Simon’s Hat Trick Steers Breakers Over Mutiny

Breakers striker Kyah Simon struck three times in Wednesday’s 4-2 win over the Mutiny at Dilboy Stadium. (Photo: Boston Breakers)

SOMERVILLE, Mass. – It turned out that the weather wasn’t the only thing sizzling at Dilboy Stadium on Wednesday.

With a form that matched the scorching temperatures that enveloped in the greater Boston area, Kyah Simon scored three goals to lead the Breakers to a 4-2 win over the Mutiny in the first showdown between the Commonwealth-based clubs.

“Both Shep (Katie Schoepfer) and Courtney (Jones) set me up with some really good goals,” Simon said. “All the credit to them for setting me up.”

Although the hat trick left the Dilboy Stadium crowd buzzing, it was only after Boston’s attack sputtered in the early stages of the game.

In fact, the Mutiny, which employed a plucky counterattack, beat the Breakers to the board in the 12th minute. Riley Houle grabbed a ball inside the area and pushed it through to give the guests the opening goal.

“There haven’t been many games we’ve been down 1-nil within 20 minutes,” Simon said. “So it definitely was a wake-up call and really got us kicked into gear.”

After surviving a couple of looks from Mutiny striker Kate Howarth, the Breakers found the board in the 41st minute. With Simon lurking inside the area, Schoepfer sent a through ball to Simon, who easily slipped it far post to level it.

But Simon wasn’t done. Not for the game, let alone the first half.

With halftime on the doorstep, Simon struck again when Jones sent a ball from the right wing in front of net, where the Australian striker buried it for her second goal in a four-minute span.

“We’ve been focused a lot on our final third play,” Breakers head coach Lisa Cole said. “I feel that’s a part of our game that if we’re a little cleaner, we’ll be in good shape. There were some good balls played in, and I think it was because of our mobility.”

Holding a one-goal lead, the Breakers added another – but this time, it was Schoepfer who was called upon to deliver.

Tearing through the Mutiny defense, the Breakers’ striker was ready to put goal number three on the board. But she was taken down by Vikki Alonzo, and with a penalty awarded, Schoepfer stepped up and sent it through in the 49th minute.

After conceding three unanswered goals, the Mutiny finally filed a reply. Ten minutes after Schoepfer’s strike, Kelsey Hood threaded a pass through to Howarth, who put it past Alice Binns to put New England within one in the 59th minute.

“It was great service by Kels,” Howarth said. “She got in behind and I had to put it on frame. ”

However, Howarth’s goal was the closest the guests would get to evening the score. In the 66th minute, Jones lobbed a hopeful ball into the 18, where Simon positioned herself perfectly to snap it through for the hat trick.

Simon searched for goal number four in the 71st minute when she pulled away from the Mutiny defense and pounded a shot that Alonzo deflected just wide enough for it to skip inches wide of the far post.

All in all, it was a night to remember for the Australian striker, whose seven goals lead WPSL Elite. Sure, the temperatures may not have been comfortable for most. Most, with the notable exception of Simon.

“I actually really like this weather,” Simon on said. “It’s like Australian weather in the peak of the summer. But I love this weather.”