WPSL: Mutiny Douse Inferno in Rainstorm
- Updated: June 20, 2015
Photo credit: George Skovera.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Torrential downpours did little to deter the attack-minded New England Mutiny on Saturday as they claimed a 3-0 win over the Lancaster Inferno at Central High School.
The Mutiny built a quick two-goal lead when Kate Howarth tallied in the 16th minute, moments before Breanne Moreau scribbled her name on the score sheet in the 18th minute. McKenzie Hollenbaugh capped the scoring in the 68th minute.
With the win, the Mutiny improved their record to 4-1-0 (12 points), tops in the Power 5 division. The Inferno’s mark dropped to 1-1-1 (4 points).
“I think we came out really strong,” Mutiny keeper Kristyn Shea said. “I think we took a little while to get settled down and getting used to the weather, but overall, I think we did a very good job. I think we dominated both halves, possession was probably in our favor and we definitely created a lot of opportunities. We didn’t finish on all of them, but we got what we needed.”
Saturday’s match marked the first time in 15 years that the Mutiny franchise had played at Central High School, at which time they were known as the Springfield Sirens. The 2000 Sirens won the W-League 2 National Championship while the modern day Mutiny did well to channel their predecessor’s form amid a driving rain.
After getting acclimated to the slippery conditions, the Mutiny launched their first true threat in the 15th minute. Rachel Ugolik crossed it for Howarth inside the box, where the Mutiny striker was stopped by a bold save by goalkeeper Emily Dolan.
But Howarth wasn’t about to be denied a second time. Seconds after Dolan denied her, Howarth tapped through a Stephanie Santos corner kick to put the hosts on the board.
The goalscoring celebration had barely subsided when the Mutiny struck again. Moreau found herself unmarked inside the box and duly put it through to make it a two-goal game in the 18th minute.
A third goal proved to be a difficult creature to corral for the Mutiny. In the 25th minute, Julia Weithofer launched a shot from distance that clanked off the crossbar, while Andrea Plucenik sent a scorching shot over the net in the 47th minute.
“We took a lot of pressure off our backline to get the early goals,” Mutiny owner/general manager Joe Ferrara said. “We kind of knocked it around after – wished we would’ve had a few more (goals), but dealing with the elements was kind of tough.”
On the other end of the pitch, Shea wasn’t tested until the 48th minute on the Inferno’s best opportunity to reach the board. Trisha Clark blasted a free kick from 30 yards that Shea initially stopped before it squirted out of her grasp and fell to Olivia Novak. But Shea quickly pushed away Novak’s quick-trigger shot to keep the guests off the board.
With the rain falling harder as the second half progressed, the Mutiny pressed on and finally found the third goal in the 68th minute. Liana Hinds uncorked a shot that smacked off the crossbar and dropped right in front of Hollenbaugh, who coolly tapped it through.
“The word for today was ‘ruthless’,” said Shea. “We just wanted to go out there and get the job done, and I think that was a positive message going into the second half. We were doing what we needed to create chances, but we just had to get on the end of more of them.”
The Mutiny will reacquaint themselves with the Inferno on Saturday, Jun. 27 at Millersville University in Millersville, Pa. Kickoff is set for 3:00pm.
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