Boston Breakers
2017 season
OwnerBoston Women's Soccer, LLC
Head coachMatt Beard
StadiumJordan Field
Boston, Massachusetts
NWSL9th
Top goalscorerNatasha Dowie (7)[1]
Highest home attendance4,321
(Aug 19 vs. Orlando)
Lowest home attendance2,276
(May 7 vs. North Carolina)
Average home league attendance2,971
← 2016

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.

As of 2023, 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

Coaching staff

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

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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK United States USA Libby Stout
2 DF Canada CAN Allysha Chapman
3 DF United States USA Brooke Elby
4 DF United States USA Megan Oyster
5 MF Portugal POR Amanda DaCosta
7 FW Norway NOR Emilie Haavi
8 DF United States USA Julie King
9 FW England ENG Natasha Dowie
10 MF New Zealand NZL Rosie White
11 MF United States USA Rose Lavelle
14 GK United States USA Abby Smith
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 GK United States USA Sammy Jo Prudhomme
17 DF United States USA Amanda Frisbie
18 FW United States USA Tiffany Weimer
19 FW Canada CAN Adriana Leon
20 DF United States USA Christen Westphal
21 FW United States USA Margaret Purce
22 FW United States USA Ifeoma Onumonu
23 FW United States USA Katie Stengel
25 MF United States USA Morgan Andrews
26 MF United States USA Angela Salem

Mid-Season Roster Transactions

On 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

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

Sun. April 16, 2017 FC Kansas City 2–0 Boston Breakers Kansas City, MO
Leroux 7' (Sauerbrunn)
Rodriguez 48' (Groom)		 Report Chapman Yellow card 37'
WhiteYellow card 60'		 Stadium: Swope Soccer Village
Attendance: 3,340
Sun. April 23, 2017 Boston Breakers 1–0 Sky Blue FC Boston, MA
Dowie 37' (Lavelle)
SalemYellow card 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 Yellow card 37'
Chapman Yellow card 76'		 Report Fishlock Yellow card 32'
Mathias Yellow card 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 Yellow card 35'
White Yellow card 53'
Leon Yellow card 81'		 Report McDonald 32'
Smith Yellow card 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 Yellow card 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 Yellow card 90'		 Report Nadim 57' (pen.)
Weber Yellow card 65'
Cox Yellow card 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 Yellow card 49'		 Report Haavi Yellow card 24'
Westphal Yellow card 71'
Chapman Red card 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 Yellow card 26'
Camila Yellow card 49'		 Report Smith Yellow card 8'
Elby Yellow card 55'
White Yellow card 57'
Dowie Yellow card 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 Yellow card 80'		 Stadium: WakeMed Soccer Park
Attendance: 3,780
June 24, 2017 Boston Breakers 0–1 North Carolina Courage Boston, MA
Oyster Yellow card 16'
Weimer Yellow card 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 Yellow card 25'
Chapman Yellow card 58'		 Stadium: BBVA Compass Stadium
Attendance: 6,095
July 1, 2017 Boston Breakers 1–0 Washington Spirit Boston, MA
Chapman Yellow card 62'
Purce 72' (White)		 Report Johnson Yellow card 64' Stadium: Jordan Field
Attendance: 2,523
Note:
Steward MVP: Megan Oyster
Supporters Award Winner: Margaret Purce
July 7, 2017 Boston Breakers 0–0 Chicago Red Stars Boston, MA
Chapman Yellow card 80'
White Yellow card 90'		 Report Mautz Yellow card 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 Yellow card 95' Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,722
Aug 16, 2017 Boston Breakers 1–3 Houston Dash Boston, MA
Dowie 26' (Purce) Smith Yellow card 46' OysterYellow card 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
StengelYellow card 52' AndrewsYellow card 71' White Yellow card 95' Amanda Dacosta 98' (pk) Report Morgan 8' Kennedy Yellow card 24' Steph CatleyYellow card 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) StantonYellow card 57' LeonYellow card 60' KingYellow card 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)ElbyYellow card 63'King 88' (Leon) Stadium: Orlando City Stadium
Attendance: 5,413
Sun. Sep 10, 2017 Boston Breakers 0–1 Portland Thorns FC Boston, MA
OysterYellow card 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'FrisbieYellow card 69' WhiteYellow card 77' Stadium: Maryland SoccerPlex
Attendance: 3,475
Sep 30, 2017 Boston Breakers 3–4 Sky Blue FC Boston, MA
Dowie 25'Dowie 28'PurceYellow card 64'Casey 85' (og) Report Kerr 34' TiernanYellow card 72' Tiernan 76'Skroski 78' O'Hara 87' Stadium: Jordan Field
Attendance: 3,497

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Results summary

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

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
Source: NWSL
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(C) Champions

2017 Supporters Award

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

  1. ^ "2017 Boston Breakers Stats". FBref. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  2. ^ Springer, Shira. "What doomed the Boston Breakers?". Boston Globe. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  3. ^ Yang, Stephanie (January 25, 2018). "Boston Breakers fold after ownership deal falls through". The Bent Musket. SB Nation. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  4. ^ "Boston Breakers fold after ownership deal falls through". January 25, 2018. Retrieved July 6, 2018.
  5. ^ Churchill, Samantha (May 2, 2018). "The Fall of the Boston Breakers". The Wellesley News.
  6. ^ Kassouf, Jeff. "How an era ended: The mysterious final months of the Boston Breakers". The Equalizer.
  7. ^ "Coaching Staff". bostonbreakerssoccer.com. Archived from the original on November 17, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
  8. ^ "Breakers sign Libby Stout as goalkeeper replacement - Boston Breakers". Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  9. ^ "Breakers waive goalkeeper Libby Stout - Boston Breakers". Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  10. ^ "Breakers claim Katie Stengel off waivers - Boston Breakers". Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  11. ^ "Washington Spirit waives Katie Stengel and Cameron Castleberry » Washington Spirit". June 28, 2017.

See also

Categories