NJ SKY BLUE FC 1 - 0 BOSTON BREAKERS

Heather O’Reilly scored the game’s only goal in the sixth minute to give Sky Blue FC a 1-0 win over the Boston Breakers on Saturday afternoon at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.

O'Reilly scored directly of a corner kick. The Assistant referee ruling the whole ball crossed over the line even though Boston GK Ali Lipsher got a hand to it.

Boston (5-5-3, 18 points), which played for the first time in 10 days, came into the match having won back-to-back matches and were unbeaten in their last three. The loss keeps the Breakers in second place for the moment pending tomorrow’s matches. Boston has a one-point edge over third-place Saint Louis, and a two-point lead over fourth-place Washington. Both teams are in action tomorrow. Sky Blue FC (4-6-3, 15 points) moves to fifth place with their second win in as many matches over the Breakers this season – both snapping three-match unbeaten runs.

Boston nearly answered O'Reilly's fortuitous corner kick in the 20th minute, but Christine Latham's header off service from Kelly Smith barely missed the right post.

Sky Blue FC had the better chances in the later stages of the opening half. In the 32nd minute, Kacey White played a nice through ball to Rosana but Lipsher came off her line well to stuff the Brazilian's chance. Three minutes later, Collette McCallum curled a 22-yard left-footed shot over Lipsher but off the front of the crossbar.

In the 40th minute, McCallum ran onto a cross from White but her close-range effort was deflected by Nancy Augustyniak-Goffi and then touched wide by Lipsher.

In the second half, the Breakers came up with two good chances back-to-back in the 73rd minute. Smith fed Amy Rodriguez in the box, but Jenni Branam was there to make a diving stop on her shot from 12 yards out. Moments later, Smith buzzed a shot past the right post from outside the box.

Sky Blue FC had a couple of opportunities of its own four minutes later. Lipsher came up big to stuff White and then held on to a blast from distance by McCallum.

The last good chance of the game went to Boston as substitute Jenny Nobis ran onto a long ball behind the Sky Blue FC backs and cut past a defender in the box, but her shot was knocked away by a diving Branam.

Sky Blue FC held a 13-12 advantage in shots and Branam was stellar in goal with five saves to register her fourth shutout of the season.

These two teams will do battle again, this time in Boston, on Sunday, July 12 at 6pm ET. The game will be televised live on Fox Soccer Channel and webcast at womensprosoccer.com.


Sky Blue FC Head Coach Kelly Lindsey:

"I thought we did much better today playing with the lead than we have in the past. We possessed the ball, kept Boston chasing, and found the corners. We didn't force anything at goal - overall I think that we managed the lead today much better than we did a few weeks ago."

Boston Breakers Head Coach Tony DiCicco:

"It's always hard when you have to chase the game. Recently we've been doing a good job of getting the first goal, but today that wasn't the case - Sky Blue FC did well today. We had our share of chances and we didn't put them away. Jenni Branam made a few good saves; it's unfortunate we didn't fare better because I think we've been playing pretty well of late."


Line-ups:

SKY BLUE FC: Jenni Branam; Keeley Dowling, Anita Asante, Christie Rampone, Megan Schnur; Kelly Parker (Julianne Sitch, 58th minute), Yael Averbuch (Jen Buczkowski, 62nd minute), Rosana (Kerri Hanks, 68th minute), Collette McCallum; Kacey White, Heather O'Reilly.

BOSTON: Ali Lipsher; Alex Scott, Amy LePeilbet, Nancy Augustyniak-Goffi, Heather Mitts (Kasey Moore, 46th minute); Christine Latham (Maggie Tomecka, 79th minute), Sophia Mundy (Jennie Nobis, 67th minute), Angela Hucles, Kristine Lilly; Kelly Smith, Amy Rodriguez.