NWSL Match Recap: Portland Thorns FC 4, Boston Breakers 1
The Boston Breakers opened up the 2015 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season with a 4-1 loss Saturday night on the road to Portland Thorns FC.
In front of 13,386 at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon, the Breakers threatened early but Portland keeper Michelle Betos was up to the task, stopping three dangerous shots on goal in the first 25 minutes. The first came in the second minute when Mollie Pathman sent a ball over the top to Kristie Mewis, who flicked a header on goal from close range.
After Portland took a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute on a goal by Sinead Farrelly, Betos stopped a pair of screamers from Boston, one from Mewis, the other coming from Katie Schoepfer, both from distance. Seconds prior to Farrelly’s goal, Breakers captain Kassey Kallman cleared a shot off the line by Allie Long. The first-year Breaker raced back after Long beat Naeher and just got a touch on the ball to prevent a goal.
Portland took a 2-0 lead into halftime after getting a goal from Mana Shim, who slotted one past Breakers goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher in the 38th minute off an assist from Kendall Johnson.
Just past the hour mark, Breakers rookie and the club’s top acquisition in the 2015 NWSL College Draft, Stephanie McCaffrey scored her first professional goal. The Winchester, Massachusetts native and former Boston College star took a pass from Schoepfer just inside the top of the 18, turned and hit a right-footed strike to beat Betos far post to cut Boston’s deficit to 2-1.
Portland added a pair of goals in the span of a minute, and both came from Long, assisted each time by Shim. The goals came in the 72nd and 73rd minutes.
The Breakers return to action on Sunday, April 26, at 5 p.m. ET against the Houston Dash. The match will mark the Breakers home debut at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium on the campus of Harvard University in Allston, Massachusetts. To purchase tickets, visit www.breakerstickets.com.
Thorns FC play the second of consecutive home matches to start the 2015 season against the Western New York Flash on Saturday, April 18; kickoff is set for 4 p.m. (Pacific). The match will be broadcast live via webstream at www.portlandthornsfc.com.
MATCH REPORT
Match: Boston Breakers at Portland Thorns FC
Date: April 11, 2015
Venue: Providence Park, Portland, OR
Kickoff: 10 p.m. ET
Attendance: 13,386
Weather: 50 degrees, cloudy
Lineups
BOS: Alyssa Naeher, Mollie Pathman, Kassey Kallman (c), Cat Whitehill, Maddy Evans, Katie Schoepfer (Morgan Marlborough 73’), Rafinha, Suzane Pires (Amy Barczuk 61’), Ketlen (Bia 61’), Kristie Mewis, Stephanie McCaffrey
Subs not used: Jami Kranich, Nkem Ezurike, Stephanie Verdoia, Rachel Wood
PTFC: Michelle Betos, Rachel Van Hollebeke, Kat Williamson (c), Emily Menges, Tobin Heath, Sinead Farrelly, McCall Zerboni, Kendall Johnson, Allie Long (Sarah Robbins, 88’), Meleana Shim (Courtney Niemiec, 87’), Alex Morgan (Jodie Taylor 75’)
Subs not used: Nadine Angerer, Kelsey Haycook, Kaylyn Kyle, Hanna Terry
GOALS 1 2 F
Portland Thorns FC 2 2 4
Boston Breakers 0 1 1
SCORING SUMMARY
Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assist
1 21 Portland Sinead Farrelly Kat Williamson
2 38 Portland Mana Shim Kendall Johnson
3 63 Boston Stephanie McCaffrey Katie Schoepfer
4 71 Portland Allie Long Meleana Shim
5 72 Portland Allie Long Meleana Shim
Disciplinary Summary
BOS: Mollie Pathman (caution) 33
Referee: Margaret Domka
Assistant Referees: Veronica Perez, Des Miller
Fourth Official: Farhad Dadkho
