NWSL Recap-Western New York Flash Defeat Boston Breakers 4 to 0 on 9/24/16

WNY Flash Claim Final NWSL Playoff Spot in a Decisive 4 – 0 Victory Over Boston Breakers.

The Western New York Flash entered the final game of the NWSL (National Women’s Soccer League) regular season with 29 points in the standings. New York was ranked fourth place just needing a  tie or win against the Boston Breakers to advance into the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Boston Breakers sat in last place and were hoping to play the role of spoilers in this game. The game was played on September 24, 2016, at Jordan Field in front of a sold-out crowd of 4027.

From the onset, the WNY Flash took advantage of a couple early scoring opportunities…

Jessica McDonald started the scoring early in the second minute. The play started when Abby Dahlkemper crossed a free kick to Makenzy Doniak, whom the Breakers claimed was offside, and she passed to McDonald for a goal.

Boston had a couple of scoring opportunities as WNY goalkeeper Sabrina D’Angelo saved a cross from Eunice Beckmann in the seventh minute. A few minutes later, Natasha Dowie missed the goal, but not by much.  However, the Western New York Flash soon dominated play. In the fourteenth minute, Lynn Williams intercepted a poor Boston back pass, and goalkeeper Libby Stout saved the scoring opportunity with her face. McDonald then took the rebound and Whitney Engen saved the goal with her head. The Flash had some scoring opportunities that Boston’s defense handled, including a nice save by Stout in the twenty-third minute off a Williams header.

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In the twenty-fourth minute, there was some confusion. Dahlkemper made a corner kick that bounced around in the penalty box that McCall Zerboni kicked towards goal, where it  was apparently handled by Boston defender Brooke Elby. Boston players stopped play for a moment thinking there was a foul or offside, but Williams took the rebound and scored the goal for WNY in the continuation of play.

And for most of the game, the WNY Flash dominated in possession to secure the victory.

From there, it seemed Boston lost their ability to threaten the goal, and the WNY Flash continued their assault. In the forty-fourth minute, Samantha Mewis scored a goal assisted by Zerboni. The victory was essentially secured at half-time.

WNY Flash completed the scoring in the sixty-seventh minute when Dahlkemper scored a penalty kick that was called when McDonald fell in the penalty box on a weak foul called by referee Karen Abt.

Throughout the second half, it was obvious that Boston was clearly frustrated with the referee. Several Boston players started to accumulate yellow cards. Angela Salem in the forty-eighth minute, Kate Schoepfer in the seventieth minute and followed by Whitney Engen a minute later.

After the game, team captain Engen made a brief speech to the Boston fans thanking them for their continued support.

With the victory, the WNY Flash clinched the last playoff berth. Pending the results of the other games this weekend, they will either travel to the Washington Spirit or Portland Thorns for the NWSL semifinals.