FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — For the second straight week, Denver Summit snatched a loss from the jaws of victory. Sunday’s loss against a fellow expansion club, just stings a little more, as Boston Legacy claimed its first victory in franchise history Sunday, rallying from behind twice to defeat Denver Summit FC 3-2 on a stoppage-time header from Bianca Rose St-Georges before a jubilant home crowd at Gillette Stadium. Last week’s loss in San Diego, by the identical score, also hurt, as Denver led 2-0 in that contest as well, but fell to a side in the Wave, who are tied for the second most points in NWSL with 15.
“I think the game management piece is the bit that we’ve got to learn and we’ve got to learn it quick,” Summit head coach Nick Cushing said postgame.“ Up 2-zero (in San Diego), or 2-1up and we’re not picking up points. So, we have to learn lessons and the results are definitely testing us at the moment.”
St-Georges’ winner in the 90+4th minute was the eighth goal scored in the NWSL this season in second-half stoppage time, capping a remarkable comeback for Boston, which dominated the match with 62% possession and outshot Denver 19-9.
Denver drew first blood when Yazmeen Ryan headed home a Tash Flint assist in the 18th minute — her first goal with the club and her first of the season since being acquired from Houston on March 19. The goal was the latest chapter in a decorated NWSL career for Ryan, who has scored 13 times across stints with Portland, Gotham, Houston and now Denver.
Shortly after Ryan’s goal, a quiet milestone passed on the field. At the 23rd minute, Denver defender Carson Pickett reached 15,000 career NWSL minutes, becoming the 19th player in league history to reach that mark.
Boston leveled before halftime when captain Nichelle Prince headed home a corner kick in the 44th minute for her first goal of the season, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and giving Legacy momentum heading into the break.
Denver retook the lead in the 77th minute through Flint, who converted an Alyssa Thomas assist to restore the visitors’ advantage. But Boston, which finished with eight shots on target to Denver’s three, kept pressing against a Summit side that had looked increasingly comfortable protecting its lead.
Substitute Maryia Traoré, who entered in the 71st minute, pulled the hosts level in the 90th minute before providing the pass that set up St-Georges’ dramatic winner four minutes into stoppage time — sending Gillette Stadium into bedlam.
Summit captain Janine Sonis acknowledged that the late substitutions Boston made reflected was would typically be its starting lineup, had the Legacy not played mid-week. But, the Valor Christian alum knows there’s plenty of areas her team needs to improve, “I think (the subs) gave them a bit of lift,” Sonis said, “But, I think we need to better defensively. Those are opportunities that we need to minimize as much as we can. We’ll look at it and learn from it. But, we gotta know that those players are fast and physical and looking for those opportunities.”
Flint was cautioned in the immediate aftermath of the final goal, adding a bitter end to what had otherwise been a strong individual performance for the Denver midfielder, who had scored and assisted in the loss.
Flint, was not taking time to celebrate her second goal of the year, as well as the assist to set up the first score of the day, “I can’t really remember. People are saying it’s a banger of a goal, but I can’t really remember when you come away with a 3-2 loss, that goal doesn’t really count anyway,” she said.
The result drops Denver to 1-3-3 on the season with six points. Boston improves to 1-5-1 with four points, and a win the club and its supporters will not soon forget.
“We’re being tested. This is a challenging time for our team. We’ve played a lot of games on the road already this season. And, we’re doing enough to win these games and I think that’s what the most frustrating thing is. But this isn’t a time where we fold. We have to rise to the challenge, because it only gets more difficult from here. We have to take the positives that we’re doing enough to win these games. So, whenever we can flip that switch, it needs to happen soon.”
SCORING 18′ — Denver, Ryan (Flint) 44′ — Boston, Prince 77′ — Denver, Flint (Thomas) 90′ — Boston, Traoré (Ansbrow) 90+4′ — Boston, St-Georges (Traoré)
DISCIPLINE 59′ — Bianca St-Georges, Boston (yellow) 90+4′ — Tash Flint, Denver (yellow)
LINEUPS
Boston Legacy: Murphy; Elgin, Araújo (71′ Ansbrow), St-Georges, Karich; Hasbo, Caño (81′ Gambone); Olivieri (80′ Ricketts), S. Smith (55′ Carabali), Prince (C); Gutierres (71′ Traoré). Unused: Ivory, Lowenberg, Stevens, Allen.
Denver Summit FC: Smith; Kurtz, Lynch, Sonis (C); Ryan (66′ Thomas), Yuna (57′ Oke), Pickett (66′ Brazier), Gaetino; Sheehan (57′ Regan), Kössler (76′ Means); Flint. Unused: Peyraud-Magnin, Reid, Yuzuki, Nahikari.
