BOSTON (April 11, 2009) - Athletica’s first road match of the year turned into a near repeat of their home opener. Dominating play early, outshooting their opposition by a wide margin, and unfortunately failing to score for their second straight match as they fell 2-0 to the Boston Breakers Saturday night at Harvard Stadium.

It was a near carbon copy repeat of last week’s performance against Chicago. Once again Saint Louis controlled play in the first 45 minutes yet went to the locker room 0-0 at the half. And once again their opponent struck first in the second half against the run of play.

“Its something we have been talking about the whole week. We have been practicing on how to score,” said Head Coach Jorge Barcellos. “It has been frustrating but we are working on it.”
“Our focus at this point has to be to score goals, we are playing well together and creating chances but we have to put the ball in the back of the net,” said Athletica Captain Lori Chalupny. “I don’t know why we aren’t scoring. Part of it is being unlucky, We had some great shots that just took a deflection or something. We just need to stay composed around the box.”

England International Kelly Smith gave the Breakers the lead in the 53rd minute on a goal assisted by Kelly Schmedes. Saint Louis held a nearly 4 to 1 shot advantage at that stage yet found themselves trailing once again despite their efforts up to that point.

“We have played well two weeks in a row but have zero points, at some point we have to get results,” concluded Chalupny.

The game started with promise and Athletica Head Coach Jorge Barcellos made no changes to his lineup from last weeks home opener. And just like in the home opener Athletica brought the play to their opponent in the early going when an Eniola Aluko cross set up an early corner kick for Daniela to take at the 5 minute mark. Boston responded just minutes later winning their first corner of the match in the 8th minute.

Unlike last week their were no shots taken by either side in the first 15 minutes as each team looked for a way to get something towards the goal. While there was a lack of shooting early on there were plenty of fouls in what was a rough game to that point. Athletica committed five fouls in the opening 20 minutes to Boston’s one. Sara Larsson picked up the game’s first yellow card for a hard tackle on Kelly Smith in the 21st minute.

“It was a chippy game altogether,” stated Chalupny.

Athletica took the first good chance of the game in the 24th minute when Kerri Hanks got on the end of a Lori Chalupny cross but was denied a goal as Breaker goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill came up with a great save. Boston got on the attack in the ensuing minutes but Athletica’s back line was able to clear consecutive build ups by the Breakers.

Brazil’s Daniela got off just the second shot of the game at the half hour mark and Boston’s Kristine Lilly answered with one of her own two minutes later. Lori Chalupny had a chance in the 35th minute but was unable to steer her shot on goal. Kerri Hanks took her second chance in the 38th minute and Chalupny followed up with another at the 40th minute mark forcing a save as Athletica began to dominate play towards halftime.

Eniola Aluko managed a shot in the 44th minute but Luckenbill made another save to keep Saint Louis off the board. One minute later Angie Woznuk took her first shot of the match but still no goal for Saint Louis who outshot Boston 8 to 1 in the opening 45 minutes.

The second half started with Jorge Barcellos making a tactical switch. Sheree Gray came on for Eniola Aluko. Gray moved to right back and Tina Ellertson moved to forward. The move paid dividends as Athletica managed another flurry of shots including one on target from Kerri Hanks.

Boston would take just their second shot of the game in the 53rd minute as Amy Rodriguez launched an effort towards goal. Seconds later Boston would take the lead when Kelly Smith found the back of the net on a set up from Kelly Schmedes.

The Boston goal prompted Jorge Barcellos to use his second substitution as he brought on Francielle in the 55th minute and took off Daniela. Francielle was also brought in as a second half sub in the April 4 home opener.

“Daniela is just coming back from injury and she was making a lot of bad passes. Matter of fact the first goal she lost the ball and that’s how the goal happened,” said Barcellos. “And Daniela was playing a little bit wide, I wanted her to play in the middle a little bit more. She was going too far wide and that’s why I subbed her out.”

Kelly Smith turned another shot on goal in the 62nd minute forcing a quality save from Hope Solo and subsequently won a corner kick but Saint Louis was able to clear and relieve the pressure.

Athletica’s second yellow card of the game came in the 68th minute when Melissa Tancredi committed a hard foul on Kristine Lilly. Boston managed a shot off the free kick but Athletica’s back line cleared again. But for the first time in the match Athletica seemed to be losing steam and looked off the pace as Boston grabbed the momentum heading into the last 20 minutes.

In the 74th minute Jorge Barcellos made his last substitution, another tactical change as he brought on Elise Weber for Lisa Stoia. Weber moved to left back and Melissa Tancredi went up front as a third forward joining Hanks and Ellertson as Athletica began their final push in the last 15 minutes.

Alex Scott picked up a yellow card in the 79th minute when she brought down Lori Chalupny. Sara Larsson and Kelly Smith then got into a shoving match. As play resumed Melissa Tancredi picked up a foul as she brought down Kristine Lilly.

Boston killed off the game in the 87th minute when Kristine Lilly got her shot past Hope Solo. Kelly Smith had the assist. Boston evens up their record while Athletica fall to 0-2 on the year.

Next up for Saint Louis will be the Los Angeles Sol at Hermann Stadium on April 25 for a 3:00 kickoff.