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New England Mutiny falls to Phantoms after thrashing Mariners

Date: 5/29/2014

EAST LONGMEADOW – On a rainy, overcast evening at the Derryfield School, the New England Mutiny (1-1-0 WPSL N.E. Division) ran into a perfect storm of elements that left the visitors at a loss in a 2-1 win for the New Hampshire Phantoms (1-1-0 WPSL N.E. Division). The inability to capitalize on a number of scoring chances – due to the strong performance by Phantoms goalkeeper Katherine Mahoney – plus battling against a very determined & physical opponent left the Mutiny to wonder what might have been.

The team will have their chance to rebound from this tough loss, though, as they host the Boston Breakers Reserves (2-0-0 WPSL N.E. Division) at East Longmeadow High School on May 31 at 7 p.m. in an early season showdown with the top team in the division. This year, only the four division winners will qualify for the East Conference playoffs. Tickets are now on sale on the “Schedule” page of the team's official website.

The match started off as an even contest but the Mutiny would eventually start to press the issue. The physical nature of the match was evident early as the Phantoms’ Abigail Short was shown a yellow card in just the 26th minute after a hard challenge on the Mutiny’s Kate Howarth. Morgan Andrews would almost net the opening goal off the free kick but her effort rang off the right post.

Sonia Basma would test Mahoney with her shot just a minute later. Local star Jenna Fisher made her presence felt off the bench, as she set up Howarth with a dangerous low cross but the former Miami Hurricane just missed her scoring opportunity. A blast from Howarth in first-half stoppage time was parried away by Mahoney and the match went into halftime scoreless.

Basma notched her fourth goal of the season after she followed up an Andrews free kick for the 1-0 lead. The Phantoms would respond and after their fourth consecutive corner kick, Lilly Radack tied the game at 1-1 in the 72nd minute.

Immediately after the Mutiny almost netted their go-ahead goal in the 88th minute, the Phantoms drove down the pitch on a breakaway and Rachel Morrier netted the eventual game-winner. A heart-breaking turn of events that hopefully won't linger for the visitors as they look to continue their mission to qualify for the post-season for the 13th time in the Mutiny's 15-year existence.

This match saw the first game action this season for 2013 returnees in Andrews, McKenzie Hollenbaugh and Alyssa Martino (who suffered a season-ending knee injury last year). Newcomers in forward Julie Hubbard from UConn and goalkeeper Kristyn Shea from Providence College made their first starts for the Mutiny.

The loss also came shortly after the Mutiny opened their summer 2014 WPSL season at East Longmeadow High School against a stubborn and well-organized Maine Mariners with an 8-1 score.

Basma netted a hat-trick while 2012 Mutiny leading scorer Kate Howarth made her return a supremely efficient one with two goals and three assists. Combined with Rachel Ugolik’s goal-assist performance and the team showcased a dynamic attack. With the triumphant return from a knee injury by Mutiny defender Sarah Brochu, Mutiny Head Coach Roy Gurnon was overall pleased with his team's effort.

“In the first half, we created some scoring chances but they didn’t go in,” Gurnon said. “We were kind of forcing the game a little bit. But in the second half, we came out much more patient, spread them out more and the spaces were there. We scored some great goals but more important, the play of the team was very unselfish. It was a great team result.”

The Mutiny opened up the match on the attack with Howarth hitting the post in the 7th minute. Six minutes later, Basma would put the team on the scoreboard with her goal off an assist from defender Alie Fitzsimmons. Ugolik would fire her shot over the bar in the 20th minute, but after that Maine settled in defensively and the home team found the visitors’ defense difficult to get through.

The first half ended with the 1-0 score in favor of the Mutiny, while the second half would immediately see the team ramp up the offensive pressure. A Howarth goal was called offsides in the first minute of the half while in the 47th minute, the former Boston Breaker broke the left flank and served Basma a great square ball for her second goal of the night.

Basma would net her hat trick in the 78th minute and the team’s offensive engine would go through the gears.