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Boston Breakers Defeat Houston Dash in Home Opener

By Scott Sinclair

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The Boston Breakers opened up their home schedule by defeating the Houston Dash, 3-2, in front of 2,376 fans at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium.

“It was a huge turnaround confidence-wise. They battled,” Boston Breakers head coach Tom Durkin said. “Getting control of our nerves was a big problem in Portland, we didn’t settle in until we were down 2-nil. Kudos to the girls today because the spirit was really good. We’re a really young team, but I really like this team. I have a lot of confidence that this group of players is going to come together, they’re going to gel. We just need time with them.”

The Breakers (1-1-0, 3 points) jumped out to a 2-0 lead 30 minutes into the match, putting pressure on Houston’s back line early and often. In the eighth minute, Rafinha sent a corner kick into the box, the ball bounded off several players in front of Houston keeper Bianca Henninger before  Defender Julie King knocked it in for her first of the year, making it a 1-0 game.

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Kristie Mewis nearly added to the lead in the 23rd minute, gathering the ball at the top of the 18 before hitting a ball that went across the box and out for a goal kick.

In the thirtieth minute,  Breakers  Forward Nkem Ezurike tallied her first goal of the season. It all began when Forward Stephanie McCaffrey burst down the left flank and then into the box before sliding it to Ezurike, who scored to give the Breakers a 2-0 lead.

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    • Houston gained momentum and got one back in the 35th minute when Jessica McDonald scored the first of her two goals on the night. Kealia Ohai sent in a cross from the left side and McDonald headed it past Breakers keeper Alyssa Naeher, cutting Houston’s deficit to 2-1. The Dash came close to tying the match in the 45th minute had it not been for a massive save by Naeher, who stopped a well-hit ball by Morgan Brian.

    The Dash evened the match in the 68th minute when McDonald just beat Naeher to ball at the top of the box as Naeher came well off her line to try and clear it. McDonald chipped it past Naeher to tie the game at two apiece.

    The Breakers took the lead for good, getting the game-winner off an own goal in the 72nd minute. Mewis sent a free kick from 25 yards out to the far post. Defender Kassey Kallman got a head on it, as did King, but as the ball came toward ground, Carll Lloyd knocked it into her own goal.

    The Breakers held on for the final 20 minutes, getting another huge save from Naeher. This time, the U.S. Women’s National Team keeper came out to challenge Melissa Henderson and timed it perfectly, sliding to make a save on the former Breaker in the 75th minute.

    “We saw them play. We studied the tapes of their home game and their away game, and they looked really good,” Durkin said of the Dash. “They won convincingly at home and drew on the road, and they had no problem coming back and drawing. They’re very strong up front, and any midfield with Carli Lloyd in it is a good midfield. We know what Morgan Brian can do. So we felt out best matchup was our frontrunners against their two center backs. We know Steph (McCaffrey) has good breakaway speed, so we knew that would be a good matchup.”

    The Breakers hit the road for a pair of games, beginning Saturday, May 2 against the Western New York Flash, while the Dash welcome FC Kansas City.

    Match: Boston Breakers vs. Houston Dash

    Date: April 26, 2015

    Venue: Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium, Allston, Mass.

    Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET

    Attendance: 2,376

    Weather: 50 degrees, sunny

     

    Lineups

    BOS: Alyssa Naeher, Mollie Pathman, Kassey Kallman (c), Maddy Evans, Amy Barczuk, Stephanie Verdoia (Katie Schoepfer 58’), Rafinha (Suzane Pires 65’), Kristie Mewis, Nkem Ezurike (Morgan Marlborough 74’) Stephanie McCaffrey

     

    Subs not used: Jami Kranich, Bia, Ketlen, Rachel Wood

     

    HOU: Bianca Henninger, Ella Masar, Niki Cross, Stephanie Ochs (Carleigh Williams 19’, Stephanie Roche 80’), Meghan Klingenberg, Carli Lloyd, Rachael Axon, Morgan Brian, Tiffany McCarty (Melissa Henderson 69’), Jessica McDonald, Kealia Ohai

     

    Subs not used: Ashley Nick, Megan Kinneman

     

    GOALS                       1         2         F

    Boston Breakers        2          1        3

    Houston Dash            1          1        2

     

    SCORING SUMMARY

    Goal    Time   Team           Goal Scorer                  Assist

    1          8         Boston         Julie King

    2          31       Boston          Nkem Ezurike           Stephanie McCaffrey

    3          65       Houston        Jessica McDonald           Kealia Ohai

    4          68       Houston         Jessica McDonald         Morgan Brian

    5          72       Boston            OG (Carli Lloyd)

     

    Disciplinary Summary

    HOU: Niki Cross (caution) 44

    BOS: Maddy Evans (caution) 55

    HOU: Stephanie Roche (caution) 90

     

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