Boston Sports Then and Now

Reynolds was one of five Broncos selected in the 2010 WPS draft

The following is part of a weekly series in which writer Todd Civin presents the lighter side of the Boston Breakers of Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS).

The league is built based on the down-to-earth nature and approachability of its athletes. “Getting Silly with the Breakers” is a fun-filled way to create a comfortable bond between the fans and the professional athletes who are the Boston Breakers.

A special thanks to Erica Hunt, the communications director for the team, as well as the players themselves for making this approach possible.

Only two days removed from her first official full team workout as a professional soccer player, I suspect that there are still a lot of things going through the mind of Boston Breakers’ rookie defender, Katherine Reynolds.

A new team, a new city, new teammates. and her first training camp is an awful lot of adjusting for any of the 65 newbies attempting to make the squads of the eight Women’s Professional Soccer teams. Read the rest of this entry →

Breakers' Jordan Angeli

The league is built based on the down-to-earth nature and approachability of its athletes. “Getting Silly with the Breakers” is a fun-filled way to create a comfortable bond between the fans and the professional athletes who are the Boston Breakers.

A special thanks to Erica Hunt, the communications director for the team, as well as the players themselves for making this approach possible.

Boston Breakers rookie defender, Jordan Angeli, tweeted the following last night in anticipation for her initial day as an official member of Women’s Professional Soccer, “First day with the Breakers tomorrow.”

For most little girls the thought of starting work as a professional soccer player, would probably be mind boggling. For the little red headed girl from Lakewood, Colorado, the thought is a lesson in dedication and perseverance.

Angeli, who was named the 2009 West Coast Conference (WCC) defender of the year while playing for the Santa Clara Broncos, has waited for this day for six years after being forced to red-shirt the 2007 and 2008 seasons due to debilitating knee injuries.

Angeli, who scored twelve goals as a sophomore in 2005, suffered a torn ACL in her left knee before her senior season in 2007. After months of grueling rehab, the same ligament gave away as she prepared for her second senior season in 2008.

Third time is a charm they say as her injury is now a distant memory. She came back as strong as ever during her “third” senior campaign, leading the Broncos to a 14-7-2 record.  While starting all 23 games for Santa Clara, she led the team in goals (7), points (17), and game winners (4) while scoring the game-winning goal in overtime on two occasions (Sept. 6 at Georgetown, and Oct. 18 at St. Mary’s). Read the rest of this entry →

Sarah Walsh is a Boston Breaker.

A post by Boston Breakers GM Andy Crossley on Big Soccer.com was confirmed by a press release moments ago from Breakers’ Director of Communications Erica Hunt, announcing the signing of Australian National Team forward Sarah Walsh.

In order to make room for the forward from Down Under, the Breakers waived Canadian forward Christine Latham.

“Sarah has fantastic speed and attacking abilities,” Head Coach Tony DiCicco said. “She loves to get behind defenses and has the ability to score herself and create goals for her teammates.”

DiCicco added, “Her leadership and experience will also provide a lot to our success. I look forward to coaching her and I think the Breaker fans will love her work ethic and abilities.”

Walsh joins England National Team players Alex Scott and Kelly Smith, Brazilian forward Fabiana, and Spain’s Laura Del Rio as Boston’s league-maximum five international players, prompting the waiving of Latham.

Walsh was originally drafted by Sky Blue FC as the seventh pick overall in the 2009 International Draft. She appeared in five games and scored one goal and one assist before being traded to Saint Louis Athletica on June 26, 2009. She played in 11 games for Athletica, starting in six, and notched a goal and two assists.

Walsh, 27, has a wealth of experience in international competition. She has been a member of the Australian National team since 2004, appearing in the 2004 Olympics in Athens during which her team made it to the Finals, the 2006 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, and the 2007 World Cup in China, where she scored a goal in the group-stage opener against Ghana.

Read the rest of this entry →

Jennifer Nobis

A funny (not funny, ha, ha, but funny unusual) thing happened to Boston Breakers forward Jennifer Nobis on the way to her second season in Women’s Professional Soccer. The former Missouri standout tore her ACL two weeks ago while jogging.

That’s right, jogging. A professional athlete who can simultaneously juggle a round sphere while texting on her Droid Touch and flossing her teeth, tore her ACL while jogging. Not to poke fun at the affable forward from Quincy, IL, but I think this is the comedic equivalent of Dick Van Dyke flipping over his ottoman as he enters his living room at the start of each show.

Visions of Lucille Ball stuffing her bosom with chocolates or slurring her words while drunk on Vitameatavegamin. Now that’s funny. A pro-athlete tearing their ACL while jogging? Not so much. Read the rest of this entry →

Nobis jumps for joy while playing last season in Sweden

“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and my life is fleeting away……. Psalm 119:19

That’s the Psalm that Boston Breakers’ forward Jennifer Nobis has posted on her Facebook page. Ironically, the saying not only speaks of her philosophy of life but also coincides with the number she wears on the back of her blue and white Breaker jersey.

Though (Lord willing), Nobis, age 25, still has a long time left on earth in her future, her life as a professional soccer hit a speed bump after she suffered a complete tear of her right ACL.

After trying to appear optimistic during a February 3rd Twitter session (“It could be worse…Positive thinking..MRI tomorrow”), Nobis realized her worst fears 24 hours later when she tweeted, “Out for the season.”

“It is what it is,” explained the affable Breakers’ star, who scored two goals in her eleven games last season with Boston. “I had all my weight on my right leg and I was jogging. I just went to shift my weight and my left knee popped and gave out on me. It was so weird! But I knew immediately what I did!” Read the rest of this entry →

The Breakers are loading up with international talent.

While all eyes were on Thursday’s WPS Dispersal Draft, The Boston Breakers snuck two guests in the back door with their signing of International star forward Laura Del Rio and the re-signing of Brazilian forward Fabiana.

The Breakers agreed to terms with Del Rio after her negotiating rights were acquired from the Los Angeles Sol for a third round draft pick in the 2010 WPS Draft. The 27-year-old Spanish forward joins the Breakers after playing for FFC Frankfurt in Germany’s Frauen-Bundesliga league, where she has notched six goals this season.

No stranger to the American pitch, Del Rio played for FC Indiana of the W-League for the past two seasons. In 2008, Del Rio was FC Indiana’s top scorer with 15 goals and 13 assists, leading her team to the W-League Central Conference Championship. Read the rest of this entry →