BEVERLY — Imagine you are your team's last line of defense.
Just one mistake could be the difference between a win and a loss, and every time you touch the field it's in front of thousands of screaming fans.
This is what life has become for former Bishop Fenwick soccer star Ashley Phillips, now the starting goalkeeper the Boston Breakers, a Women's Professional Soccer team.
Phillips and the Breakers defeated the Boston Aztec Breakers Reserve Women's Premier soccer team, 3-1, in a friendly played at Endicott College last night.
"Every player is the best of the best," Phillips said of playing in the WPS. "It's all at a higher level; the pace is so much quicker. You're used to playing on a team with a few great players. But here, everyone is the best player from their college or region."
Phillips, who made the Breakers last year as the team's developmental goalie, has played every minute of all six regulation games the Breakers have played so far this season. The Peabody native has given up just seven goals for a Boston club that has struggled its way to a 1-2-3 record.
Although she wasn't in her usual goaltender position last night against the Aztecs, Phillips did see some time at left back, something the 24-year old has not done in a game in quite some time.
"It was fun getting to run a round a little bit," Phillips said with a chuckle. "It probably gave the fans some laughs, too. I'm not as good as the other girls (in the field), but I'm really competitive. I hate to lose."
That competitive attitude is a big reason why in just one year Phillips has launched herself into the starting role for the Breakers. That's according to former U.S. Women's National team coach Tony DiCicco, now Boston's head coach.
"Ashley came in and competed right away. She made her mark and kept improving to the point where she is now our starter," explained DiCicco, who used to be a goalie himself.
"What impresses me the most is her aggressive nature. She wins a lot of balls that require a little bit of courage. When she's being aggressive, that's when she is at her best. Also, all the girls really like her."
Breakers teammate Jordan Angeli , a defender, feels lucky to have Phillips as her safety net.
"Basically, (Phillips) just came in and dominated at the goalie position," said Angeli. "She's confident. Having a goalie who communicates behind me (the way Phillips does) gives me as a player so much confidence in myself and in her as well.
"She came in with a good, loud voice. She is awesome to be around and has made the team a lot of fun."
In her six games with the Breakers, Phillips has saved 25 of 33 shots and boasts a goals-against average of 1.17. More importantly, Phillips has been able to handle the pressures that come with being the goalkeeper.
"You get used to it," Phillips said. "I've spent years dealing with it, knowing that if I make a mistake it's a goal. But everyone makes mistakes; unfortunately, I have chosen the position where it is the most costly. You learn to move past them."
The single-season and all-time saves leader for Clemson University women's soccer, Phillips clearly remembers her first Breakers game, a 2-1 victory over the Washington Freedom in Maryland last month.
"I was really comfortable in my first game, which is weird because it was the first time I had ever played in an actual game," explained Phillips. "I came out in the box and punched away a ball and remember I flew back about six feet. I got up and laughed a little bit; it was quite entertaining."
Now that Phillips has established herself as Boston's best goalkeeper, she looks to her coaching staff to further furnish her skills.
"I just love our coaching staff. They're all goalkeepers," noted Phillips. "Tony is one of the best goalkeeper coaches in the world and Lisa (Cole), our assistant coach, learned all she knows from him, so we get a lot of feedback."
Across the field from Phillips in last night's contest was former Waring School star Barrie Lindsay of Ipswich, who had just been called up to the Aztecs (a team based out of Beverly).
"A lot of these girls had a long way to travel, but I feel comfortable on this field," said Lindsay, who had some friends and family in attendance at Endicott last night. "I've been playing on this field since I was in youth soccer. It feels like home."
Lindsay, who was called up to the Aztecs from their U-23 team, talked about playing against such high competition as the Breakers.
"The level of play is up there," said Lindsay, who was a star at Wheaton College. "I was totally intimidated at first, but you have to get that out of your head. It was a lot of fun."
After the game both Lindsay and Phillips, along with players from both teams, stayed and signed soccer balls and T-shirts for the young fans who had come to watch the best of the best battle in the world's most popular sport.
"It's nice to see they did a good job of getting people out here," said Phillips, who was the last player remaining on the field to sign autographs. "(The Aztecs) are a great organization. I think they made it fun for everyone — especially the young girls out here."
Phillips and the Breakers will be back in action Saturday, May 29 when they travel to Piscataway, N.J. to take on the Sky Blue FC.
