WPSL Elite New England Mutiny and Philadelphia Fever Draw 2-2

May 21, 2012 - PRLog -- Two goals on the night by Boston University star Tiya Gallegos were not enough for New England Mutiny to win back-to-back Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) Elite League matches over the weekend. After defeating ASA Chesapeake Charge 4-2 at home on Saturday, Mutiny gave up a late goal to host Philadelphia Fever to end with a 2-2 draw, the first in league play.

While New England’s offense has been connecting, with six goals in two matches, the defense continues to show early-season jitters, giving up four on the weekend and nine overall in WPSL Elite League play. With several members of the team still out on U.S. National Teams commitments, Mutiny head coach Tony Horta has had to make adjustments in the first three games.

Mutiny’s Kate Howarth made the first solid test of the night against Fever’s Michelle Dalton in the 17th minute, but the Big Ten Goalkeeper of the Year was on the spot with the save. A minute later Philadelphia’s Dylan Jordan broke in off the right flank and put a shot in past Mutiny keeper Vikki Alonzo for an early 1-0 lead.

Taking confidence from the goal, the Fever carried the run of play for the next twenty minutes until New England once again found their offensive wheels. Dalton was forced to make difficult saves against Riley Houle and Vicki DiMartino in a span of two minutes, before Gallegos finally found the back of the net off a feed from Houle at the 42-minute mark.

Philadelphia challenged the Mutiny defense once more before the end of the half, but Emily Grant’s shot was unsuccessful, sending the two teams into halftime with the score knotted 1-1.

New England came out gunning for the lead, and in the 65th minute Gallegos put her team up 2-1 after collecting a deflection from a wicked DiMartino shot and firing past Dalton. The goal was her fourth in three games to lead Mutiny. However Philadelphia refused to give in on their home turf, and in the 81st minute Myriam Bouchard headed in the tying goal after a Fever corner kick for the final 2-2 score.

The same two teams will face off again on Saturday, June 2, this time at New England’s East Longmeadow High School home field. Game time is 7:00 p.m.

STARTERS (NEM): Alonzo; Lombard, Morrison, Pressley, Richards; Hood, McCarthy, Houle, Gallegos; Howarth, DiMartino.
SUBS - Reilly, Mays.

STARTERS (PF): Dalton; Allen, Grant, Devarics, Jordan; Haycook, Baldwin, Lynch, Stockton; Bouchard, Minnix.
SUBS - Sayon, Clemens.

SCORING: PF - 18' Jordan (unassisted); NEM - 42' Gallegos (Houle); NEM - 65' Gallegos (DiMartino); PF - 81' Bouchard (unassisted).

About the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL):
The Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) is the largest national Women’s Soccer League in the world. With more than 70-plus women’s soccer teams, the WPSL is the leading amateur soccer league in America. The league is sanctioned by the United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) as an affiliate of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF). The WPSL's mission is to provide opportunities to further the women’s soccer game for the aspiring professional, international-level players and passionate amateurs. The WPSL season brings affordable and quality family entertainment to the community, displays positive role models for our youth and offers the essential connection between youth and pro women’s soccer in America.

About the WPSL Elite League:
With the addition of three former Women's Professional Soccer teams, the WPSL Elite League is now the highest level women's soccer league in America. The leage features eight teams: Former WPS franchises Boston Breakers, Chicago Red Stars, and 2011 WPS Champion Western New York Flash; WPSL teams  ASA Chesapeake Charge, FC Indiana, New England Mutiny and New York Fury; and the independant Philadelphia Fever

About the New England Mutiny:
The New England Mutiny are a charter member of the WPSL East Conference, winning five East titles while reaching the WPSL National Final on two occasions. The Mutiny are competing in WPSL Elite in 2012 against the Boston Breakers, WNY Flash, New York Fury, Chicago Red Stars, F.C. Indiana, ASA Chesapeake Charge and the Philadelphia Fever. For more information on the team, please visit http://www.MutinySoccer.com or send an e-mail to NewEnglandMutiny@aol.com. You can also follow the team on Twitter and Facebook.

For more information please visit http://www.WPSL.info or email Media@WPSL.Info