Mia Hamm scored the winning goal upon her return on Wednesday, lifting the Washington Freedom to a 2-1 victory over visiting Boston in her first match in seven months. The Freedom forward, sidelined by a long-standing knee injury that required surgery in February, made her 2002 debut in the 66th minute, coming on for Jacqui Little. Six minutes later, she displayed a little magic to give Washington (3-4-3, 12 points) the victory before a disappointing crowd of 4,399 at RFK Stadium. Hamm's shot from the left side of the box was knocked down by the Breakers' defense, but she collected the rebound, back-heeled the ball into space, spun and ripped a 10-yard shot into the upper-right corner. Hamm nearly netted a second goal in stoppage time, beating three defenders before Boston goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc saved her shot. The Breakers (2-4-4, 10 points) went ahead in the fourth minute when Dagny Mellgren finished a sweet through ball from Maren Meinert, rounding Freedom keeper Siri Mullinix and firing into an empty net. The goal was Mellgren's sixth of the season, tying her with San Jose's Katia for the league lead. Rookie Abby Wambach, who entered the match with a three-game no-point streak, scored her fourth goal of the campaign just before halftime to tie the score. She slotted an Anne Makinen cross between Breakers defender Kate Sobrero's legs and into the goal. Mullinix secured the victory in the 84th minute, making a diving stop on Allie Kemp. WEDNESDAY'S SUMMARY June 12 at Washington Washington 2 Boston 1. Goals: Wambach (J. Little, Makinen) 45, Hamm 72; Mellgren (Meinert) 4. Washington — Mullinix; S. Little, Zimny (Moore, 28), Grubb, Barr; Stoecker, Jones, Cook (Makinen, 37), Pu (Gerardo, 87); J. Little (Hamm, 66), Wambach. Boston — LeBlanc; Kluegel, McCann, Sobrero, Aldama (Gonzalez, 84); Dacey (Kemp, 77), Borisjuk (Hucles, 50; Raygor, 73), Lilly, Wiegmann; Mellgren, Meinert. Yellow cards — Washington: J. Little 5; Boston: Meinert 90. Referee — Sandra Hunt. A — 4,399. STANDINGS 1. Philadelphia 5-1-2, 17 points; 2. Atlanta 5-3-1, 16; 3. Carolina 4-1-3, 15; 4. San Jose 4-3-2, 14; 5. Washington 3-4-3, 12; 6. Boston 2-4-4, 10; 7. San Diego 2-5-2, 8; 8. New York 2-6-1, 7. THIS WEEKEND'S GAMES
Saturday, June 15
New York at San Jose, 4 p.m.
Carolina at Atlanta, 7 p.m.
Boston at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.
San Diego at Washington, 7 p.m.
All times EDT.