Pioneers Draw Fury

The Western Mass Pioneers became the first team to come away from Canada with a point against the Ottawa Fury, drawing 1-1 at the Algonquin College Soccer Complex in Ottawa in the final regular season game of the USL PDL on Saturday night.

The third-place Pioneers (6-4-6, 24 points) prevented the first-place Fury (10-3-3, 33 points) from finishing the season with a perfect home record with the draw. The Fury had been 7-0-0 in Ottawa prior to the match.

The Pioneers had already been eliminated from playoff contention prior to the match, while the Fury, who had previously clinched first in the Northeast Division, made several line-up changes.

Western Mass grabbed the lead in the 22nd minute through Ryan Malone. The Springfield College midfielder got on the end of a long ball near midfield and dribbled in on goal before slotting a shot past Alexander Fait to put the visitors up 1-0.

Three substitutes combined to find the equalizer for the Fury in the 84th minute. An Anthony DiBiase corner kick found William Beauge at the far post. Beauge headed the ball back across the goal where Drew Beckie headed it past Warren Gross for his third goal of the season.

While the Pioneers season is over, Ottawa begins the PDL playoffs on Tuesday at the Algonquin College Soccer Complex against the GPS Portland Phoenix at 7p.m.

(Highlights Courtesy Ottawa Fury)