Photo by ISIphotos.com

By CHRiSTA MANN

After an extensive review process in Women's Pro Soccer, the league can now shift from analyzing Week Six to opening Week Seven.

With the St. Louis Athletica in a tough situation after losing one player to injury and another to suspension, there is hope that all is not lost.  The club has acquired two new faces and still has a very strong roster.

As for both Boston and Chicago, they approach the week after a confident last win while the Bay Area, L.A. and New Jersey are all still hoping for some improvement in the final third.

In Week Seven of the WPS, the Bay Area's FC Gold Pride (2-2-1) heads to the St. Louis Athletica (0-2-2), the L.A. Sol (3-1-1) has a rematch with the Boston Breakers (3-2-0), New Jersey's Sky Blue FC (0-2-2) looks for its first win against the undefeated Chicago Red Stars (2-0-2), and the Washington Freedom (1-2-2) takes a bye.

In single Saturday match-up, FC Gold Pride (Bay Area) will travel to a weakened St. Louis Athletica. 

With the Athletica down one of its best attackers, Daniela, due to injury and one of its best defenders, Kia McNeil, due to suspension, St. Louis does have a few other players to fill in the gaps. Kerri Hanks and Amanda Cinalli will make up for the Brazilian superstar while Niki Cross or Sara Larrson will complete the back line. 

Cross recorded a start in Week Five against L.A. and played in the final minutes last week to relieve a shaken-up Tina Ellertson. This will not be her first time out of the gate, but she will have Bompastor's 90th minute equalizing goal in the back of her mind from last week.

As for the newest additions to St. Louis, Kendall Fletcher and Christie Welsh join the team after a trade made on Friday.  Not sure when the two will take the field for the Athletica; however, the move adds some experience to the young St. Louis squad and should get the team back in a competitive position.

With a tied result last week for the Athletica, FCGP comes into the game after two back to back 1-0 results.

When last week's change in the starting line-up did not bode particularly well for the Bay Area, the team scored the game winning goal after Eriko Arakawa, Leigh Ann Robinson, and Adriane took the field.  FCGP may want to use at least one of these players early if it wants get things going sooner.

In the first rematch of the weekend, the Boston Breakers take on the L.A. Sol and will seek a second win against in consecutive weeks. As most fans are secretly hoping that Fox Soccer Channel will miraculously cover this game, our only hope is to wish for the Sol to set-up some type of webstreaming. 

Last week Boston took the game 2-1 but this week it should be much closer.  A tie or even the L.A. win may be the result as the Breakers tend to be consistently inconsistent.

In the second rematch and the final game of the weekend, Sky Blue FC (New Jersey) is still looking for its first win as it travels for a second time to the Chicago Red Stars for the FSCl Sunday match-up at 6 P.M.

After catching up with SBFC Head Coach Ian Sawyers, he assured me that the team is creating chances but that it just needs more composure and confidence in front of the goal.  Sawyers believes that once they can put away one goal, many more will follow.  If St. Louis was any indication of that truth in Week Six, it could be a good week for the New Jersey team.

In a second meeting against a strong and confident Chicago team, Sawyers gave me the keys to this week's keys:

1.  Maintain quality possession and stop turning the ball over in crucial areas of the field.

2.  Relax a bit and show some confidence in that possession

3.  Maintain a level of composure and quality in finishing

Sawyers noted that he is very pleased with his back line as they have conceded only four goals in four contest which is fewer than four of the other six teams in the league.

Chicago is a very good team and has become more comfortable with its own finishing.  In the previous meeting of these two teams, both struggled to put the ball away on some beautiful opportunities.

If SBFC can limit the number of corners and set pieces this time around, one lucky finish here or there could keep Jersey in this game.  Chicago is heavily favored and should have a strong showing after the bye week.

In Week Seven, a couple of rematches in the WPS should reveal the true strengths and weaknesses of these competing teams. For at least St. Louis and New Jersey, a couple goals and solid defensive play could be the difference.

Will St. Louis maintain its current scoring spree?  Who will start for FCGP? Will Boston or L.A. win the rematch?  Can Sky Blue finally get a win against an undefeated Chicago team?

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