Florida State Seminoles Defeat the Boston Breakers in Preseason Match
The Boston Breakers fall to the Florida State Women’s team during the Breakers’ preseason schedule ahead of the 2016 NWSL season. Boston look to build upon its 2015 season as they welcome the 3rd overall pick in the NWSL draft Christen Westphal from the University of Florida for its upcoming season.
Soccer News: The Boston Breakers controlled possession and had the advantage in shots, but a late goal by Florida State was the only tally of the match as the host Seminoles took a 1-0 victory Saturday night in Tallahassee.
“I was pleased with the performance. We did everything but score tonight,” Boston Breakers head coach Matt Beard said after the match. “I felt some of the things we worked on in training are starting to come off. We’re still learning each other’s triggers and understanding certain things, but we haven’t had a lot of time to do stuff in the final third. It was a great workout for us because they were an organized side.”
The Seminoles scored the game-winner in the 80th minute when Irish Women’s National Team midfielder Megan Connolly latched onto a pass from Ari Hudson and found the back of the net.
The Breakers had a number of chances, but came up just short. The second period provided the most action, however, a sequence in the third period nearly saw the Breakers go on top. In the 67th minute, Mollie Pathman crossed to Morgan Marlborough in front of goal. The second-year Breaker volleyed a shot on goal, but FSU keeper Cassie Miller tipped it off the crossbar.
The second period ended with the Breakers nearly nabbing a goal in the final seconds. Stephanie McCaffrey lofted a ball on goal inside the box, but Hudson headed it off the line. Two minutes prior Kristie Mewis took a free kick, awarded after a Florida State yellow card, from 25 yards out, but Miller came up big again for the Seminoles. Mewis nearly scored in the 53rd minute when she struck ball with pace from distance, heading toward top corner, but it curled just wide.
Florida State’s first real chance of the match came in the 51st minute when Megan Connolly put a shot on goal from 20 yards out, but it was no trouble for Libby Stout, seeing her first action of the preseason.
The Breakers looked to open the scoring in the 36th minute when Louise Schillgard played Julie King out wide. King crossed it, and the ball eventually found the feet of Kyah Simon. She took a crack at it and put it just wide.
The Breakers had a pair of chances in the first 30 minutes. Rookie defender Christen Westphal got on the end of a ball from 20 yards out in the 13th minute, but Miller made the stop. In the final seconds, McCall Zerboni rocketed a shot at Miller, 10 yards from goal, but the keeper came up with the save.
The Breakers return to preseason action Wednesday, March 30, taking on the U16/17 Florida Elite Soccer Academy team at Flager College in St. Augustine, Fla.
Source/Photo Credit: Boston Breakers
