[FC Gold Pride Official Press Release]
Pride falls 2-0 in Season Opener against the Saint Louis Athletica
HAYWARD, CA. (April 11, 2010) - FC Gold Pride (0-1-0) opened up the 2010 WPS season on the road facing off with the Saint Louis Athletica (1-0-0), the same team they closed the season against in 2009. The Pride fell 2-0 to Saint Louis on Sunday, after conceding two goals from Athletica's Eniola Aluko.
The Pride took the field for the first time in 2010 looking to carry their momentum from a strong preseason into the first game. Kelley O’Hara, in her first professional game, worked hard for her team creating multiple scoring opportunities but to no avail. Ultimately it was the Athletica that would strike first in the match as Aluko scored her first goal of the season in the 39th minute, after receiving a ball from Shannon Boxx.
"We came out tentative in the first half and it took awhile to find a rhythm," said Pride Head Coach Albertin Montoya. "But we came out in the second half with more energy and created a lot of opportunities, but unfortunately couldn't put the ball in the back of the net."
FC Gold Pride came out in the second half more aggressive and increased the pressure on the Athletica to push for the equalizer, but Hope Solo and her defense remained strong throughout the second half. Tiffeny Milbrett showed her tenacity and endurance continuing to create some offense for the Pride but again, the team came up empty. Midway through the second half, Athletica went up 2-0, when Aluko combined with Boxx again, this time on a corner kick in the 61st minute to score her second goal of the game.
"From this game, we now know what we need to improve on, and we'll be ready for next weekend," said Montoya.
The Pride returns to the Bay Area to host the reigning WPS Champion Sky Blue FC in their Home Opener Saturday, April 17 at 7 PM at Castro Valley High School Athletic Stadium. The first 4,000 fans through the gate will receive a 2010 schedule magnet featuring four-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Marta.
SCORING SUMMARY:
Team 1 2 F
STL: 1 1 2
BAY: 0 0 0
STL: Eniola Aluko 1 (Shannon Boxx) 40'
STL: Eniola Aluko 2 (Shannon Boxx) 62'
SAINT LOUIS ATHLETICA — Hope Solo, Sarah Wagenfuhr (Niki Cross, 24'), Tina Ellertson (India Trotter, 68'), Kendall Fletcher, Elise Weber, Shannon Boxx, Tina DiMartino, Carolyn Blank, Lori Chalupny, Eniola Aluko (Veronica Perez, 91+), Aya Miyama
Substitutes Not Used: Lindsay Tarpley, Erin Walter, Ashlyn Harris, Sarah Teegarden
FC GOLD PRIDE — Nicole Barnhart, Ali Riley, Candace Chapman, Rachel Buehler, Kaley Fountain (Kandace Wilson, 30'), Camille Abily, Solveig Gulbrandsen (Becky Edwards, 72'), Marta, Kelley O'Hara, Christine Sinclair, Tiffeny Milbrett (Kiki Bosio, 80')
Substitutes Not Used: Brittany Cameron, Kristen Graczyk
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY:
STL: Shannon Boxx (Caution) 55'
BAY: Becky Edwards (Caution) 72'
Referee: Jennifer Bennett
Referee Assistants: Debbie Coleman, Ann Mayberry
4th Official: Mark Boyko
Attendance: 3,356
