LA Blues News Release - www.bluessoccerclub.com
Thursday, June 12, 2014
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Mele French scored the lone goal as the LA Blues (6-0-0) handed the Bay Area Breeze (3-1-1) their first loss of the season on Wednesday night at the StubHub Center. It was a battle between the top two teams in the Western Conference and with the three points, the Blues further separated themselves from the rest of the table.
The game-winner came in the 38th minute when Jamie Bell dribbled the ball down to the end line, then played it back toward the top of the six-yard area where French attacked it to put it in the back of the net.
The goal came after numerous attempts by the Blues. Just nine minutes in, Brooke Elby made an attempt from outside the penalty area. Goalkeeper Emily Kruger was preparing to make the save but was put off when one of her defenders deflected Elby's shot, forcing her to quickly change direction and pick up the ball.
A few minutes later, Paige Nielsen played French through the penalty area but Kruger tapped away her shot, and the Breeze began a counter attack, which led to a corner kick. Blues goalkeeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme was there the get her fist on the ball and send it out of bounds.
The Blues created an exciting play in the 23rd minute with Bell finding Shawna Gordon near the top of the box. Gordon then played the ball for French, who was making a diagonal run, but it was redirected by a defender towards the end line. French was able to use her momentum to beat the next Breeze player to the ball, and played it back out wide to Bell, who crossed the ball in for Nielsen whose shot sailed high of the goal.
One minute later, Guajardo unleashed a shot in what was the Breeze's first significant opportunity, but Prudhomme came up with the save. In the 33rd minute, Gordon tried to score the opening goal with a long-distance shot, but it went just wide left of the goal.
Half-time substitute Cheyna Williams got her first shot on goal in the 75th minute, but Kruger got just enough on the ball to push it wide for a corner kick. Three minutes later, Rachel Mercik tried for the equalizer but her shot went straight to Prudhomme.
The Blues had two more noteworthy opportunities before the match ended. In the 84th minute they earned a free kick just outside the penalty area. It was French who took it, but the kick went wide right. In the 89th minute, Gordon eyed Williams on the right side of the field and set her up with a great one-on-one opportunity but the assistant referee waived it off as an offside play.
With the victory, the Blues now stand at the top of the Western Conference table with 18 points, while the Breeze remain in second place, tied the with the Colorado Pride, with 10 points.
The Blues will hit the road for their next two games in Colorado. They'll face the Rush on Friday, June 20 at 6 p.m. PT at Trailblazer Stadium, and the Storm at 1 pm PT on Sunday at Legend High School.