Flash Score Three Unanswered Goals To Pick Up First Three Points Of The Year
The Western New York Flash scored three unanswered goals to pick up its first win of the season, defeating the Boston Breakers 3-1 in its 2015 home opener.
Western New York saw goals from Samantha Mewis, Becky Edwards and Sydney Leroux, with it being Mewis’ first professional goal.
“We showed our qualities tonight, which was really good to see. A lot of young players stepped up and did well tonight,” said Flash general manager and head coach Aaran Lines. “We adjusted things at halftime, and we came out and dominated the second half. We gave very little away and we deservedly won the game.”
The Breakers were the first to get on the board, after Morgan Marlborough found a gap and put home a cross from Stephanie McCaffrey in the 15th minute. However, the Flash responded eight minutes later, as Mewis scored the first Flash goal to level the game at 1-1.
Off a right-side free kick by Edwards, the 5-11 midfielder was able to win the ball in the air, heading the ball home past Boston goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher.
It was Edwards who put the Flash up in the 62nd minute, starting the play with a quick, outside of the foot pass to Lynn Williams. Williams carried the ball into the left side of the box, while Edwards spun around her defender to break free. Williams, a rookie out of Pepperdine, fed the ball back in the middle and Edwards fired it in with her left foot.
Leroux who, along with defender Whitney Engen, will next head to the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, added insurance in the 88th minute with her first goal as a member of the Flash. The U.S. Women’s National Team forward received a ball from Abby Dahlkemper on the left side, cut in to her right foot and fired low past Naeher for the 3-1 final.
The Flash were strong on the offensive end, posting a season-high 14 shots in Rochester.
The chances started early, with Jaelene Hinkle finding Mewis on a well-timed run through the middle. The midfielder got behind the Breakers defense and carried to the left byline, looking for Kristen Hamilton in the middle. However the Boston backline was able to clear it away before Naeher was tested.
In the ninth minute, the Flash earned a set piece on the left side. Edwards sent the ball into the box, finding Jasmyne Spencer open inside the six. Spencer tried to one-time a volley past Naeher, but she was unable to fully connect and the ‘keeper made the save.
After Marlborough’s goal, the Flash nearly responded on the foot of Mewis after Leroux set her up to blast a shot from 20-yards out. Naeher, however, was able to punch the shot away.
Eighty-one minutes in, Williams chased down a ball and legged out her defender and for a breakaway. Naeher came off her line and poked it away, but Williams was still able to get a shot off. The speedy forward came inches from her first pro goal, but Julie King kept it a one-goal game, clearing the ball off of the line.
Rachel Wood, who entered as a second-half substitute, had a scoring opportunity for Boston in the 53rd minute as she got on a far post corner. However, Flash goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo was able to dive and keep out the close-range shot. D’Angelo earned her first professional win in the match, finishing with two saves.
“We’re young, there’s a process involved here but it’s nice to be able to pick up a win in that process,” Lines added. “We’ll only improve, [the players] will only gain in confidence. This is a team for the future.”
The Flash (1-2-0, 3 points) will remain home for its next game, hosting FC Kansas City at 7 p.m. ET on Friday night.
