Sam Kerr Breaks NWSL Single-Season Goal Record in 4-3 Victory Against Boston

Sky Blue FC (10-11-3, 33 points) rallied back from a 2-0 first-half deficit to defeat the Boston Breakers (15-6-1, 46 points) 4-3 at Jordan Field in the club's 2017 season finale. Four different players scored goals and four different players recorded assists in the contest, and Sky Blue FC finished the season with 10 wins for the first time since 2013.

Boston opened up the scoring in this match in the 25th minute. Midge Purce received a pass from the right flank, then served the ball into the box. Natasha Dowie was wide open towards the far post and headed the go-ahead tally into the back of the net for the early lead.

Just three minutes later, the Breakers extended its lead off another header from Dowie. On the scoring sequence, Tiffany Weimer crossed a ball from the left flank, finding a racing Dowie inside the penalty area. Dowie flicked a header towards the far post and past a diving Caroline Casey to convert her second goal of the match and give Boston an early 2-0 lead.

Despite having multiple scoring chances early on in the game, Sky Blue FC could not find the back of the net until the 34th minute, and in doing so, made history. On the series, Maya Hayes struck a ball towards Sam Kerr on the near post, who side-volleyed it with the outside of her right foot towards the opposite side of the goal to beat Breakers netminder Abby Smith.

The tally marked Kerr's 17th of the season, setting a new NWSL record for the most goals scored in a single season. Kerr already owns the all-time NWSL record for most career goals, currently holding the mark at 43 overall.

Sky Blue FC leveled the score in the 76th minute when Kelley O’Hara sent a cross through the center of the box to the feet of Madison Tiernan near the far post. Tiernan cut around a defender, then slit the ball underneath Smith and into the back of the net for the equalizer.

The New Jersey squad then took the lead for the first time of the contest just two minutes later. On the play, Taylor Lytle stepped up to take the corner kick and sent a well-placed ball across the box. Erica Skroski made a back-post run and poked the ball with her right foot to score her first goal of the season.

In the 85th minute, Dowie played an overlapping Ifeoma Onumonu into the left side of the box. Onumonu sent a one-time ball towards the frame that Casey was unable to handle. The Sky Blue FC goalkeeper fought to keep the ball off her line, but she was eventually charged with an own goal.

Two minutes later, O'Hara scored the game-winner to lift Sky Blue FC to a 4-3 finish over Boston. On the sequence, Skroski played a ball through to Leah Galton on the left flank, and the England international collected before racing towards goal. As she reached the end line, Galton sent a left-footed cross across the box and found O’Hara on the other side of the penalty area. The U.S. international one-timed her shot past a diving Smith, giving Sky Blue FC its tenth victory of the season.

NWSL Match Report

Match: Sky Blue FC vs. Boston Breakers

Date: September 30, 2025

Venue: Jordan Field; Allston, Massachusetts

Attendance: 3,497

Weather: 53 degrees, cloudy

Scoring Summary:

NJ: 1 | 3 - 4

BOS: 2 | 1 - 3

25 BOS Natasha Dowie (Midge Purce)

28 BOS Natasha Dowie (Tiffany Weimer)

34 NJ Sam Kerr (Maya Hayes)

76 NJ Madison Tiernan (Kelley O’Hara)

78 NJ Erica Skroski (Taylor Lytle)

85 BOS (Caroline Casey Own Goal)

87 NJ Kelley O’Hara (Leah Galton)

Lineups:

NJ: Casey, Skroski, Freeman, Richardson, O’Hara, Stanton, Lytle (Galton-81), Rodriguez, Tiernan, Kerr, Hayes (Meehan-73)

Subs not used: Sheridan, Benintente, Mills, Killion, Simon

Game Day Coach: David Hodgson

BOS: Smith, Purce, Oyster, Frisbie, Chapman, Leon, Elby, Salem, Weimer (Onumonu-53), Dowie, Stengel (Andrews-62)

Subs Not Used: Prudhomme, Dowd

Head Coach: Matt Beard

Stats Summary: BOS / NJ

Shots: 14 / 11

Saves: 2 / 2

Corner Kicks: 11 / 3

Fouls: 4/ 6

Offside: 1 / 6

Misconduct Summary:

64 BOS Midge Purce

72 NJ Madison Tiernan

Officials:

Referee: Karen Abt

Assistant Referee 1: John Krill

Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Davis

Fourth Official: Tom Felice