Heartbreaker: Boston kicked out

By Susan Bickelhaupt, Globe Staff, 8/17/2003

The Breakers' season concluded a week sooner than they wanted it to.

"This isn't the way it was supposed to end," captain Kristine Lilly told the crowd at Nickerson Field at game's end.

The Breakers, who won the Women's United Soccer Association regular-season title, lost a semifinal to Washington on penalty kicks yesterday after the teams were unable to score in 90 minutes of regulation and 15 minutes of overtime.

Jennifer Meier, Jacqui Little, and Mia Hamm scored on the only three penalty kicks the Freedom needed. Dagny Mellgren was the lone Breaker to hit the back of the net. Washington's Siri Mullinix saved attempts by Lilly and Heather Aldama after Maren Meinert sent the first penalty kick over the crossbar.

Breakers keeper Karina LeBlanc guessed the wrong way on the first two kicks, and couldn't get a hand on Hamm's. Mullinix was the difference before the shootout as well, as she leaped to tip Angela Hucles's shot over the crossbar and bravely dived to deny Mellgren in the second half.

Washington will play the winner of today's Atlanta-San Diego semifinal in the Founders Cup in San Diego Aug. 24.

"It was unfortunate, because the season was just awesome," said first-year Breakers coach Pia Sundhage. "It's hard to describe how I feel, but it's sad because I would have liked to play in the final."

Until the end, the 9,070 fans enjoyed the show, many waving small white towels they were given as they entered. They groaned after several Breaker chances were denied. Then came the shootout.

The Freedom gathered in a circle before the shootout to talk strategy. "Siri said, `I'll make one save, you guys make [your shots],' " Hamm said. "The confidence in that circle was just incredible."

Added Mullinix, who did more than she promised, "I wasn't really nervous; I think in that situation, all the pressure's on the kicker."

Washington coach Jim Gabarra was pleased that his team stayed focused, but not pleased when it struggled in the second half.

"We'd win the ball, but couldn't keep it, and give it right back," he said.

Boston had a great chance in the last minute of regulation, when Mellgren kicked what looked like a sure goal. It eluded Mullinix, but Little chested the ball out of danger.

Her penalty kick miss was particularly painful for Meinert as it turned out to be her final shot with the team. The MVP candidate and all-time WUSA scoring leader is retiring after three stellar season with the Breakers. "In my opinion, you can't practice a penalty kick in this situation," a red-eyed Meinert said after the game as LeBlanc sat beside her and rubbed her back. "Not after playing for 105 minutes. You can't practice that."

The Freedom, who lost to Carolina in the final last year, were tired after the game, and Hamm suffered heat exhaustion while signing autographs after the game. But the Freedom are ready for a return to the final. "[The semifinal] was exciting for the fans, exciting for television, and exhausting for the players," Hamm said. "You're proud to be part of a game like that, we'll enjoy the victory, but we need to recover right now."