Mullinix Saves Day as Freedom Gets to Final

Washington goalkeeper Siri Mullinix stopped two penalty kicks to help the Freedom advance to the Founders Cup for the second straight season with a 3-1 shootout win over the top-seeded Boston Breakers on Saturday in front of 9,070.

The fourth-seeded Freedom earned a return to the Women’s United Soccer Assn. title game after the teams played to a 0-0 overtime tie. Washington will face today’s San Diego-Atlanta winner in the championship game next Sunday at San Diego.

On a day when temperatures reached 100 degrees, the game came down to penalty kicks for the second time in WUSA’s three-year playoff history.

The Breakers failed on their first two tries, including Mullinix’s stop on Kristine Lilly’s shot. Jennifer Meier, Jacqui Little and Mia Hamm all converted for Washington, which clinched the win when Mullinix stopped Heather Aldama on Boston’s fourth attempt.