WPS: Chicago pelts Boston with three in first half

BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - The Chicago Red Stars turned up the heat Saturday night against the Boston Breakers in Women's Professional Soccer action. While a 20-degree temperature drop found fans bundled up, the Red Stars impressed in their second home match. Three first-half goals gave Chicago a huge advantage going into the locker room.

Second half, Chicago continued its dominance, earning a 4-0 win. The four goals mark the most by any team in WPS. Red Stars goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson picked up her third clean sheet of the season with the win. The Breakers were shut out for the first time all season.

First Half

Chicago had a close call in the 14th minute.Defender Marian Dalmy shot the ball toward goal. It was deflected into play. Midfielder Brittany Klein picked up the loose ball and shot, only to have the ball bounce off the defense and out.

But seven minutes later, the Red Stars found the net. Midfielder Karen Carney tapped the ball to forward Carli Lloyd, who sent a freekick toward goal. It deflected off the wall and bounced in for a 1-0 Red Stars lead.

Boston looked to tie things up with a couple of close calls. Midfielder Kristine Lilly blasted a freekick toward goal in the 32nd minute. Red Stars keeper Caroline Jonsson grabbed it for the save. Four minutes later, Breakers defender Alex Scott drilled another shot toward goal.

Before Boston could find the net, Chicago took control once again. In the 39th minute, Klein flicked the ball to Red Stars midfielder Megan Rapinoe. She dodged a defender and rocketed a left-footed shot into the upper left corner of the net past Boston goalkeeper Kristin Luckenbill for a 2-0 lead.

Three minutes later, Chicago struck again. Klein found Carney, who buried a left-footed shot into the upper left corner for a 3-0 lead.

In first-half stoppage time Luckenbill almost allowed another one when she dropped the ball in the box. Luckenbill recovered it, but regardless Chicago headed into the locker room with a 3-0 lead.

Second Half

It didn't take long for the Chicago Red Stars to pick up where they left off. In the 52nd minute Carney found Lindsay Tarpley in the box. Tarpley back-heeled the ball to Klein, who drilled it into the net for a 4-0 lead.

Boston goalkeeper Allison Lipsher replaced Luckenbill in the 62nd minute, making her first appearance for the Breakers.

Red Stars midfielder Hether Garriock made her Red Stars debut, entering the game for Carney in the 61st minute. Unfortunately her debut was cut short as she was helped off the field in the 69th minute. Forward Ella Masar replaced her in the 70th minute.

In the 76th minute, Tarpley sailed a shot toward goal. Lipsher grabbed it for the save.

Boston got a good look in the 83rd minute when Angela Hucles drilled a shot toward goal. Jonsson made the save, keeping her net clean. In the 84th minute, Lilly sent a low ball rolling just wide of the right post.

A rough tackle on Lilly led to a freekick opportunity for the Breakers in the 87th minute. Midfielder Stacy Bishop sent it off the wall. The ball was eventually cleared for a Boston corner kick.

The Red Stars continued to push, with Tarpley sending a 90th minute shot into Lipsher's arms.

Chicago held on for the 4-0 win. The Red Stars remain undefeated with a 2-0-2 record. Boston dropped its second decision of the year and falls to 2-2-0.

ST. LOUIS, Mo -- With limited offensive options present for either side, St. Louis Athletica's (0-2-1) and Los Angeles Sol's (3-0-1) game this afternoon ended without a goal scored. The 0-0 draw was not your classic defensive struggle as once again Athletica managed to out shoot its opponent, this time by more than a two-to-one margin (17 to 8).

Los Angeles' Karina LeBlanc and Saint Louis' Hope Solo, two of the premier goalkeepers in Women's Professional Soccer, did not disappoint as both players made crucial saves throughout the day. Their most impressive run was a 10-minute sequence late in the second half when both saved penaly kicks.

Athletica failed to finish in the attacking third, a consistent theme this season, including missing on a penalty kick in 85th minute after LeBlanc denied Athletica midfielder Lori Chalupny. LeBlanc, yet to allow a goal on the season, continued her dominant run with another solid game today. She ended with four saves logging her fourth consecutive shutout.

Not to be outdone, Athletica and current U.S. international starting goalkeeper Hope Solo tallied three saves including denying midfielder Aly Wagner's penalty kick in the 75th minute. The Sol will head to Massachusetts to face the Boston Breakers in an important league tilt next Saturday while Athletica, still searching for the first goal of the season, will travel next Sunday to Maryland to take on the Washington Freedom.