PDL: Pioneers & Phantoms Trade Tallies in 2-2 Draw

By Brian O'Connell
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Updated: July 3, 2016

Photo credit: David Henry/sweetdogphotos.com

A Carlos Ruiz penalty strike capped a back-and-forth affair between the Western Mass Pioneers and Seacoast United Phantoms, who played to a 2-2 draw on Friday at Lusitano Stadium in Ludlow, Mass.

Ruiz scored from the spot in the 64th minute to put the Pioneers on level terms after Akable Miezan gave the guests a 2-1 lead in the 31st minute.

63' DON'T COUNT US OUT YET! Carlos Ruiz scores on the PK to even the score 2-2 pic.twitter.com/dLRezHteO1

— WMPioneers (@PioneersPDL) July 2, 2016

Miezan’s goal came shortly after Ben Lamb scored the Pioneers’ first goal of the came in the 23rd minute. Terence Carter, who fired five shots in Friday’s rivalry match, put the Phantoms on the board first when he tallied in the 14th minute.

Pioneers keeper Nick Zucco collected a game-high six saves while his counterpart Andrew Pesci registered five stops in a match that featured a combined 15 shots on goal.

Former Pioneers striker Alencar Junior, who signed with the Phantoms in the offseason and scored in his first encounter against Western Mass in the season opener, was not available for selection on Friday.

The Pioneers extended their unbeaten run to seven (5-0-2) with Friday’s draw, but were unable to keep their place atop the division after Portland Phoenix claimed a 3-2 win over AC Connecticut on Friday. The road point allowed the Phantoms to stretch their own unbeaten streak to three (1-0-2).

Western Mass resumes play on Friday, Jul. 8 when they host the Westchester Flames at Lusitano Stadium. Seacoast returns to the field on Friday, Jul. 8 for a road tilt against FA Euro New York at Belson Stadium in Jamaica, N.Y.