Prudhomme grabs Breakers a tie
BREAKERS 0 RED STARS 0
With former star keeper Alyssa Naeher manning the other net, new Breakers keeper Sammy Jo Prudhomme took center stage last night at Jordan Field.
Behind eight saves from Prudhomme, the Breakers battled the first-place Chicago Red Stars to a scoreless draw in front of 2,435 fans. It was the third consecutive shutout for the Breakers, as Prudhomme extended her shutout streak to 316 minutes — a new club mark for the NWSL incarnation of the Breakers.
“They’re a good side. They’re tough to play against. We were hanging on at the end, let’s be honest. We were hanging on for dear life,” said Breakers coach Matt Beard of the Red Stars (7-3-3). “It’s another clean sheet. It’s progress.
“Sammy is a great goalkeeper. We always knew that,” Beard added. “One thing about Sammy is she’s a good talker, she’s a good shot stopper. We saw that on three or four occasions tonight. From that perspective, we’ve been pleased with how she’s done.”
Prudhomme, the 23-yearold who starred in college at USC, saved her best work for late. She proved clutch on an 87th minute chance by U.S. international Christen Press on the left side, and then foiled the duo of Sofia Huerta and Press during three minutes of stoppage time.
“Obviously, a lot of the credit goes to the team and the defense. We’re staying organized, staying compact. If they don’t do their job then I don’t do my job,” the 5-foot-10 Prudhomme said. “They give me a lot of backup, a lot of support and without them I wouldn’t get the shutout.”
Chicago threatened early but the Breakers defense held its shape well behind the efforts of Allysha Chapman and Julie King, who was making her 100th career appearance.
The Breakers had an opportunity in the 17th minute when forward Adriana Leon passed to Chapman, who sent her attempt wide right.
Chicago’s Huerta pulled up in the 25th minute and drilled a blast over the center of the frame, and a subsequent free kick two minutes later by the ever-dangerous Press had the fans squirming. Chicago missed an opportunity after a deep turnover that was picked up by ex-Boston College standout Stephanie McCaffrey of Winchester, who passed out wide to Huerta for a shot grabbed by Prudhomme.
The Breakers came close in the 57th minute when Rosie White sent a longrange bomb just sailing over the crossbar. White later made a defensive gem by heading the ball off the line in the 76th minute.
The Breakers got lucky in the 72nd minute after Press found the back of the net only to see her would-be celebration get negated by an offside flag.
“After the offsides goal, I had to re-focus. I made a bit of a mistake and then we got caught. I had to make up for that; I got re-focused,” Prudhomme said. “I really think that the defense has stepped up. We’re getting more compact and I think that’s starting to become more evident.”
A pregame moment of silence was held in memory of Tony DiCicco, the former Breakers coach who passed away recently.
“The impact that he had on my career as a mentor, a friend, a father figure, I am where I am tonight because of Tony,” said Naeher, who played for DiCicco on the U.S. under-20 team. “Most importantly, he was everyone’s biggest fan. He truly, truly loved the game.”
While the Breakers had seven shots, none were on frame, so Naeher earned the shutout with zero saves.