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Western New York Flash (6-0-1, 19 pts.) vs Sky Blue FC (2-3-1, 7 pts.) – Friday, 7:30 PM EST

League leaders Western New York will hope to send off World Cup trio Christine Sinclair, Candace Chapman, and Caroline Seger with a win in the trio’s final match with the Flash before departing for their respective camps. The absence of Whitney Engen due to international duty with the U.S. and Chapman through injury, likely means that Gina Lewandowski will continue in defense while McCall Zerboni, the Flash’s Swiss army knife at the moment, plays at full-back. The midfield of Bock, Seger, and Edwards that has dominated in the league this year looks likely to continue undisturbed. Marta and Christine Sinclair should start up front, with their partner looking like the biggest mystery for Aaran Lines in his selection process. Brit Gemma Davison looks most likely, with Zerboni, Bock, and maybe even Kaley Fountain, returned from injury, also in the mix.

WNY Flash (from) – Harris (GK), Lewandowski, Wilson, Riley, Zerboni, Bock, Edwards, Seger, Marta, Sinclair, Davison, Cameron (GK), Averbuch, Fountain, Brandao, Goebel, Sahlen, Maurine, French

Back in form after two wins on the trot, Sky Blue are the latest team to try and derail the Western New York Express. The biggest worry for Jim Gabarra’s team is the elbow injury suffered in the first half of last week’s match by Adriana, an injury that threatens to keep the Spaniard from this week’s lineup. The injury gives a starting lifeline to Eniola Aluko, who broke her duck last weekend with the equalizing goal against Boston. Jenni Branam looks to have won the #1 spot in goal and should continue for SBFC between the pipes this weekend, while the backline in front of her should also be unchanged. After a two assist performance off the bench last weekend, Therese Sjogran looks likeliest to slot in for team talisman Heather O’Reilly, away for international duty. Carolyn Blank also looks likely to continue in midfield for her side after last week’s late winner, while there could be a recall for Laura Kalmari into the side.

Sky Blue FC (from) – Branam (GK), Asante, Dew, Fletcher, Taylor, Long, Sjogran, Blank, Kalmari, Nogueira, Aluko, Bardsley (GK), D. Johnson, Kerr, Mautz, Adriana

Philadelphia Independence (2-2-2, 8 pts.) vs Atlanta Beat (1-6-1, 4 pts.) – Saturday, 6:00 PM EST

A week after a frustrating 2-1 loss to league leaders Western New York, Philadelphia will look to get back on the winning track against the woeful Atlanta Beat. The biggest (and most encouraging) news for Independence fans looks to be the return of Veronica Boquete to the WPS after her brief star turn with Chicago last season and the end of the campaign. Tied up with Spanish club duties for the season up to this point, Boquete will likely provide a vital boost to an Independence offense that will be without Amy Rodriguez for the foreseeable future. The question is whether Boquete will start right away or be eased in off the bench by coach Paul Riley. If Boquete doesn’t start Saturday’s match, look for Laura del Rio to partner Natasha Kai up top for Philly. Val Henderson looks set to don the gloves for Philly once again with Nicole Barnhart off for international duty. Kia McNeill will be hoping for a better match against her former club after being sent off early in the first half of the teams’ last meeting in Kennesaw a few weeks ago. Allison Falk and Lauren Fowlkes are still missing through injury.

Philadelphia Independence (from) – Henderson (GK), Robinson, Krzysik, Magnusdottir, McNeill, Buczkowski, T. DiMartino, Farrelly, Sanderson, Kai, Boquete, Jones (GK), del Rio, Johnson, Lohman, Adams, G. DiMartino, Barnes

Desperately in search of wins and goals, Atlanta now must deal with the absence of midfielder Carli Lloyd due to international duty. Making matters worse is a slew of possible injuries as coach James Galanis listed seven players as questionable on the team’s mid-week report, although most of the key players have traveled with the team to Philadelphia. Though the defense has been sliced apart over the last month, little indication of a change seems to be in the cards. Galanis will likely be praying for the health of Lori Chalupny, who gutted it out after a thigh injury against Sky Blue FC a few weeks ago but who was reported to have broken down in training in the course of the week. Chalupny’s absence would be another horrible blow for a midfield that has struggled mightily in recent weeks. Up front, Kelly Parker is likely to keep her place after starting against MagicJack, but wingers Megan Jesolva and Lyndsey Patterson could see their places under threat as the Beat tries to look for a forward combination that can produce goals. India Trotter is still missing for Atlanta. Lauren Sesselmann is one booking away from a one match ban for the Beat.

Atlanta Beat (from) – Lipsher (GK), Marquez, Dowling, Whitehill, Reynolds, Chalupny, Sitch, Wright, Jesolva, Parker, Patterson, Whitworth (GK), Lenczyk, Sesselmann, D’Agostino, Salem

Boston Breakers (2-5-1, 7 pts.) vs MagicJack (4-1-0, 11 pts.) – Sunday, 6:00 PM EST

Breakers coach Tony DiCicco will be sweating over the health of defenders Alex Scott and Ifeoma Dieke even though both are listed as probable in the official WPS roster report. Injuries and international duty have ravaged the Breakers’ squad, meaning Boston could be in a real spot of bother should either defender be unable to take the pitch on Sunday evening. With Kelley O’Hara and Lauren Cheney gone for the World Cup, the Breakers may have to rely on Kelly Smith up front for the moment, with Kiersten Dallstream and Katie Schoepfer also contenders to be in the mix for one of the forward slots. But perhaps the most eager Breaker to impress is the team’s newest acquisition, Meghan Klingenberg, picked up from Sunday’s opponents in a mid-week trade. Capable at either full-back or on the wing, Klingenberg is another of the 2008 U20 World Cup winners DiCicco coaches and could feature immediately for Boston. Keelin Winters is one booking away from a one match ban for the Breakers.

Boston Breakers (from) – Naeher (GK), Scott, Moore, Dieke, Bogus, Winters, Smith, Klingenberg, Osborne, Dallstream, Schoepfer, Phillips (GK), Blayney, Hemmings, Cross, Reed, Zimmeck

Fresh off of a 4-0 pasting of Atlanta down in Boca Raton, MagicJack are down to the bare bones after losing seven members of the squad to international duty to join the already absent Sophie Schmidt (also on international duty) and Lindsay Tarpley (injury). The loss of Hope Solo and Jillian Loyden in goal for Dan Borislow’s team means that Brett Maron is likely to be pushed into duty after a less than impressive campaign in Atlanta last year. The team signed Shannon Myers mid-week to provide cover in goal as well. In the team’s other mid-week move, Nikki Washington was acquired from Boston for Meghan Klingenberg, a second round draft pick in 2012, and the always mysterious “player to be named later”. Washington could be in contention for the third spot up front beside Ella Masar and Christen Press, with Nikki Marshall and Johanna Rasmussen among the other contenders for the open starting spot. Omolyn Davis and Lydia Vandenbergh could be set to continue for the visitors after starts in last week’s match in midfield. Becky Sauerbrunn’s WPS Ironwoman streak will end this weekend though as the defensive stalwart is away on international duty.

MagicJack (from) – Maron (GK), Ellertson, Schnur, Moros, Davis, Vandenbergh, Dalmy, Huffman, Masar, Press, Washington, Myers (GK), Marshall, White, Rasmussen, DaCosta

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