WPS PREVIEW WEEK 12

Three matches take shape this weekend, all on the East coast. FC Gold Pride will sit out. Five teams will turn up the intensity hoping to someday catch the first-place Los Angeles Sol, who has a 12-point lead.

Week 12 of Women’s Professional Soccer features three matches. Sky Blue FC hosts the Los Angeles Sol. The Washington Freedom hosts the Chicago Red Stars in a doubleheader with D.C. United. While Sunday’s finale features Boston hosting St. Louis Athletica. FC Gold Pride will sit out the week. Los Angeles has a Twelve-point lead in the WPS standings. While the rest of the teams are looking to break away from the pack.

Washington Freedom vs. Chicago Red Stars, Saturday, June 13 at RFK Stadium at 4:30 p.m. ET

The Washington Freedom hosts the Chicago Red Stars Saturday in a battle for second place. A win and the Red Stars (7-1-3, 10 points) can move into second place. A draw or a win for Washington (3-3-3, 12 points) helps them secure second place for at least a few hours.

The Red Stars are impressive on the road with a 1-0-3 record. Chicago snapped its three-game losing streak last week, posting back-to-back 1-1 draws at the Los Angeles Sol and FC Gold Pride. Cristiane led the Red Stars this past week with a goal in each match.

Chicago is relatively even across the board. The Red Stars have tallied eight goals while allowing eight. Goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson is still among the best in the league, making 38 saves and posting three shutouts. Chicago will be missing forward Ella Masar (hip) and midfielder Heather Garriock (muscle strain) for the match. Defender Ifeoma Dieke (hamstring) is also listed as questionable.

Washington is still one of the toughest squads in the league. The Freedom has forced 16 goals for the top scoring team in WPS. However, they’ve also allowed 18, for the most goals allowed. Sonia Bompastor and Lisa DeVanna lead the attack for Washington with three goals each. Goalkeeper Erin McLeod is finally securing the backline for Washington. While they still iron out some kinks, the Freedom will rely on her to make the big saves.

In the Freedom’s last home match, they posted a 3-1 win. But last weekend the Los Angeles Sol topped Washington 3-1, ending their unbeaten streak at five matches. The Freedom will host their second double-header with D.C. United. The first time at RFK Stadium they earned a 2-1 win. It won’t be easy for Chicago to go in there and stop Washington’s attack.

The First time these two teams met, the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Expect Chicago to look for a win. But Washington too will look to hold on to the number two spot. It should be a close match, but a must-see for the MLS fans in the stands.



Sky Blue FC vs. Los Angeles Sol, Saturday, June 13 at 7:00 p.m. ET, Yurcak Field, Piscataway, NJ

When Sky Blue FC and the Los Angeles Sol meet on the pitch this Saturday, it will be a battle between first-place and last in the league. This will be the third time these teams have played each other this season, with the Sol coming out on top in both prior matches.

Sky Blue FC (2-5-2) sits at the bottom of the league table with eight points. Only four points separate second-place and last, though, so every round can reshuffle the table. They lost their most recent match 0-1 on the road against Saint Louis. Two games ago, Sky Blue earned a 2-1 win over the Boston Breakers, who were in second place. Four out of five of Sky Blue FC’s losses have been away games, so they will be happy to host on home turf facing the Sol. However, they have only scored six goals to date, and they will be facing a tough goalkeeper. Sky Blue FC players to watch will be Natasha Kai, with two goals and one assist this season, and Kacey White, who scored the match winner against Boston.

The Los Angeles Sol (7-1-3) is mowing down the opposition left and right. With 24 points, they have twice as many as the second-place team, and three times that of last-place. They have only let in four goals all season, with by far the best goal differential of +11. In eight of eleven games played, the L.A. has held opponents scoreless. The one defeat they suffered occurred on the road, and of their seven wins, only two were away games, so that should offer Sky Blue FC a glimmer of hope. Sol players to watch include the league top scorer, Camille Abily, with six goals to her name, and Marta, who is tied for 3rd most league goals at four.

The Los Angeles Sol is the definite favorite in this match-up, but don’t count out the unpredictable Sky Blue FC. A win for the home side could pull them out of last-place, so the Sol will have a fight on their hands to come away with all three points.



Boston Breakers vs. Saint Louis Athletica, Sunday, June 14 at 6:00 p.m. ET, Harvard Stadium, Cambridge, MA

The Boston Breakers stay at home this weekend and take on Saint Louis Athletica. The two teams are tied for third place on the table with eleven points apiece, along with FC Gold Pride. With second place Washington only one point above them, the winner of this match could potentially claim that spot.

Boston (3-3-2) had a bye last weekend, and their most recent game was a 1-2 road loss to Sky Blue FC on May 31st. That defeat saw the Breakers fall out of 2nd place and halted a three-game unbeaten streak. In their favor, Boston has a good home record, with no losses, two wins, and a draw. This match marks the start of an intense period in the Breakers’ schedule, with four games in eleven days, so that could impact their lineup and tactics. Players to watch include Kelly Smith, who is the league’s second highest goal scorer with five goals, and Kristine Lilly, with two goals so far. Smith sustained a knee injury in the last match but has since recovered.

Saint Louis (3-3-2) had a disappointing start to the season with two losses, but ever since has been grinding out results. Of their last six matches, they only suffered one loss, and that was to first-place Los Angeles Sol. Athletica’s most recent game was a 1-0 home victory over Sky Blue FC. Saint Louis’ away record doesn’t bode well for them, though, with two of their three losses coming on the road. Players to watch include goalkeeper Hope Solo, who has made 35 saves this season, as well as Eniola Aluko, with two goals and an assist to her name.

The last time these teams met, on April 11, Boston defeated Saint Louis 2-0. Since then, Athletica’s performances have improved, while the Breakers’ haven’t won in more than a month. This will be a very tight match-up, and could go either way.


Preview by goal.com