BOSTON, MA (April 16, 2010) The Independence played the first away game of the season over the weekend against the Boston Breakers, earning a point on the road and scoring the first goal in franchise history.
An equalizing goal by Allison Falk in her first appearance for Philadelphia helped the Independence to capture a 1-1 tie in a notoriously tough road game.
The Breakers had a few dangerous opportunities in the first half, but Karina LeBlanc came up with three major saves to keep the game scoreless entering halftime. The Coast Guard “Save of the Game” came late in the half when LeBlanc stopped a breakaway opportunity from Alex Scott, going to ground and getting a hand on the ball as Scott tried to push the ball past.
The Independence came out energized in the second half, substituting Joanna Lohman for Heather Mitts and switching to a 4-4-2 formation. Despite coming out strong, the Independence conceded the first goal in the 49th minute. A free kick by Kelly Smith from 20 yards out took a bad deflection off the wall and was redirected past a diving Karina LeBlanc.
The Independence bounced back immediately, equalizing just six minutes later off a headed finish from central defender Allison Falk. Lori Lindsey sent a perfect bending free kick to the back post that Falk buried beyond Breakers keeper Ashley Phillips. Falk was unable to compete in the first Independence match due to a red card she received in the 2009 WPS Championship with her former team, the Los Angeles Sol. Falk scored the first-ever WPS goal last season in the inaugural 2009 WPS match, and tonight scored the first-ever WPS goal for the Independence franchise.
Both teams continued to create offensive chances for the remainder of the half, with two dangerous opportunities for the Independence in the 80th minute from mis-cleared corner kicks. In the 85th minute, Jenn Buczkowski was awarded a second yellow card and sent off the pitch, putting the Independence down to ten players until the closing whistle. For the remaining five minutes in regulation and four minutes of stoppage time, the Independence battled defensively to protect the net, managing to hold off Boston despite being outnumbered. In the closing seconds of the match, LeBlanc snatched a cross out of the air to protect her goal, and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
The Independence return home to John A. Farrell Stadium on April 25th to take on regional rival, Washington Freedom. Kickoff is at 6pm as the Independence look to capture the first win of the season.
April 18, 2010 - Philadelphia Independence vs. Boston Breakers
GOALS
SCORING SUMMARY
Goal Time Team Goal Scorer Assists
1 49 Boston Kelly Smith -
2 55 Philadelphia Allison Falk Lori Lindsey
CAUTIONS AND EJECTIONS
Time Team # Player Card Reason
63 Philadelphia 9 Caroline Seger Yellow Card Unsporting Behavior
76 Philadelphia 4 Jen Buczkowski Yellow Card Unsporting Behavior
88 Philadelphia 4 Jen Buczkowski Red Card
SUBSTITUTIONS
Time Team OUT IN
46 Philadelphia #2 Heather Mitts #17 Joanna Lohman
69 Philadelphia #10 Lianne Sanderson #19 Danesha Adams
74 Boston #7 Liz Bogus #16 Laura del Rio
89 Boston #10 Kelly Smith #88 Tiffany Weimer
90 Philadelphia #6 Lori Lindsey #24 Estelle Johnson
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