Pioneers Upset Fury

The Ottawa Fury headed first to Connecticut on Friday and then to Western Mass on Saturday hoping to extend their lead at the top of the PDL’s Northeast Division. What actually happened was quite the opposite.

After being upset 2-0 by CFC Azul (4-3-4, 16 points) Friday, the Fury suffered another disappointment, falling 1-0 to the Western Mass Pioneers (3-2-5, 14 points) in Ludlow on Saturday night. While the Fury (6-3-2, 20 points), still hold first place in the division, both the GPS Portland Phoenix (6-3-1, 19 points) and the Seacoast United Phantoms (5-1-3, 18 points) could overtake them with victories tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the Pioneers are still in the hunt thanks to an impressive defense that has given up just five goals and recorded six shutouts in 10 games. Despite scoring just six goals in 10 matches so far this season, Western Mass’ stellar defense has kept them within 6 points of the league leaders with six games remaining.

On Saturday, it seemed the Pioneers, despite outshooting the Fury 11 to 7, were headed to their fifth scoreless draw of the season. Durval (D.J.) Pereira had other ideas.

In the 83rd minute, the Quinnipiac product broke the deadlock blasting a shot from outside the box off a Ryan Malone assist past Nils Carlson to give the home team the lone goal they’d need.

Warren Gross, who had five saves in the shutout, along with the Pioneers’ defense, made the lead hold to give Western Mass their third win of the season.

The Ludlow-based team will look to continue its move up the table – despite an extremely quick turnaround between games – when it travels to face the GPS Portland Phoenix on Sunday at 3pm.