NEW ENGLAND MUTINY 3, WESTERN NEW YORK FLASH 3
Two more goals from Kate Howarth & midfield magnificence from Morgan Andrews seals the vital point
EAST LONGMEADOW, MA (06/24/12) - The New England Mutiny continue to build momentum as the WPSL Elite season progresses, and a 3-3 draw vs. the Western New York Flash (6-1-3 WPSL Elite) is another step in a positive direction. Via first half goals from Kate Howarth (two goals) and Morgan Andrews, the Mutiny (3-4-2 WPSL Elite) stay in the hunt for a spot in the postseason for the time being, as they now lay five points behind fourth-place New York Fury (5-3-1 WPSL Elite).
For New England Head Coach Tony Horta, the most important part of getting the draw was the frustration they enforced upon the Flash offense.
"Everything with them is based out wide and getting service in with people running into the box," said Horta, who returned to the team's bench after a personal leave of absence. "I thought if we kept our shape and brought on players out wide who took away their width, they would have to go backwards."
For Western New York Head Coach Aaran Lines, his league-best defense (three goals allowed in their first nine matches) would let him down in this road match.
"We were sloppy," said Lines. "I was very disappointed in the way we defended in the first half. It was like we came out and expected to beat them and let it take care of itself. That's not the way it happens when you're away from home and you're against a team that is going to hurt you at some point."
The match got off to a fast start as Howarth would notch her team-leading sixth goal of the 2012 season in the fourth minute. The Miami Hurricane star fed Becca Mays with a nice diagonal pass in behind the defense on the left flank. Howarth would than one-time Mays' driven cross past Flash goalkeeper Brittany Cameron for the 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later, WNY would put on a offensive clinic themselves. U.S. Women's National team member Meghan Klingenberg would hold off a defensive challenge and put Tori Huster in deep on the right flank. Her cross would find Spanish international Adriana, who would one-time her strike past Mutiny goalkeeper Vikki Alonzo for the 1-1 score.
In the 20th minute, Adriana would turn provider as she would find space on the right flank for a low, hard cross. Klingenberg would emphatically drive home her header for the 2-1 lead in favor of the visitors. The match seemed to turn in the Flash's favor after that goal, but the Mutiny held strong.
It was the touch and skill over the ball of U.S. U-17 captain Andrews that helped propel New England to their next two goals. In the 25th minute, Andrews would receive the ball about 30 yards from goal and proceeded to dribble past three WNY defenders. She completed her deft move with a left-footed volley over the dive of Cameron and inside the far post.
"When you're at that [international] level, you bring that level here," said Horta about his young star. "Every time you talk to a kid like that, she understands and she wants to get better. She's going to be player you will be talking about for a long time."
Kate Howarth flashes the "six shooters" at Morgan Andrews after her second goal of the match. [Photo courtesy of G. Skovera]
USWNT star Lori Lindsey (L) keeps an eye out on the Mutiny's Morgan Andrews (R) in the second half. [Photo courtesy of M. Linehan]
The Mutiny's Tiya Gallegos (R) battles for the ball with the Flash's Omolyn Davis (L) in the first half. [Photo courtesy of G. Skovera]
Howarth and Mays would have back-to-back scoring chances in the 37th minute. In the 45th minute, Andrews would help put her team in the lead, as she fought off a defensive challenge deep in the penalty area and crossed the ball to the back post. Howarth's header (and seventh goal of the season) would rival the emphatic nature of Klingenberg's tally and the Mutiny would go into half-time with the 3-2 lead.
The Flash would come out in the second half with the pace of a team looking to not only tie but win the game. For the first time this season, New England were forced back into their half and had to defend the WNY attack. The physicality turned up a notch as well, with Klingenberg drawing a yellow card in the 51st minute. The Flash would hold possession but could not muster any high quality scoring chances.
In the 60th minute, U.S. international Lori Lindsey would chip in a ball that Alonzo would punch away for a corner kick. It would take until 77th minute for WNY to tie the match at 3-3, and that would be via a Adriana penalty kick. The Mutiny's Sarah Brochu was called for hand ball and Alonzo got a hand herself on the Adriana's PK but to no avail.
The next match for New England will be on the road at the New York Fury on Tuesday, July 3rd (7:00 PM kick-off). The Mutiny return home to East Longmeadow H.S. on Saturday, July 7th for a match against cross-state rivals Boston (6:00 PM kick-off), who are currently in first place in WPSL Elite with a 7-2-0 record.
STARTERS (NEM): Alonzo; Dimirdjian, Brochu, Riviere, Maurer; Andrews, Hood, Houle; Howarth, Mays, Gallegos. SUBS - Cunningham, Reilly, Richards, Smith.
STARTERS (WNY): Cameron; Sahlen, Reynolds, Marshall, Salem; Zerboni, Huster, Klingenberg, Lindsey; Davis, Adriana. SUBS - Pressley, Frierson, Ochs, Van Egmond, Heyboer.
SCORING: NE - 4' Howarth (Mays); 25' Andrews (unassisted); 45' Howarth (Andrews). WNY - 8' Adriana (Klingenberg, Huster); 20' Klingenberg (Adriana); 77' Adriana (PK).
SHOTS: NEM - 6; WNY - 12.
SAVES: NEM - 5; WNY - 2.
CORNER KICKS: NEM - 1; WNY - 9.
ATTENDANCE: 793.
About the New England Mutiny: The New England Mutiny are a charter member of the WPSL East Conference, winning five East titles while reaching the WPSL National Final on two occasions. The Mutiny will compete in WPSL Elite in 2012, competing against the Boston Breakers, WNY Flash, New York Fury, Chicago Red Stars, F.C. Indiana, ASA Chesapeake and the Philadelphia Fever. For more information on the team, please visit http://www.MutinySoccer.com or send an e-mail to NewEnglandMutiny@aol.com. AAA (American Automobile Association) of Pioneer Valley & Green Earth Energy Photovoltaic are the Official Team Sponsors of the Mutiny. Visit AAA's official website at http://www.pioneervalley.aaa.com to receive auto insurance discounts & quotes, learn more about AAA Driving School, book special travel discounts, apply for an auto loan and more! Visit Green Earth Energy Photovoltaic's website at http://www.greenearthenergypv.com. You can also follow our team on Twitter and Facebook.
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