New England Soccer Today

Breakers’ Goal Drought Goes to 4 in Loss to Chicago

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Kristie Mewis had a chance to snap the Breakers’ season-opening goal drought on Saturday, but her first-half penalty effort smacked the post as the Red Stars prevailed 1-0 at Jordan Field.

Mewis’ shot from the spot beat ex-Breakers goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher before it hit the right stick in the 39th minute.

A 60th minute Christen Press strike was all the guests needed to send the Breakers, who remain the lone side in the league yet to net a goal, to their fourth straight loss to open the season.

“We keep talking about luck and obviously, Kristie hits the post on the penalty,” first-year Breakers coach Matt Beard told the media after the match. “It just sort of sums up our luck in front of goal.”

Press scored the game-winner when she pounced on the remnants of a Red Stars corner kick that initially ricocheted off a Breakers’ defender at the hour mark.

The Breakers were forced to make a goalkeeper change shortly after the half-hour mark. An injury ended Abby Smith’s night in the 32nd minute, and veteran Libby Stout was called upon to finish out the match between the sticks.

With Saturday’s loss, the Breakers fell to 0-4-0 (0 points) while the Red Stars improved to 3-1-0 (9 points).

“At the end of the day, we’ve just got to score goals,” Breakers defender Julie King told the media after the match. “I feel like we had a lot of opportunities that we didn’t finish, but so far that’s kind of the story of our season.”

Boston hopes the fifth time is a charm in both the goalscoring and win departments with a May 13 road clash against Sky Blue FC at Yurcak Field on tap.

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