New England Soccer Today

Breakers Win Home Opener

Photo credit: Amy Kontras/isiphotos.com

The Boston Breakers kicked off their home fixture list without a hitch by clinching a 1-0 win over Sky Blue FC on Sunday at Jordan Field in Allston, Mass.

Natasha Dowie scored the only goal of the game in the 37th minute while goalkeeper Abby Smith collected four saves to pick up the clean sheet.

“We’ve put a lot of work in this week on making sure the shape should be what it is because it wasn’t in Kansas City,” Breakers head coach Matt Beard said in a club release. “I’m pleased. We want to pick up as many points at home as we can.”

The hosts peppered Sky Blue keeper Kailen Sheridan early and often. Rose White, Tiffany Weimer, and Adriana Leon combined to force three saves from Sheridan in the first 16 minutes.

But Dowie would not be denied in the 37th minute. After receiving a pass from Rose Lavelle, the Breakers midfielder took on a Skye Blue defender and unleashed a shot that beat the dive of Sheridan.

Sky Blue’s best bid came in the 23rd minute when former Breakers midfielder Kelley O’Hara flicked a header that nearly slipped through before Smith lunged to tip it over the bar.

With the win, the Breakers picked up their first three points of the season (1-1-0) while Sky Blue stayed on one point (0-1-1).

“We said before the game we wanted to make this a difficult place for teams to come,” Beard said. “We got a talented group here. We showed a different side to our game today. I thought we were better defensively. We weren’t as open.”

The Breakers will look for home win no. 2 on Saturday at Jordan Field where they’ll face the Seattle Reign.

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