BOSTON BREAKERS 1 - 0 CHICAGO RED STARS

Angela Hucles scored in the first half and the Breakers defense held on in the second in a 1-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) action Wednesday night at Harvard Stadium in Cambridge, Mass.

The result ends the season series for the two teams with the Breakers winning 2-1-0. It also puts Boston (6-6-3, 21 points) in sole possession of third place in the standings, just two points behind second place Saint Louis Athletica. The Red Stars (4-7-5, 17 points) are now in a tie for fifth.

The Red Stars started strongly and had the better of play in the first ten minutes. However, a hard foul on Lindsay Tarpley sidelined the Red Stars captain for several minutes and tilted momentum for the remainder of the first half to the Breakers.

Boston had several chances to score.Hucles almost scored earlier in the 22nd minute as she made her way to the net on a breakaway, but her shot was saved by Red Star goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson.

Jennie Nobis also looked especially hungry for a goal with several chances. In the 26th minute she got onto the end of a corner from Kristine Lilly, but it sailed right over the crossbar. She had another shot off a pass from Heather Mitts in the 29th minute, but Jonsson got on the ground and just got her hands on it in time for the save.

The game winner occurred in the 35th minute when Lilly sent a long ball into the box that Hucles got on the end of with a one touch into the back of the net. It was both Hucles’ second goal of the season and Lilly’s second assist.

Into the second half ,the Red Stars put on intense pressure from the very first minute when Marian Dalmy sent a cross to Lindsay Tarpley, but the shot was deflected just wide of the goal. They continued to control the game throughout the half as Chicago outshot Boston, 13-2.

Chicago nearly got the equaliser when during a scramble in the box in the 64th minute, Boston's Mary-Frances Monroe, in her first start of the season, saved the shutout when she deflected a shot from Jill Oakes on the goal line at the far right post.

Chicago dominated the second half searching for the goal as Boston retreated into a defensive shell. Megan Rapinoe and Marian Dalmy made repeated forays down the flanks sending in dangerous balls to the middle but the Breakers held strong. Rapinoe then had a shot which was hit with so much force that hit the post and moved the goal of it's stand.

Chicago's last oppertunity came in the 84th minute when substitute Danesha Adams whipped in a ball for the unmarked Ella Maser who headed the ball over the goal. It should have gone in..at least hit target.

Boston held on for the 1- o win and the shut-out.

Both teams were without their English Internationals Kelly Smith and Alex Scott (Boston) , Karen Carney (Chicago).

The Breakers are next in action on Sunday, to face FC Gold Pride in Santa Clara, Calif. It will be the third and final game of the series, in which the Pride lead 1-0-1.

The Red Stars now go to New Jersey to play Sky Blue FC in a crucial match.

Boston Breakers Head Coach Tony DiCicco

“I thought we were very good in the first half, and we knew that they would push out a lot more,” “We chose to stay with the 4-5-1 and looked for counter attack opportunities. I don’t think we got enough of those. I think we were a little bit too eager, and gave up the ball too much. They had chances to score. We bent, but we didn’t break. I’m really proud of the players.”

Chicago Red Stars Head Coach Emma Hayes

" We gave ourselves a lot of work to do,after giving up the goal. When your chasing the game, especially on this surface,it doesn't really suit us." " It's always frustrating to lose, but to lose the way we did, it's very frustrating because we know we are better than this"

Lineups:

BOSTON: Ali Lipsher; Nancy Augustiniak-Goffi, Amy LePeilbet, Candace Chapman (Kasey Moore, 80th minute), Heather Mitts (Abby Crumpton, 71st minute); Maggie Tomecka, Mary-Frances Monroe, Angela Hucles, Kristine Lilly; Jenni Nobis, Fabiana (Amy Rodriguez, 59th minute).

CHICAGO: Caroline Jonsson; Ifeoma Dieke, Natalie Spigler (Ella Masar, 46th minute), Lydia Vandenbergh; Brittany Klein, Megan Rapinoe, Carli Loyd, Marian Dalmy; Lindsay Tarpley (Danesha Adams, 72nd minute), Cristiane.