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Defense the key in WPS title game between Independence and Flash

As the clock ticks down to the opening whistle of the 2011 Women's Professional Soccer title game, Paul Riley and Aaran Lines are doing what head coaches do before a championship clash: They are going over every detail.

Independence coach Paul Riley (center) and his team are preparing for the WSPL championship game. (Bill Iezzi/Staff)
Independence coach Paul Riley (center) and his team are preparing for the WSPL championship game. (Bill Iezzi/Staff)Read more

As the clock ticks down to the opening whistle of the 2011 Women's Professional Soccer title game, Paul Riley and Aaran Lines are doing what head coaches do before a championship clash: They are going over every detail.

Team goals scored vs. team goals allowed is one statistic that tells a story for Saturday's 4 p.m. final at Sahlen Stadium in Rochester, N.Y., between Riley's Independence and Lines' Western New York Flash.

Western New York (13-2-3) has scored a league-leading 40 goals while allowing 18 in 18 games. The Independence (12-4-3) have tallied 33 goals and permitted 18 in 19 games, including a playoff contest.

So the question centers on the Independence defense. Can it control the Flash's potent offense long enough for Indy to score and escape with a victory?

"It's going to come down to our back four containing their front three," Riley said. "Our defense is in great form. But we're going to have to play our best game and limit our mistakes because every mistake will be costly."

The Independence back four comprise center backs Kia McNeill and Nikki Krzysik, Leigh Ann Robinson, and Estelle Johnson. The quartet held World Cup star forward Abby Wambach and her magicJack teammates scoreless in Saturday's WPS super semifinal at PPL Park in Chester for a 2-0 victory.

The Independence also beat the Flash in the last two regular-season games they played, 1-0 and 2-1.

Lines, however, pointed to the rosters.

"The first meeting in Philadelphia we both had full rosters," Lines said of Western New York's 2-1 win May 29. "The last two, there were different rosters" because both teams lost stars to the U.S. national team for World Cup action.

Among Western New York's absences were Brazilian star Marta, a five-time FIFA player of the year, and Canadian Christine Sinclair. Marta and Sinclair lead the league in scoring with 10 goals each.

The Independence lost goalkeeper Nicole Barnhart, forward Alex Rodriguez, and midfielder Lori Lindsey to the national team. Tasha Kai, whom Riley brought in to complement Rodriguez, stayed and blossomed along with Spanish player Veronica "Vero" Boquete.

"Philadelphia has an excellent roster," Lines said. "Vero played with me on the Buffalo Flash and is the MVP of the league. [Rodriguez] is an international-class player. Tasha Kai is a very good player."

Lines has Rodriguez, Kai, and Boquete to worry about. Riley is designing defenses against Marta, Sinclair, and Alex Morgan.

No detail will be left untended.