Mewis, Breakers have goal in front of them

Women’s professional soccer team kicking it up a notch this season in Boston

Splash photo SUSIE H. and MAIA V.

Kristie Mewis of the Boston Breakers (center) poses with reporters from the Watertown Splash newspaper following the Breakers’ 3-2 loss to the Seattle Reign on June 21, 2015.

SUSIE H. and MAIA V.

     The stands went wild as No. 19, Kristie Mewis, scored the first goal of the game.

     The star player of the Boston Breakers took a free kick that made for action near the goal. 

     “It was too close to chip it and it was too far for a corner kick type play, so I figured I’d just kinda whip it in there and hope that it would deflect off someone and that’s exactly what happened,” Mewis said, recapping the moment. 

Kristie Mewis of the Boston Breakers (right) talks with reporters following the Breakers' 3-2 loss to the Seattle Reign on June 21, 2015.
Splash photo SUSIE H. and MAIA V.
Kristie Mewis of the Boston Breakers (right) talks with reporters following the Breakers’ 3-2 loss to the Seattle Reign on June 21, 2015.

      The next two goals were scored by Kim Little and Beverly Yanez, giving the visiting Seattle Reign a 2-1 lead. But the Breakers didn’t let up.

     Morgan Marlborough scored the Breakers’ second goal to tie the game in the 76th minute. Seattle’s Jess Fishlock scored in the 86th minute, giving the Reign the lead. Tension was high as the clock ran down.

    Time ran out on the Breakers. The score ended in Seattle’s favor, 3-2

    Afterward, Breakers coach Tom Durkin talked about the struggles of the game.

    “The only thing tough today was it is the first time that we’ve played in this type of humidity which, you know, you could see both teams went to the bench for all three subs,” he said.

     The NWSL game was played June 21, 2015, at the Breakers home Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium. The Breakers have another home game on Wednesday night, July 22, against the Chicago Red Stars.

     The Breakers have a road game Saturday, July 25, against Sky Blue, then Seattle Reign will return to Boston for a game Saturday, Aug. 1.

     The heat and humidity have not gone away.

     While talking to Mewis after the Reign loss, she explained what playing professional soccer has been like for her.

     “[We practice] probably five, maybe six times a week, probably for two hours, some days three hours, because we do weight lifting,” she said.

     Mewis went to Whitman-Hanson High School and then to Boston College. She explained what it’s been like to be the player to watch on the Breakers.

     “I obviously have great players behind me and I look up to a lot of them, and I think a lot of them probably look up to me, too,’’ she said. “But just having those role models that have been around for years with the Breakers, I kinda idolize them.

     “Just wanting to make my teammates happy, wanting to make myself happy, wanting to make my coach happy, wanting to make the City of Boston happy, so all that’s kind of on my back and I love it. I love having that kind of pressure.”

     Many players probably feel the same joy from playing soccer professionally, as Kristie Mewis does.

     “At the end of the day, this is always what I’ve wanted to do,’’ she said. “I don’t see myself stopping any time soon.”

(For Breakers ticket and schedule information, go to http://www.bostonbreakerssoccer.com/.)

The Boston Breakers and the Seattle Reign compete in a NWSL game at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium in the shadow of Harvard Stadium on June 21, 2015.
Splash photo SUSIE H. and MAIA V.
The Boston Breakers and the Seattle Reign compete in a NWSL game at Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium in the shadow of Harvard Stadium on June 21, 2015.

–July 21, 2015–