The Boston Breakers Will Sky Blue in the Season Finale
The Boston Breakers and Sky Blue FC will renew their longstanding rivalry Saturday night. The two teams meet in their 2017 National Women’s Soccer League finale, a 7 p.m. ET kickoff at Jordan Field in Allston, Mass.
The Breakers are 1-1-0 against Sky Blue this season, scoring a 1-0 win at home April 23. Natasha Dowie (five goals, two assists) scored the game-winning goal in the first match, and it came in the 37th minute off an assist from Rose Lavelle, (her first assist as a pro). Goalkeeper Abby Smith made four saves to earn her first professional win and shutout in the process.
The two teams met again Aug. 26, this time at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J. The hosts took a 1-0 win, getting a goal from NWSL leading scorer Samantha Kerr (16 goals) in the fifth minute.
Coming off a 3-0 win on the road against the Washington Spirit last Saturday night in Maryland, the Breakers are looking to end on a high by beating Sky Blue FC, taking two in a row to finish the season strong. The Breakers come into the match with a 4-12-7 record. Sky Blue sits at 9-11-3.
“We want to finish off our season on a positive note with all three points,” Boston Breakers head coach Matt Beard said. “It’s been a challenging, but rewarding year for us, and we’ve had to use every player on our roster. I’m already excited to get to work in the offseason and take this fantastic club to new heights.”
In addition to Dowie, the Breakers will look to get continued production up top from Adriana Leon, who was named NWSL Player of the Week for the second time this season following her one-goal, one-assist performance in last Saturday’s win at Washington. Leon now has a team-high six goals and six assists on the year. Midfielder Rosie White is third on the team with four goals.
Sky Blue FC is coming off a 1-1, come-from-behind win at home against NWSL Shield winners North Carolina. On the road, however, Sky Blue hasn’t had as much success compared to what they’ve done at Yurcak Field. Sky Blue has lost three straight road games for just the second time in franchise history, and the first since June 29-July 31, 2013. They are 3-7-1 on the road in 2017.
In addition to Kerr, Sky Blue is led by Maya Hayes (five goals, three assists), Sarah Killion (five goals, two assists), Raquel Rodriguez (four goals), Kelley O’Hara (three goals, two assists), and Daphne Corboz (one goal, five assists). Goalkeeper Kalien Sheriden has 83 saves, one behind Smith, who has 84 and is second in the NWSL.
Boston Breakers 2018 season tickets are currently on sale.
Photo Credit/Source: Boston Breakers
