The 2017 Boston Breakers season was the club's twelfth season overall, eighth consecutive season, and fifth season as a member of the National Women's Soccer League. They finished 9th in the 10 team league with a record of 4 wins, 13 losses, and 7 draws.
| 2017 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Boston Women's Soccer, LLC | ||
| Head coach | Matt Beard | ||
| Stadium | Jordan Field Boston, Massachusetts | ||
| NWSL | 9th | ||
| Top goalscorer | Natasha Dowie (7)[1] | ||
| Highest home attendance | 4,321 (Aug 19 vs. Orlando) | ||
| Lowest home attendance | 2,276 (May 7 vs. North Carolina) | ||
| Average home league attendance | 2,971 | ||
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As of 2023[update], this was the Boston Breakers's final season. After failed last-minute attempts to sell the club to the owners of the New England Revolution[2] and to local commercial real estate developers,[3] the Boston Breakers officially folded on January 25, 2018, and did not participate in the NWSL in 2018.[4] Reports generally blamed lack of marketing and resultant limited fanbase for the club's demise.[5][6]
Players and coaches
editCoaching staff
edit| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| Head Coach | Matt Beard |
| Assistant Coach | Paul McHugh |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Neill Caine |
| Pro Team Second Assistant/Breakers College Academy Coach | Leanne Champ |
| Head of Sport Science and Player Performance | Julian Haigh |
| Reserve Team Head Coach | Dushawne Simpson |
| Breakers U-20 Head Coach | Javier Mejia-Blau |
| Consultant | Ashley Phillips |
Last updated: April 11, 2017
Source: [7]
Players
edit- As of June 30, 2017
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Mid-Season Roster Transactions
editOn June 21, it was announced the team re-signed goalkeeper Libby Stout as a keeper replacement for the injured Abby Smith.[8] Stout has previously been initially waived by the team on May 10.[9] On June 30, 2017, the Breakers waived defender Kylie Strom from the roster, and picked up forward Katie Stengel from waivers,[10] who was released on June 28 by the Washington Spirit.[11]
Pre-Season
edit| March 25, 2017 | Boston College | 1–5 | Boston Breakers | Newton, MA |
BC  31' |
Report | Leon 2' Leon 68' Leon 86' White 88' Onomonu 90' |
Stadium: Boston College Attendance: closed door |
| March 28, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 5–1 | NE Futbol Club U-15 boys | Taunton, MA |
| White 40' Elby 45' Leon 48' Onomonu 65' White 73' |
Report | NEFC 56' |
Stadium: Forekicks |
| April 8, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 6–1 | UCONN | Boston, MA |
| Weimer 10' Dowie 17' White 33' Dowie 45' Weimer 57' Dowd 87' |
Report | UConn |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: none taken | |
| Note: match postponed from 4/1 | ||||
| April 4, 2017 | Boston Breakers | v | Sky Blue FC | Bridgeport, CT |
| Stadium: University of Bridgeport | ||||
| Note: no report avail, result = v | ||||
Regular season
edit| Sun. April 16, 2017 | FC Kansas City | 2–0 | Boston Breakers | Kansas City, MO |
| Leroux 7' (Sauerbrunn) Rodriguez 48' (Groom) |
Report | Chapman  37' White 60' |
Stadium: Swope Soccer Village Attendance: 3,340 |
| Sun. April 23, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 1–0 | Sky Blue FC | Boston, MA |
| Dowie 37' (Lavelle) Salem 86' |
Report | Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 2,329 | ||
| Note: Steward MVP: Abby Smith Supporters Award Winner: Rosie White |
||||
| April 29, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 3–0 | Seattle Reign FC | Boston, MA |
| Leon 11' Lavelle 15' (Leon) Dowie 52' (Leon) White 37' Chapman 76' |
Report | Fishlock 32' Mathias 38' |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 2,315 | |
| Note: Steward MVP:Adriana Leon Supporters Award Winner: Abby Smith |
||||
| Sun. May 7, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 0–1 | North Carolina Courage | Boston, MA |
| King 35' White 53' Leon 81' |
Report | McDonald 32' Smith 87' |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 2,276 | |
| Note: Steward MVP: Angela Salem Supporters Award Winner: Allysha Chapman |
||||
| Sun. May 14, 2017 | Chicago Red Stars | 1–1 | Boston Breakers | Chicago, IL |
| Press 89' (Huerta) |
Report | Lavelle 69' King 73' |
Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 1,827 |
| May 19, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 2–2 | Portland Thorns FC | Boston, MA |
| Dowie 38' (Leon) White 48' (Dowie)Salem 90' |
Report | Nadim 57' (pen.) Weber 65' Cox 67' Nadim 83' (Raso) |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 3,321 | |
| Note: Steward MVP: Natasha Dowie Supporters Award Winner: Angela Salem |
||||
| May 27, 2017 | Portland Thorns FC | 2–0 | Boston Breakers | Portland, OR |
| King 1' (o.g.) Henry 5'Nadim 49' |
Report | Haavi 24' Westphal 71'Chapman  90+1' |
Stadium: Providence Park Attendance: 18,637 |
| June 3, 2017 | Orlando Pride | 2–0 | Boston Breakers | Orlando, FL |
| Marta 9' (pen.) Spencer 13' (Pereira)Kennedy 26'Camila 49' |
Report | Smith 8' Elby 55'White 57'Dowie 85' |
Stadium: Orlando City Stadium Attendance: 5,185 |
| June 17, 2017 | North Carolina Courage | 3–1 | Boston Breakers | Cary, NC |
| Hamilton 3' (Mewis), 13' (Zerboni) Hatch 38' (Doniak) |
Report | Leon 73' (Dowie) White 80' |
Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park Attendance: 3,780 |
| June 24, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 0–1 | North Carolina Courage | Boston, MA |
| Oyster 16' Weimer 84' |
Report | Hatch 44' (Mewis) |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 3,209 | |
| Note: Steward MVP: Julie King Supporters Award Winner: Christen Westphal |
||||
| June 28, 2017 | Houston Dash | 0–0 | Boston Breakers | Houston, TX |
| Report | Andrews 25' Chapman 58' |
Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium Attendance: 6,095 |
| July 1, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 1–0 | Washington Spirit | Boston, MA |
| Chapman 62' Purce 72' (White) |
Report | Johnson 64' |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 2,523 | |
| Note: Steward MVP: Megan Oyster Supporters Award Winner: Margaret Purce |
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| July 7, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 0–0 | Chicago Red Stars | Boston, MA |
| Chapman 80' White 90' |
Report | Mautz 62' |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 2,435 | |
| Note: Steward MVP: Sammy Jo Prudhomme Supporters Award Winner: Sammy Jo Prudhomme |
||||
| July 15, 2017 | Seattle Reign FC | 1–1 | Boston Breakers | Seattle, WA |
| Kawasumi 32' |
Report | Leon 43' (Westphal) |
Stadium: Memorial Stadium (Seattle) Attendance: 3,730 |
| July 22, 2017 | Houston Dash | 1–0 | Boston Breakers | Houston, TX |
| Prince 23' |
Report | Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium Attendance: 5,337 |
| Aug 4, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 2–2 | FC Kansas City | Boston, MA |
| White 26' White 30' |
Report | Kelly 21' Tymrak 81' |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 2,510 | |
| Note: Steward MVP: Rosie White Supporters Award Winner: Adriana Leon |
||||
| Aug 12, 2017 | Washington Spirit | 2–2 | Boston Breakers | Boyds, MD |
| Johnson 6' Williams 64' |
Report | Leon 44' Leon 79' (Onumonu) Salem 95' |
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex Attendance: 3,722 |
| Aug 16, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 1–3 | Houston Dash | Boston, MA |
| Dowie 26' (Purce) Smith 46' Oyster 93' |
Report | Hagen 10' Beckie 64' (Prince) Hagen 79' |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 3,003 | |
| Note: Steward MVP: Amanda Frisbie Supporters Award Winner: Ifeoma Onumonu |
||||
| Aug 19, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 1–2 | Orlando Pride | Boston, MA |
| Stengel 52' Andrews 71' White 95' Amanda Dacosta 98' (pk) |
Report | Morgan 8' Kennedy 24' Steph Catley 58'Morgan 73' (Krieger) |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 4,321 | |
| Note: Steward MVP: Smith Supporters Award Winner: Amanda Dacosta |
||||
| Aug 26, 2017 | Sky Blue FC | 1–0 | Boston Breakers | Piscataway, NJ |
| Kerr 5' (Stanton) Stanton 57' |
Leon 60' King 91' |
Stadium: Yurcak Field Attendance: 2,244 |
| Sep 2, 2017 | Orlando Pride | 4–2 | Boston Breakers | Orlando, FL |
| Hill 8' Hill 15' (Morgan)Marta 67' (Ubogagu) Ubogagu 77' |
Report | White 49' (Frisbie)Elby 63'King 88' (Leon) |
Stadium: Orlando City Stadium Attendance: 5,413 |
| Sun. Sep 10, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 0–1 | Portland Thorns FC | Boston, MA |
| Oyster 82' |
Report | Sinclair 72' (Raso) |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 3,015 | |
| Note: Steward MVP: Purce Supporters Award Winner: Margaret Purce |
||||
| Sep 23, 2017 | Washington Spirit | 0–3 | Boston Breakers | Boyds, MD |
| Report | Dowie 47' (Leon) Kallman 54' (og) Leon 55'Frisbie 69' White 77' |
Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex Attendance: 3,475 |
| Sep 30, 2017 | Boston Breakers | 3–4 | Sky Blue FC | Boston, MA |
| Dowie 25'Dowie 28'Purce 64'Casey 85' (og) |
Report | Kerr 34' Tiernan 72' Tiernan 76'Skroski 78' O'Hara 87' |
Stadium: Jordan Field Attendance: 3,497 |
Win Draw Loss Postponed
Results summary
edit| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 24 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 24 | 35 | −11 | 19 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 16 | −2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 19 | −9 |
Last updated: September 30, 2017.
Source: NWSLsoccer.com
League standings
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | North Carolina Courage | 24 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 38 | 22 | +16 | 49 | NWSL Shield |
| 2 | Portland Thorns FC (C) | 24 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 37 | 20 | +17 | 47 | NWSL Playoffs |
| 3 | Orlando Pride | 24 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 45 | 31 | +14 | 40 | |
| 4 | Chicago Red Stars | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 33 | 30 | +3 | 39 | |
| 5 | Seattle Reign FC | 24 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 43 | 37 | +6 | 34 | |
| 6 | Sky Blue FC | 24 | 10 | 3 | 11 | 42 | 51 | −9 | 33 | |
| 7 | FC Kansas City | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 29 | 31 | −2 | 31 | |
| 8 | Houston Dash | 24 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 23 | 39 | −16 | 24 | |
| 9 | Boston Breakers | 24 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 24 | 35 | −11 | 19 | |
| 10 | Washington Spirit | 24 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 30 | 48 | −18 | 19 |
2017 Supporters Award
edit
In 2017 the official supporters group of the Boston Breakers, The Boston Armada, began a tradition of awarding one player at each home game with a supporters award. This award recognizes a player's individual contribution to the team during the match.
The trophy for 2017 is representative of the unofficial mascot of the Boston Breakers, "Chunk", a British Bulldog owned by team President of Soccer Operations and Development, Lee Billard.
| Date of Home Match | Opponent | Award Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| April 23, 2017 | Sky Blue FC | Rosie White |
| April 29, 2017 | Seattle Reign FC | Abby Smith |
| May 7, 2017 | North Carolina Courage | Allysha Chapman |
| May 19, 2017 | Portland Thorns FC | Angela Salem |
| June 24, 2017 | North Carolina Courage | Christen Westphal |
| July 1, 2017 | Washington Spirit | Margaret Purce |
| July 7, 2017 | Chicago Red Stars | Sammy Jo Prudhomme |
| August 4, 2017 | FC Kansas City | Adriana Leon |
| August 16, 2017 | Houston Dash | Ifeoma Onumonu |
| August 19, 2017 | Orlando Pride | Amanda DaCosta |
| September 10, 2017 | Portland Thorns FC | Margaret Purce |
| September 30, 2017 | The COTY (Chunk of the Year Award) | Angela Salem |
References
edit- ^ "2017 Boston Breakers Stats". FBref. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
- ^ Springer, Shira. "What doomed the Boston Breakers?". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ Yang, Stephanie (January 25, 2018). "Boston Breakers fold after ownership deal falls through". The Bent Musket. SB Nation. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "Boston Breakers fold after ownership deal falls through". January 25, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
- ^ Churchill, Samantha (May 2, 2018). "The Fall of the Boston Breakers". The Wellesley News.
- ^ Kassouf, Jeff. "How an era ended: The mysterious final months of the Boston Breakers". The Equalizer.
- ^ "Coaching Staff". bostonbreakerssoccer.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ "Breakers sign Libby Stout as goalkeeper replacement - Boston Breakers". Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- ^ "Breakers waive goalkeeper Libby Stout - Boston Breakers". Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- ^ "Breakers claim Katie Stengel off waivers - Boston Breakers". Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
- ^ "Washington Spirit waives Katie Stengel and Cameron Castleberry » Washington Spirit". June 28, 2017.