Meghan Lenczyk scored two goals as the New York Fury dominated the New England Mutiny 4-0 in Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League action on Tuesday, July 2, at Hofstra Stadium.
Fury goalkeeper Michelle Betos made two saves to preserve her seventh clean sheet of the year. The victory improves the Fury’s record to 7-3-1, 22 pts, moving them ahead of the Western New York Flash by one point. The win also puts the Fury 11 points clear of the Mutiny, who are in fifth place with a 3-5-2 record and 11 points. New York needs only two more points, or a New England loss or tie, to clinch a playoff spot.
Allie Long, who recently returned to the Fury lineup after struggling with injuries, staked New York to the lead just five minutes into the game. Long corralled a deflection off a defender to score her first goal of the season. Merritt Mathias then set up Lenczyk’s first goal in the 26th minute to make it 2-0. Mathias sent a cross in from the right side that Lenczyk connected on with a header.
Jasmyne Spencer scored her third goal of the season in the 40th minute, running in to collect an errant back pass by a Mutiny defender. Spencer had her first opportunity to score, in the eighth minute, thwarted by a fingertip save by Mutiny goalkeeper Vikki Alonzo, who finished the game with eight saves, as the Fury held a 17-4 shot advantage.
Lenczyk closed out the scoring in the 60th minute, winning a 50/50 ball and depositing it in the net. The former University of Virginia star has scored four goals in the last three games, plus one in a Women’s Professional SUPERGROUP exhibition game against the D.C. United Women.
The New York Fury continue their push for the postseason on Sunday, July 14, when they visit the Philadelphia Fever, before concluding the regular season with two home games, first against FC Indiana on July 19 and then against the Chicago Red Stars on July 22. New England will host the Boston Breakers on Sunday, July 7, as they look to avenge a 4-2 loss on June 20, followed by a road match against ASA Chesapeake Charge on Wednesday, July 11.
