WPS PREVIEW WEEK 14

Los Angeles Sol v Chicago Red Stars Sat June 27 1pm ET Live on webcam


The Chicago Red Stars will try to break an eight-match winless streak Saturday when they face WPS leader the Los Angeles Sol at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Saturday marks the second meeting of the season between Chicago (2-5-5, 11 pts) and the Sol (9-1-4, 31 pts). The Red Stars nearly won at Los Angeles earlier this month when Cristiane scored her first goal of the season in the 88th minute to give Chicago a 1-0 lead. But WPS goals leader Camille Abily recorded the equalizer seconds before the final whistle to force a 1-1 draw.

Los Angeles brings a nine-match unbeaten streak into Saturday’s game. The Sol are 13 points ahead of second-place Boston in the WPS standings.Marta is on form having scored in th last 2 matches.

Red Stars defender Marian Dalmy will miss the match after suffering an ankle sprain Sunday in Chicago’s loss to Boston. Heather Garriock and Ella Masar are also out with injury for Chicago.

The Sol may well still be without defender Martina Franko who missed the trip to Saint Louis. Brittany Bock may start in defence again.






NJ Sky Blue FC v Saint Louis Athletica Sun 28 June 6pm ET Live FSC, Webcam

After an 11-day mid-season break, Sky Blue FC is recharged and ready to take aim on a spot in the playoffs as the team heads into the second half of the season. Sky Blue FC first sets it sights on Saint Louis Athletica, which makes its only visit to New Jersey this season.

Sky Blue FC meets Saint Louis on Sunday in a 6 p.m. clash at Yurcak Field on the campus of Rutgers University in Piscataway, N.J.

Heading into the match, Sky Blue FC (3-5-3, 12 pts.) holds down fifth place in the standings, edging out sixth-place FC Gold Pride (3-6-3, 12 pts.) on goal differential. The New Jersey/New York team has a game in hand over both FC Gold Pride and the cellar-dwelling Chicago Red Stars (2-5-5, 11 pts.), who Sky Blue FC defeated 1-0 in their most recent game on June 17.

Athletica (4-5-2, 14 pts.) comes into the match in sole possession of fourth place and the final playoff position. After the results of this week’s midweek matches, Saint Louis sits two points behind the third-place Washington Freedom (4-4-4, 16 pts.). The Los Angeles Sol (9-1-4, 31 pts.) remains alone atop the table, 13 points clear of the Boston Breakers (5-4-3, 18 pts.).

In the only prior meeting between Sky Blue FC and Athletica, Saint Louis came away the victors 1-0 in a closely-fought battle at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park in Fenton, Mo. Amanda Cinalli’s goal in the 15th minute proved to be the difference in a game where Sky Blue FC outshot the home team and controlled play for long stretches of time.