FC Gold Pride and Saint Louis Athletica concluded their 2009 regular season schedule tonight with a 1-1 draw against FC Gold Pride at Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The match was the last WPS match in the regular season.
The Pride put on an exciting display of world class soccer for the 3,856 fans in attendance.
Both teams entered the game hoping to finish the regular season on a high note, coming out strong on the attack. Christie Welsh put the Athletica on top in the 17th minute, capitalizing on a long punt from goalkeeper Hope Solo by poking a close range shot past Pride Keeper Nicole Barnhart. This goal marked the first and only assist by a goalkeeper in WPS history.
Only seven minutes later, the Pride answered back, seeing defender Rachel Buehler put away her first goal as a professional. Buehler, who was unassisted in her 24th minute goal, dribbled her way up the left flank before cutting in just above the 18-yard box, and firing off a bullet past a diving Solo and into the side netting.
The rest of the first half saw FC Gold Pride with the better of the chances. Including a Christine Sinclair shot that forced a diving stop from Solo to keep the game even at 1-1. It was Solo’s second quality save of the first half.
The second half of the game saw Solo forced into three more goal saving stops and Sinclair and Brandi Chastain each made their bid to win the game in front of the home crowd on Fan Appreciation Night. Solo turned Sinclair away but was fortunate that Chastain’s shot went over the crossbar. The crossbar would be Solo’s best friend late in the half when Eriko Arakwa smashed a 20-yard drive off it. Solo finished the game with nine saves.
The second half was one of few chances for Saint Louis but Eniola Aluko, playing in her last game of the year, nearly won the match with an uncontested shot as she dribbled in from the right wing. Aluko’s shot beat Barnhart but slid just wide of the far post.
At times during the match both teams looked slow and fatigued but the game sprang to life in the final 15 minutes and became a back and forth affair with wide open play. Either team could have earned all three points with the right finish.
The Pride closed out its inaugural campaign, out of playoff contention, ranking seventh the standings with a record of 4-10-6, and 18 points. Though the Pride’s momentum seemed to stall mid-season, the team showed resilience keeping pace with the league’s top teams over the final quarter of the season.
The next Athletica home game will be at The Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park on August 19 when Athletica host the WPS Super Semifinal.
FC Gold Pride Head Coach Albertin Montoya
“We came out there and I thought we played some excellent soccer and created very good opportunities and unfortunately we couldn’t put the ball in the back of the net.I thought Hope Solo was incredible, as she always is. We came out here and played with a lot of heart and desire. It was very dangerous, very dangerous in attack but I think at the end of the day, we put on a good game for the fans.”
Saint Louis Athletica Captain Lori Chalupny
“By the 20th game you are going to be a little fatigued.Maybe some tired legs, we just need to get ready for the playoffs but that won’t be too difficult. We want to go into the playoffs with a lot of momentum and playing well but we needed to try some things formation wise in case we need to use them in the playoffs.”
LINEUPS:
FC Gold Pride: Nicole Barnhart; Rachel Buehler, Carrie Dew, Kristen Graczyk, Lindsay Massengale; Leslie Osborne(C),Tina DiMartino, Brandi Chastain (Kimberly Yonkers 72), Tiffany Milbrett (Eriko Arakawa 78); Christie Sinclair, Adriane
Sainr Louis Athletica: Hope Solo; Elise Weber, Tina Ellertson, Kia McNeill (Stephanie Logterman 38), Melissa Tancredi (Erin Walter 46); Lori Chalupny(C), Kendall Fletcher, Amanda Cinalli; Christie Welsh, Niki Cross, Sarah Walsh (Aluko 68)
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