid off early in the first half. In the 10th minute Cross found herself on the end of a ball from Amanda Cinalli that put her in on goal against Katie Jo Spisak. Cross rounded Spisak to the right and took her chance from a tough angle before hitting the side netting. Spisak got a hand onto Cross’ leg that just disrupted her rhythm before she got the shot off.

Cross would have two more chances before the first half was over. Kendall Fletcher and Elise Weber both provided good passes that allowed Cross two more shots. The best of which was a header from Cross that forced Spisak into a save, tipping the ball over the top of the crossbar.

But past the first half Saint Louis was unable to come up with much offensively to test the Washington backline.

Next up for Saint Louis is a July 18 trip to RFK Stadium in Washington to face the Freedom. Athletica returns home to The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park on July 22 to face Sky Blue FC for a third and final time this year. Athletica will then face FC Gold Pride for a third meeting on July 26 before two more home games on August 1 and August 5.


Saint Louis Athletica (7-6-2) at Washington (5-6-5)
July 18, 2009 – RFK Stadium, Washington D.C.

SCORING SUMMARY:
74 WAS Homare Sawa

LINEUPS:
STL: Loyden; Logterman (McNeill 63), Larsson, Ellertson, Weber; Stoia, Cinalli (Walter 46), Woznuk, Fletcher; Cross (Walsh 68), Aluko

WAS: Spisak (Wright 63); Senty, Sauerbrunn, Singer, Gilbeau; Bompastor, Sawa, Lindsey, Krieger (Lohman 79); Moros (Long 59), De Vanna

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:

68th

STL

Larsson

Yellow Card

Unsporting Behavior

STATS SUMMARY:

	STL	WAS
Total Shots:	13	13
Shots on Goal:	2	4
Saves:	6	5
Fouls:	11	9
Corners:	3	7
Offsides:	1	2

Referee: Ted Unkel
Referee's Assistants: Moo Hackett, John Smitz
4th official: Bryan Roslund
time of game: 1:49
attendance: NA
weather: NA