Breakers Fall in Finale vs. Flash
- Updated: August 18, 2013
Breakers defender Rhian Wilkinson, seen here battling for the ball against Reign midfielder Megan Rapinoe earlier this season, scored her second goal of the season against the Flash on Saturday. (Photo: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz)
Rhian Wilkinson collected her second goal of the season, but it wasn’t enough for the Boston Breakers to overtake the Western New York Flash in Saturday’s season-ending 2-1 loss at Sahlen’s Stadium.
Wilkinson scored in the 53rd minute, but strikes from Samantha Kerr and Abby Wambach in the 23rd and 26th minutes gave the Flash the first seed in the NWSL playoffs.
The Breakers finished the season in fifth place with an 8-8-6 (30 points) record. The first-place Flash capped their season with a 10-4-8 (38 points) record.
Kerr opened the account midway through the first half when she converted a pass from Wambach that eluded the grasp of Alyssa Naeher.
Wambach scribbled her name on the scoresheet three minutes later when she headed it home to give the hosts to an early two-goal lead.
Even though they were knocked out of contention two weeks ago, the Breakers pressed ahead nevertheless, and in the second half, they found a measure of success. Wilkinson’s first attempt was denied by Adrianna Franch, but the Breakers’ defender poked her second effort through to pull the guests within striking distance in the 53rd minute.
But Wilkinson’s tally would prove to the final hurrah of the game, and of the season. Although Lianne Sanderson struck a free kick that beat Franch, the shot rang off the bar in the 90th minute.
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