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Mutiny returns to East Longmeadow

Date: 5/8/2014

EAST LONGMEADOW – East Longmeadow native and University of Massachusetts (UMass) women’s soccer star Julia Weithofer will suit up for the New England Mutiny this summer. The Mutiny compete in the New England Division of the Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) – one level below the fully professional National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).

The team is coming off its sixth East Conference title in 2013, where they went undefeated in regular season play and qualified for the WPSL National Championship.

New England will kick off their Summer 2014 WPSL season in Weithofer’s hometown at East Longmeadow High School (ELHS) on May 17 when they host the Maine Mariners. The Mutiny will play five home games at ELHS this summer, which all also include match-ups versus two teams under the NWSL Boston umbrella (May 31 versus the Breakers Reserves and June 7 versus their College Academy team), the New Hampshire Phantoms (June 28) and a derby against long-time foe Aztec FC (July 12). Kick-off for all home games is 7 p.m.

“We are excited to return to East Longmeadow again and we hope to make another championship run in our 15th season. It is also gratifying to sign another local star from town in Julia Weithofer to follow in the footsteps of Jenny Maurer and Chelsea Botta,” Joe Ferrara, Mutiny owner, said.

The former ELHS Spartan was one of six Minutewomen to start all 20 games last fall at UMass and was selected to the 2013 Atlantic 10 Conference All-Rookie Team. Weithofer was a defensive mainstay as a freshman and played a total of 1,499 minutes during the regular season, seeing 70-plus minutes of action in all but four matches. The midfielder/defender helped UMass post four shutouts this fall and scored the squad’s only goal in a 1-1 draw at the University of Saint Louis.

Weithofer was a three-year letter-winner for ELHS coach and former Mutiny star Jenny Maurer and helped the Spartans win the Western Massachusetts title in 2011. She served as team captain in 2012 as a senior and was named All-State, All-Western Mass. and Team MVP that year.

Single-game, season tickets and donation options are available on the “Schedule” page of the team’s official website. For more information, go to MutinySoccer.com or email at NewEnglandMutiny@aol.com or phone at 330-9775.