CHICAGO RED STARS 4 - 0 BOSTON BREAKERS

Carney beats Heather Mitts to score.

It was a night to forget for the Boston Breakers but a night to remember for the Red Stars who came out to play.

A downpour just before halftime accented a flood of goals on the field as the Chicago Red Stars beat Boston, 4-0, Saturday night before 4,118 at Toyota Park. Karen Carney and Brittany Klein each scored a goal and logged a pair of assists in the win.

The Red Stars attacked early and often in the match, even playing without Brazilian striker Cristiane who is serving international duty. Chicago outshot Boston 20-8 – including a 10-3 margin in shots on goal.

A Boston handball in the 21^st minute set up Chicago’s first goal. On a free kick, Carney found Carli Lloyd at the top of the box, and the Red Stars forward buried her shot for her first points of the season.

The Red Stars added two more goals before the half on similar shots by Megan Rapinoe and Carney. In the 39^th minute, Rapinoe fired a bullet from the right side of the box that breezed past Breakers goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill. Three minutes later, Carney angled a shot from nearly the same spot on the pitch. The England native put a perfect spin on the ball to hit the bottom of the crossbar and find the back of the net. Klein assisted on both goals.

Chicago added a fourth goal after intermission. Playing into the right side of the box, Carney crossed to Lindsay Tarpley who played the ball to the top of the box and a waiting Klein. After being robbed of a goal on a deflection in the first half, Klein buried her second opportunity for her first score of the season.

Red Stars keeper Caroline Jönsson posted her third clean sheet of the season by stopping all three shots on goal she faced in the match.

“Let’s remember the clean sheet we got today," Red Stars coach Emma Hayes said. "That‘s just as crucial for the defending aspect. Goals were definitely a priority today. I told my staff we were going to go out and score a lot of goals today and that is the first time I have said that to my staff."

The Breakers had an opportunity to grab an early lead in the 5th minute. Alex Scott built the play from the back along right flank and found Amy Rodriguez who ran toward the area. She tried to find Hucles in front of goal but Jönsson covered it up.

Boston also had some late opportunities. First in the 82nd minute, Amy LePeilbet had a header in the center of the area off a Kristine Lilly free kick but it was saved by Jönsson. A minute later, Lilly ran onto a through ball from Christine Latham into the box, but she was forced to the left and her shot went wide of the lower right post.

Breakers midfielder Kasey Moore cleared two balls off the line in each half, the first in the 14th minute to prevent Klein from giving Chicago the lead with an open net goal from six yards out

Boston played without WPS co-scoring leader Kelly Smith following her match for the English National Team on Thursday against Norway, although the forward was available.

"If it was a closer game we could have played Kelly, but I didn't want to risk her," said DiCicco. "It is no excuse though. There will be times later on this season when we are going to have to play without her as well."

LINEUPS:

Chicago: Caroline Jönsson; Marian Dalmy, Nikki Krzysik, Ifeoma Dieke, Chioma Igwe; Frida Östberg, Brittany Klein, Carli Lloyd; Karen Carney (Heather Garriock, 61st minute, Ella Maser, 70th minute), Lindsay Tarpley, Megan Rapinoe.

Boston: Kristin Luckenbill (Allison Lipsher, 62nd minute); Alex Scott, Amy LePeilbet, Sue Weber, Heather Mitts; Kasey Moore (Candace Chapman, 62nd minute), Angela Hucles, Kristine Lilly, Stacy Bishop; Kelly Schmedes, Amy Rodriguez (Christine Latham, 46th).