It was a beautiful spring evening with an energetic crowd, a class opponent, and a noisy debut from we Bravehearts, who drummed, stomped and sang for 90 minutes. I know some blood was shed by the drummers, and those Bravehearts more advanced in age were definitely feeling it the next day, being far from “match fit” for the season. So far.
So what happened?
Just the facts: Playing with Sonia Bompastor defending on the back left and lacking Lisa De Vanna’s speed until she was subbed in the 62nd minute, the Freedom fell behind two goals by the visiting Boston Breakers. Allie Long buried a shot in the 87th minute after an assist by Abby Wambach, but the resulting energetic surge by the Freedom was unable to tie the game in the remaining time, leaving it at 1-2.
While we definitely saw a lot of heart from the team on Saturday, and the Long-Wambach goal was a thing of beauty, we’re wondering what was going on with the lineup and formation. Supposedly the Freedom was the WPS team that made the fewest changes in the offseason, so it’s curious that the starting lineup for the home opener – Moros on defense? Sauerbrunn in midfield? DeVanna on the bench for 60+ minutes? – was a failed experiment that seemed to be fixing things that weren’t broken, and not fixing things that were.
We’ll be there in full voice and at full volume for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Beat. The Beat don’t have anything near Boston’s formidable offensive triumvirate of Kristine Lilly, Kelly Smith, and Lauren Cheney, nor do they have a defense that includes stalwarts like Boston’s Leslie Osborne and Amy LePeilbet. Here’s hoping for a better game plan, and a better result. Go Freedom!
