PDL: Phantoms Win; Voltage Fall to Impact

Photo credit: USLSoccer.com graphic

The Seacoast United Phantoms inched closer to the top of the divisional standings after grabbing a 1-0 win over the Western Mass Pioneers on Tuesday at Portsmouth High School.

On an evening described as “hot” on the official match report, Pablo Agudo broke a scoreless match in the 68th minute to put the Phantoms within three points of the division-leading Azul PDL. Dominic DiMaggio was called upon to make nine saves, keeping leading scorer Alencar Junior off the board.

The win allowed the Phantoms (6-1-2, 20 points) to leapfrog over the Pioneers (6-2-1, 19 points) for second place.

Seacoast United returns to action at 7pm on Saturday against the Vermont Voltage at Collins-Perley Sports Complex. Western Mass will be back on the pitch at 2pm on Saturday when they take on GPS Portland Phoenix at Deering High School.

A day after the Phantoms made their push for the top, the Voltage were busy attempting to climb themselves out of the basement against the Montreal Impact U-23s. But their best efforts weren’t enough as the longtime PDL side dropped a 2-0 loss at Stade Saputo Turf Field on Wednesday.

The Voltage remained level with their hosts until the 64th minute when Frederic Gravelle scored the opening goal. Montreal’s second strike came from Victor Ndiyae in the 89th minute. Karl Gouabe made a trio of saves for the Impact 23s, while his counterpart Andrew Coughlin collected nine saves in the losing effort.

The winless Voltage will look to get their first win of the season on Saturday against the Phantoms. The Impact will attempt to edge north of the .500 mark on when they host the Phantoms at 5pm on Sunday at Stade Saputo Turf Field.