NWSL: Boston Breakers part ways with Head Coach Lisa Cole

SOMERVILLE, MA ? The Boston Breakers and coach Lisa Cole have parted ways, the club announced Friday afternoon. Defender and Olympic gold medalist Cat Whitehill will take over coaching duties for Boston as a player/coach on an interim basis while the team searches for a new permanent manager.

?Lisa was a critical participant in the launch of the National Women?s Soccer League and making sure there was a professional women?s league in the U.S.,? Boson Breakers managing partner Michael Stoller said. ?I cannot thank her enough for her years of service to the Breakers and women?s professional soccer.?

Assistant coach Maren Rojas also left the club ahead of their home game Saturday against the Western New York Flash.

?I have great respect for both Lisa and for Maren,? Stoller said. ?Lisa is highly regarded in the women?s game and her dedication to the sport throughout the years is unmatched, from club, college, amateur, and up to the professional level.?

The Breakers currently sit fifth in the National Women?s Soccer League standings, having taken 23 points from 18 games with a 6-7-5 record. They trail the Flash by seven points for the fourth and final NWSL playoff spot with four games to play in the regular season.

?At this point, as the team makes a push to the playoffs, this was a change that needed to be made,? Breakers General Manager Lee Billiard said. ?Lisa has done so much for our organization and the women?s professional game in general. It is with great regret this change had to be made.?

Cole took over as head coach for the Breakers in 2012 after arriving at the club in 2009 and spending three years as an assistant under Tony DiCicco. She posted a 17-10-5 record during her two years in charge of the Breakers in both the NWSL and Women?s Premier Soccer League.

?Lisa is a highly respected coach and had many great seasons in Boston,? Billiard said. ?Maren came to the team with a great coaching resume, and we have respect for both coaches.?

Rojas joined Boston ahead of the 2013 NWSL season. She previously served as an assistant coach at Boston College for the women?s soccer team.

Source: http://www.soccerwire.com/news/nwsl-boston-breakers-part-ways-with-head-coach-lisa-cole/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nwsl-boston-breakers-part-ways-with-head-coach-lisa-cole

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