WPSL: Mutiny End Season on High Note

Photo credit: New England Mutiny

Julie Hubbard’s brace helped the New England Mutiny seize a 5-1 victory over Boston Aztec in their season finale on Saturday at East Longmeadow High School.

Hubbard scored in the 10th and 83rd minutes, while Meghan Cunningham kicked off the scoring in the sixth minute. Kylie McIntosh added to the Mutiny lead in the 45th minute, while Jenna Fisher chipped in with one of ther own in the 60th minute. Lauren Bernard scored the lone Aztec goal in the 12th minute.

The Mutiny win brought them back to .500, finishing the season with a 4-4-2 (14 points) record, good for third place in the New England division. The Aztec wrapped up their season with a 3-6-1 (10 points) mark, finishing fourth in the division.

After dropping their last two matches, the Mutiny looked at Saturday’s finale as a last chance for redemption before the offseason. And they made their intentions known right from the outset.

Inside of six minutes, Tori Sousa sent a cross from the right flank to Cunningham, who punched it into the back of the net to lift the home crowd off their seats.

Cunningham’s goal would prove to be a preview of coming attractions for the Mutiny offense. Four minutes after her shot settled into the net, Hubbard drilled one-timed a cross from Cunningham through to make it a two-goal lead with 80 minutes remaining.

Not wanting to be left out of the party, the Aztec collected a goal of their own in the 12th minute. Bernard blasted a free kick near the edge of the area that slipped through the grasp of Alison Saucier to cut the lead in half.

The Mutiny reclaimed their two-goal advantage right before the interval when Kacey Richards connected with McIntosh, who deposited the deft pass into the Aztec net during the 45th minute.

Two more Mutiny goals materialized after the break. Fisher cut into the box and slipped it inside the near post at the hour mark, while Hubbard collected her second seven minutes from full time.