Boston Breakers’ Offensive Charge Not Enough To Defeat Sky Blue
Soccer News: A late offensive charge from the Boston Breakers was not enough to overcome an early Sky Blue FC lead Saturday night, as they ultimately fell, 3-1, at Yurcak Field in Piscataway, N.J.
Sky Blue FC charged out of the gates, scoring a goal within the first 15 minutes of each half, the first in the 13th minute on a goal from Kelley O’Hara. Katy Freels forced a turnover, took the ball down the right side of the field and then launched a cross to the far post. The ball landed on the left foot of O’Hara, and she tapped it in for the 1-0 lead.
The hosts also scored just six minutes into the second half. In the 52nd minute, Hayley Haagsma took a ball from a throw-in and fed it over the top to Sam Kerr, who beat her defender and chipped it past a charging Alyssa Naeher for a three-goal lead.
For the second game in a row, Naeher was tested early on, making multiple saves within the first 10 minutes of play. A couple of Naeher’s early saves came on aggressive play off her line.
In the third minute, Nadia Nadim broke into the box but before she could get a shot off with her right foot, Naeher had come off of her line to block the ball with her chest. Less than a minute later, Naeher again charged off her line, this time to the 18-yard-line, to break up Nadim’s dangerous foray into the offensive third.
Just seconds after that, Naeher answered yet another call when Sam Kerr worked through the Boston defense to fire a shot from the top of the box, this time stretching horizontally through the air to her right to snag the ball before it found the back of the net. Naeher made four saves in the first half on her way to nine total on 12 SBFC shots on goal.
Down 3-0 in the 84th minute, Rafinha worked the ball on the end line and slid it back to Lauren Lazo who found the back of the net for her first professional goal.
Rafinha’s individual effort down the right side of the field in the 19th minute resulted in a cross towards the top of the box to Morgan Marlborough, but she just missed connecting with it. Five minutes later, it was Mollie Pathman from the left side of the field that sent a ball in towards the top of the box that bounced around before Rafinha sent a shot towards Brittany Cameron.
In the 34th minute, Kristie Mewis won the ball deep in Boston’s end but got a ball off over the top to Marlborough in the offensive half. Marlborough made the best of the opportunity with a strong individual effort, working through the defense to get off a shot.
When it seemed Boston had settled and would get out of the half either down one or tied, the Sky Blue offense started firing again.
Naeher got on the ground to make a stretching save on a long-range shot from O’Hara in the 32nd minute to keep it at 1-0, but just minutes later, O’Hara was able to beat Naeher for her second goal of the game. Kerr burst through the Boston backline in the 35th minute and reached the end line where she slotted the ball to O’Hara, who used her right foot to put the ball in the back of the net for the 2-0 lead heading into the half.
Despite the 3-0 deficit, Naeher continued to play aggressively and continued to have Nadim’s number. In the 57th minute, Naeher again charged off of her line to palm away a Nadim chip shot, and then in the 71st minute had a quick-reaction save to her left to parry an inside-the-box shot from the Sky Blue striker. Naeher was tested again in the 80th minute, forced to make another quick save with her hands.
The Boston offense also continued to press on in the second half. In the 76th minute, Rafinha and Maddy Evans combined on the right side, with Evans eventually feeding McCaffrey inside the box. McCaffrey was able to get off a few shots, but the rookie’s attempts were blocked by the Sky Blue backline.
After the goal in the 84th, the Breakers continued to press for more. In the 87th minute, McCaffrey worked towards the left edge of the box and sent in a low cross that Kyah Simon redirected towards the net but not in. In the 88th minute, Mewis sent a ball over the top that the SBFC defender just edged out from a running Pathman.
Despite the late push, Boston was unable to net another goal, ultimately dropping to 3-9-3 on the season, finishing up a grueling stretch of three games in seven days. With the win, Sky Blue moves to 4-6-5. The Breakers return to action Saturday, Aug. 1 to take on Seattle Reign FC. The Breakers final home game is Aug 8 vs. Washington.
Boston Breakers at Sky Blue FC
Lineups
BOS: Alyssa Naeher, Rachel Wood, Julie King (Maddy Evans, 58), Kassey Kallman, Mollie Pathman, Amy Barczuk, Bia (Lauren Lazo, 57), Kristie Mewis, Rafinha, Kyah Simon, Morgan Marlborough (Stephanie McCaffrey, 52)
SBFC: Brittany Cameron (Aubrey Bledsoe, 82), Christie Rampone, Caitlin Foord, Kristin Grubka, Cami Levin, Kelley O’Hara, Katy Freels, Hayley Haagsma, Sarah Killion, Nadia Nadim (Jonelle Filigno, 73), Samantha Kerr (Taylor Lytle, 62)
Goals 1 2 F
Boston (3-8-3) 0 1 1
Sky Blue FC (3-6-5) 2 1 3
Scoring Summary
Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assist
1 13 SBFC Kelley O’Hara Katy Freels
2 36 SBFC Kelley O’Hara Samantha Kerr
3 52 SBFC Samantha Kerr Hayley Haagsma
4 84 Boston Lauren Lazo Rafinha
