The Breakers’ New Goal-Scoring Faces: Will Boston’s New Forwards Provide That Needed Spark?

We’re only days away now from the WPS kicking off its second season, with the Boston Breakers visiting the Washington Freedom on Saturday, April 10. With the 22-person rosters announced last last week, it’s time to take a look at some new faces on the only team that matters, really: the Boston Breakers.

Boston was lucky enough to have both Alex Scott and Kelly Smith not try (I’m only assuming here) to wiggle out of their contracts after a fairly devastating inaugural season. Boston started off strong, but with little chemistry between the front line and the rest of the squad, there was little impact when it was needed most. First-round draft pick Amy Rodriguez proved to be of a quality not suitable for the words “first-round draft pick,” and coach Tony DiCicco switched in and out so many players up front—Rodriguez and Latham, Rodriguez and Nobis, Latham and Nobis (and the list seriously goes on and on)—that no one had a chance to gel.

But 2010 brings a new look to Boston’s front line. Count e’m—Lauren Cheney, Laura Del Rio, Fabiana, Sarah Walsh, and Tiffany Weimer will hopefully bring that spark that Boston never had in front of the net last year (dear god, please let one of these women bring the spark Boston never had). I like the idea of Lilly and Smith playing pure midfield roles and confidently serving the ball up top to someone who can actually do something with it, like put it in the net and thus collect three points, moving the team or supporting it at the very top. Imagine that, Boston fans!

Boston’s Goal Scorers at a Glance

Here they be:

Lauren Cheney isn’t a new name to supporters of the U.S. women’s national team. She’s young, fast, and can score goals on an international stage. That said, Boston was stoked about another all-star college player from the state of California (Rodriguez was from USC, Cheney from UCLA, however), but she didn’t turn out so well now, did she? I have this feeling, though, one I never had with Rodriguez, that Cheney will make a difference.

Laura Del Rio is the league’s first Spaniard, and the good news is that this isn’t the first time I’ve heard her name. I’ve been trying to dig out an old, old, old (OLD) fifa.com article about her, but alas—no luck. I’m thinking it published around 2003, though, so hey—the girl’s been around, even though the Spanish women’s national team ranks low. Del Rio has spent quality time in Germany playing for FFC Frankfurt (that’s Birgit and German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer’s team, by the way), so she’s been exposed to footie of the high-quality variety. I think she’s a great acquisition, especially if she turns out to be the female Fernando Torres.

Fabiana is healthy—she’s healthy! I don’t know if this is good or bad, but she is Brazilian, which should make her game physical and creative, but as far as I know, she’s not related to Marta, so she may not leave ball-size dents in the asses of opponents. Still, though, it’ll be great to finally get to see exactly what she’s capable of and how she can contribute to this team.

Sarah Walsh and Tiffany Weimer were traded to Boston from St. Louis and the Bay Area, respectively. Sarah Walsh, from what I’ve seen of her, has an aggressive, gritty, non-stop style that would have worked well with Christine Latham, but, alas, with our fiesty Canadian cut from the team, I’ll settle for seeing her paired with Cheney. Weimer impressed the hell out of everyone early last season with ridiculous ball skill and speed, but then she sort of disappeared for a while (injury, maybe?), and then everyone sort of forgot about her. I’m interested to see how she’ll adapt to Boston’s system, but will be surprised as hell if she makes the starting eleven.

Category: "News", Boston Breakers