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Independence tie, stay in race for 2d

The Independence remain in a tight race for second place in Women's Professional Soccer after being unable to shake off a nemesis.

Holmfridur Magnusdottir (right) scored both goals for the Independence. (Robyn McNeil/ISI Photos)
Holmfridur Magnusdottir (right) scored both goals for the Independence. (Robyn McNeil/ISI Photos)Read more

The Independence remain in a tight race for second place in Women's Professional Soccer after being unable to shake off a nemesis.

Leading by a goal at halftime, the Independence settled for a 2-2 tie with the Boston Breakers in Sunday's match at West Chester University.

"You have to give Boston credit," said Independence goalie Karina LeBlanc, who, despite the score, made several big saves.

"They are fighters, and it is why they are on this streak."

Thus the Independence (8-6-4) remain in second place with 28 points, two points ahead of the third-place Breakers (7-6-5).

The Breakers are 6-1-1 in their last eight games.

Four of the seven WPS teams earn postseason berths.

The first-place team earns a bye until the finals. The second-place team earns a first-round bye and hosts the semifinal game against the winner of the match between the third- and fourth-place teams.

That's why the difference between second and third place is huge.

The Independence are now 0-1-2 against the Breakers.

Boston took a 1-0 lead when Lauren Cheney, with her back to the goal, pivoted and from just outside the box, drilled her fourth goal of the season in the 25th minute.

Then outside back Holmfridur Magnusdottir put together one of the Independence's most impressive displays of dominance this season.

In the 28th minute, the defender scored on a 30-yard free kick.

She followed that in the 30th minute when she rifled a shot from an extreme angle on the left side that hit the far post and bounced off keeper Alyssa Naeher and into the net.

She had missed Wednesday's 2-0 loss to the host Washington Freedom because of a red card she received the previous game.

"She was a huge benefit down the flank," Independence coach Paul Riley said.

"Against Washington we had nowhere to go, our midfielders couldn't get rid of the ball, and our fullbacks couldn't move up and she made such a difference."

The Breakers tied the score on a shot from outside the box by former Philadelphia Charge star Kelly Smith.

It was the 10th goal of the year for Smith, who possesses one of the hardest shots in WPS.

In the 57th minute LeBlanc stopped two dangerous shots from close range and in the 75th minute, she blocked a point-blank drive by Smith.

The Breakers and Independence each have six regular season games remaining including one more against each other.