View WPS Inaugural Match Video Highlights

CARSON, Calif. (March 29, 2009) – The Los Angeles Sol officially kicked off the 2009 Women’s Professional Soccer season with a 2-0 victory over the Washington Freedom in front of 14,832 fans in the WPS Inaugural Match at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University – Dominguez Hills Sunday afternoon.

The first goal in club and league history was recorded in the sixth minute of the match, when Los Angeles defender Allison Falk out-jumped a crowd of Freedom defenders in the penalty area to head in a free kick from Japanese national team star Aya Miyama.

“It was a great ball from Aya. I just went for it – I didn’t think I was going to get to it, but I did and it went in,” said the rookie from Stanford. “It was a very surreal experience … very exciting.”

Sol midfielder Camille Abily (France) tallied the second of the afternoon in the 87th minute, taking a short pass from three-time defending FIFA World Player of the Year Marta, and chipping the ball over the hands of Freedom keeper Brianna Scurry.

“We’re really happy with the victory,” said Los Angeles Sol Head Coach Abner Rogers. “We dodged a few bullets and we came out with a good victory … it is only going to get better.”

The Los Angeles Sol returns to action next Sunday, April 5, when the club faces Sky Blue FC (New Jersey/New York) in a road contest, while the Washington Freedom will meet the Chicago Red Stars in their next game on April 11.

Match: Los Angeles Sol vs. Washington Freedom
Date: March 29, 2009
Venue: The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.
Kickoff: 3PM PT
Attendance: 14,832

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
LA 1 1 2
WSH 0 0 0

LA – Allison Falk (Aya Miyama) 6th minute

LA – Camille Abily (Marta) 87th minute

Lineups:
LA: 23-Karina LeBlanc (GK), 2- Kendall Fletcher (18-Katie Larkin, 46), 3-Allison Falk, 7-Shannon Boxx (Captain), 14-Stephanie Cox, 8-Aya Miyama, 11-Brittany Bock, 20-Camille Abily, 22-Manya Makoski, 9-Han Duan (13-Christie Welsh, 84), 10-Marta.
Subs not used: 1-Val Henderson (GK), 0-Brittney Cameron (GK), 4-Aly Wagner, 5-Greer Barnes, 6-McCall Zerboni, 12-Lisa Sari, 21-Johanna Frisk
Head Coach: Abner Rogers

WSH: 1-Briana Scurry (GK), 4-Cat Whitehill, 11-Emily Janss, 21-Alex Singer, 22-Becky Sauerbrunn, 6-Lori Lindsey (3-Jill Gilbeau, 72), 8-Sonia Bompastor, 9-Allie Long, 10-Homare Sawa, 20-Abby Wambach (Captain), 25-Claire Zimmeck (17-Lisa De Vanna, 43).
Subs not used: 61-Kati Jo Spisak (GK), 15-Kristin DeDycker, 19-Rebecca Moros.
Head Coach: Jim Gabarra

Statistical Summary: LA / WSH
Shots: 14 / 12
Saves: 3 / 6
Corner Kicks: 3 / 4
Fouls: 7 / 9
Offside: 2 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
None.

Officials:
Referee: Kari Seitz
Assistant: Referee: Veronica Perez
Assistant: Referee: Marlene Duffy
Fourth Official: Jennifer Bennett

All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial.

Post-Game Quote Sheet

Jim Gabarra, Washington Freedom Head Coach

On the atmosphere

“It was great; obviously a world class stadium. I was very pleased with the product on the field. From my experience, the level of play was better than that of the WUSA inaugural game.

On the game

“We are missing some synchronization upfront, and that is due to the fact that we are missing a lead forward. She has been carrying an injury and hasn’t been able to train with Abby. They were a little inverted there, for a while. We needed Lisa to get behind the defensive line. Defending Marta and Han was a real handful, but I was happy.”

“The game deserved more goals. We deserved a goal or two, but that’s the game of soccer. We felt that in the second half, we possessed the ball better and had more scoring opportunities. What I take out of it is something to build on. We won our inaugural game for the WUSA, and we ended up tied for last at the end of that season. It’s just one game… it didn’t work out. We came here for three points, but it didn’t work out. They were composed, the keeper made saves. A bounce here, a bounce there, it would have been a different game.”

Abner Rogers, Los Angeles Sol Head Coach

On the game

“We are really happy with the victory. To open up the inaugural season and come out with a victory is very pleasing. There were times when we played very well, but fitness was a bit of an issue for both teams, as you could see. It is only going to get better. I was definitely happy. We dodged a few bullets; even though we came out with a good victory, it was very beneficial.”

On the team before kick-off

“We’ve done a lot of training… there was an adrenalin rush. We tried to taper them down, but they still tried to do more. That tells you a lot about the energy level.”

On the first goal

“The first goal was a set play, something we’ve been working on. Kirby got her head to it. It was pretty chaotic in there, and the ball bounced back in the goal.”

On the second goal

“We had a good counter-attack. Marta and Camille had a great run, passed her the ball at the right time. I’m very very happy.”

Allison Falk, Los Angeles Sol Defender

On scoring the first goal in WPS history

“It was a great ball from Aya. I just went for it – I didn’t think I was going to get it, but I did and it went in. It was a very surreal experience… very exciting.”

Marta, Los Angeles Sol Forward

On the game

“I was very excited to be out there today. The atmosphere was phenomenal, and that always gives you a boost as a player. We got the result we wanted and are very happy with that. “

Once it seemed that the hopes of women’s soccer rested on the slim shoulders of Mia Hamm, who had an especially memorable commercial that paired her with the NBA star of the day, Michael Jordan.

Time marches on, however, and now Women’s Professional Soccer is set to launch with the spotlight on a new star, Brazil’s Marta.

Though she may not have a commercial yet, Marta may have something better – the current NBA star of the moment, Kobe Bryant, is in awe of her skills.

He flew in via helicopter to attend the press conference welcoming Marta to to Los Angeles Sol.

“I’m a fan, really,” Bryant said. “I don’t feel like Kobe the basketball player at all. I’m just as excited as anybody here.”

Bryant has two young daughters that he has already introduced to the game. He himself played as a youngster in Italy, where his father was playing for many years in the basketball league there. Thus, he immediately recognized Marta’s skill.

“The way that she plays with such passion, such energy, such a love for the game, and so much creativity, I found myself being glued to the TV set,” Bryant said.

Bryant claimed that there were three things he wanted to accomplish in the 2008 Olympics. One was to win a gold medal in basketball, “Or I wouldn’t have been able to remain a citizen,” he cracked. The other two? Watch Michael Phelps make history, winning eight gold medals and watch Marta play in person.

For her part, Marta said that she was gratified to to hear praise from Bryant, but she also insisted that the league would be successful due to the players from all the teams.

“I think this is the best league, because it has so many good players from around the world,” Marta explained.

The new WPS star praised the league’s organization, her teammates and the stadium. But she also seemed especially appreciate of one particular aspect of Los Angeles.

“In Sweden, it’s cold,” Marta pointed out, mentioning where she used to play. “The weather here is very nice.”

Andrea Canales, Goal.com