Set Pieces Stifle Breakers in Loss to Stars

Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com

A pair of strikes that originated from the corner flag sent the Boston Breakers to a 2-0 defeat to the Chicago Red Stars on Wednesday at Village of Lisle in Chicago.

Alyssa Mautz secured the opener in the 30th minute, while Melissa Tancredi scored the second in the 82nd minute to send the Red Stars to a postseason-clinching win.

The Breakers’ inability to get on the board wasn’t for lack of trying, to be sure. In the 25th minute, Lianne Sanderson broke through the Red Stars backline with a prime opportunity to score before her shot strayed wide of frame.

But the hosts didn’t let an early opportunity go to waste minutes later. Julie Johnston sent in a corner kick for Mautz, who headed it through to put the Red Stars on top at the half hour mark.

A chance for the Breakers to level it arrived in the 63rd minute when Bianca D’Agostino blasted a long-range shot that required Karina LeBlanc to make a spectacular save.

D’Agostino’s shot was the closest the Breakers would come to getting a result after Tancredi pounced on a failed clearance and sent it through in the 82nd minute.

The last-place Breakers (5-16-2, 17 points) will wrap up their tumultuous season on Sunday at Harvard Stadium where they’ll face the eighth-place Houston Dash at 6:30pm. Should the Breakers win, they will avoid finishing the season at the bottom of the standings.