In a hard-fought, exciting Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League match, the New England Mutiny (3-4-2) played the visiting Western New York Flash (6-1-3) to a 3-3 draw at East Longmeadow High School. Kate Howarth scored twice for the Mutiny, while Spanish international Adriana picked up a brace for the Flash. The point helps New England stay in the hunt for a playoff spot, behind fourth-place New York Fury.
Mutiny struck early when Howarth fed Becca Mays behind the defense in the fourth minute of the match. Mays then crossed the ball back to Howarth, who one-timed it past Flash goalkeeper Brittany Cameron for the 1-0 lead.
Four minutes later Western New York’s Meghan Klingenberg, playing for Flash between assignments from the U.S. Women’s National Team, held off a defensive challenge long enough to feed a pass to Tori Huster deep on the right flank. Huster crossed the ball to Adriana for a one-time strike past Mutiny’s Vikki Alonzo to equalize the game.
In the 20th minute Flash took the lead when Adriana found space on the right flank for a low, hard cross that Klingenberg buried for the 2-1 advantage. That lead only lasted five minutes before Mutiny’s Morgan Andrews collected the ball 30 yards out, dribbled past three defenders and fired a left-footed volley past a diving Cameron to knot the score once again.
Later Mutiny head coach Tony Horta, back from a personal leave of absence, praised the skills of the U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team captain. “When you’re at that [international] level, you bring that level here,” said Horta about Andrews. “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.”
New England had two more solid chances in the 37th minute, by Howarth and Mays, but WNY were able to clear both away. Then as the final minute ticked off Andrews fought off a defensive challenge in the penalty area and sent a cross to Howarth at the back post. The Miami Hurricane standout headed the ball into the back of the net for a 3-2 Mutiny lead at the half.
Western New York came out in the second half determined to get at least one point out of the match. They forced New England back into their half as they threw successive waves at the home side. As the intensity increased, so did the physicality of the match, with Klingenberg earning a yellow card in the 51st minute.
Flash nearly earned the draw in the 60th minute as Lori Lindsey chipped in a shot that Alonzo was forced to punch away for a corner kick. Then in the 77th minute Mutiny’s Sara Brochu was called for a hand ball in the penalty area and WNY were awarded the penalty kick. Adriana blasted a shot that Alonzo managed to get a hand on but could not keep out of the net. Both sides pushed hard the final minutes for the go-ahead goal, but the match ended in the 3-3 draw.
After the game Horta talked about the team’s strategy against Western New York. “Everything with them is based out wide and getting service in with people running into the box,” he said. “I thought if we kept our shape and brought on players out wide who took away their width, they would have to go backwards.”
Flash head coach Aaran Lines was somewhat disappointed at his side’s performance in the match. “We were sloppy,” he said. “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 next match for New England will be on the road against the New York Fury on Tuesday, July 3, with a 7:00 p.m. kick-off. The Mutiny return home to East Longmeadow H.S. on Saturday, July 7, for a match against cross-state rivals Boston Breakers. Western New York are idle until Sunday, July 8, when they host ASA Chesapeake Charge at Sahlen Stadium.
