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Independence beat Washington

Amy Rodriguez had a number of key scoring chances in her first 21/2 games with the Independence, but after she finally cashed in, her teammates followed her lead.

Allison Falk scores a goal against the Freedom. (Clem Murray/Staff Photographer)
Allison Falk scores a goal against the Freedom. (Clem Murray/Staff Photographer)Read more

Amy Rodriguez had a number of key scoring chances in her first 21/2 games with the Independence, but after she finally cashed in, her teammates followed her lead.

Rodriguez scored the equalizer in the 54th minute, and her U.S. National team teammate Lori Lindsey set up the final two goals as the Independence scored a 3-1 Women's Professional Soccer win over the Washington Freedom on Sunday at soggy West Chester University.

After the first win in franchise history, the Independence are 1-0-2. For the second week in a row, they overcame a 1-0 deficit: Last week, they came back to earn a 1-1 tie in Boston.

Rodriguez had been an unlucky sniper until making two outstanding individual plays in scoring the tying goal.

Making a difficult trap on a long feed from Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Rodriguez had enough poise to settle the ball and then crush a 35-yard blast to tie the score. That equaled her goal total last year with the Boston Breakers.

"It felt really good finding the back of the net and getting a goal for my team," Rodriguez said. "It was a rough year last year in Boston, and the first two games this year I was expecting to score. And tonight it opened up and I was ecstatic."

So were her teammates, who continued attacking.

Lindsey and defender Allison Falk connected on a carbon-copy goal from last week's game at Boston.

Falk, a defender who is extremely dangerous in the air on restarts, headed in a well-placed service by Lindsey off a free kick in the 57th minute to provide the Independence with a 2-1 lead.

"She is a great target and scored one of the best goals you will see," Lindsey said of Falk. "When you see her open, you want to get her the ball."

The Independence received some breathing room when Lianne Sanderson headed in a Lindsey cross in the 67th minute.

Lindsey played with the Freedom in the Women's United Soccer Association, the W-League, and last year in WPS's inaugural season.

"It's always fun to play them since I spent seven or eight years with the Freedom," Lindsey said. "This early in the season, though, it's nice to win against anybody."

Both teams were without their starting goalkeepers, Karina LeBlanc of the Independence and Washington's Erin McLeod, who each played for the Canadian national team in Saturday's friendly at China.

Washington started veteran Briana Scurry, who was replaced after a scoreless first half by Meagan McCray. Freedom coach Jim Gabarra said Scurry came in at halftime feeling dizzy after hitting her head. Gabarra didn't blame the three-goal barrage on using his third keeper.

"I don't think you can fault Meagan on any of those goals," said Gabarra, whose team is 1-2.

Meanwhile Val Henderson enjoyed a strong debut in goal for the Independence. Henderson made several big saves, including a diving stop of a 35-yard blast in the 28th minute by Cat Whitehill.

Besides scoring, Falk also did a solid job on Freedom forward and U.S. national team standout Abby Wambach.

Of course, it's hard to totally shut down Wambach, and this game was no different.

Wambach created the first goal, turning up the left side and then finding Lisa De Vanna on a cross. De Vanna one-timed it in from six yards out in the 51st minute.

Shortly afterward, Rodriguez got the equalizer, and the Independence were on their way to their first win.