AMANDA AND BECKY RETURN TO WEST SIDE

The New England Mutiny will play the Adirondack Lynx this Saturday at 7:00pm at West Springfield High School in a Women’s Premier Soccer League match. The Lynx and Mutiny have met several times before and a Saturday night home game for the Mutiny is a normal occurrence in western Mass during the Summer. What is unique, however, is the venue- Clark Field at West Springfield High School.

In a league that promotes its hometown heroes making it big in the highest level of women’s soccer, the Mutiny of the WPSL has chosen West Side as a homecoming of sorts for its local players Amanda Santos and Becky Wise, 2006 graduates of West Springfield High School.

“Much like we did in 2006 when we played at East Longmeadow High School in tribute to Jenny Maurer, we felt we would honor Amanda and Becky in West Springfield”, stated Mutiny team owner Joe Ferrara.

Maurer, an East Longmeadow native, was a four-year starter for Division I Boston College and she has spent time with the United States U-23 National Team. Similarly, Santos and Wise, after graduating West Springfield High School, have also moved on to Division I women’s soccer programs at St. John’s and Rutgers, respectively.

These three local standouts have contributed in the success of the New England Mutiny, one of the top-ranked women’s soccer teams in the world; four-time Eastern Conference champions and two-time WPSL National Finalists. The dynamic duo of Santos and Wise are no strangers to being on the same team. In fact, the two athletes have played with each other since the fifth grade. As ten year-olds, Amanda and Becky played for West Springfield in the Pioneer Valley Junior Soccer League. A bond was formed that would take them on to greater heights for the next ten years of their lives.

Both Santos and Wise were starters at the forward position their first season for the West Springfield High School girl’s soccer team in 2002. Coincidentally, it was Brenda Marti’s first season as head coach. Four years later, they found themselves in the western Mass high school championship finals against Minnechaug Regional. That night the two senior forwards competed against a freshman on the opposing team- current Mutiny teammate Danielle Dakin. The Falcons defeated the Terriers that evening 1-0, but the surprise run at the title for West Side will always be remembered after the team failed to even reach the playoffs in the previous season.

The two stellar athletes would also go on to letter in basketball and lacrosse for four years- both reaching the 1000 points milestone for the basketball team.

When it came time to go to college, Division I schools were calling for both players. Even though they decided on different universities, they were ironically in the same conference; as Amanda chose the Red Storm of St. John’s and Becky selected the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, both Big East Conference schools. These two decisions would find them pitted against each other on October 19, 2007. Becky, who was converted to the defensive side of the ball at Rutgers, was asked to take her position on the field that day and defend St. Johns’ number 7. That is when she would be staring directly into the eyes of her childhood friend as an opponent for the very first time. Rutgers would win the match 1-0.

“It was weird to play in that game and see Amanda on a different team than mine”, said Wise. “I had played so many years with Becky next to me and I get to college and she is right in front of me,” added Santos.

But the two are back together again this season and contributing to the Mutiny’s effort to win a National Championship. Wise has started the last two games for the Mutiny and in 2007 anchored a defense that was the stingiest in the league allowing just two regular season goals. Santos missed the entire 2007 season with a Jones fracture in her foot, but has logged significant minutes lately and has impressed her new coaching staff. Santos is still looking for her first career point with the New England Mutiny.

“I have been pleasantly surprised with both Becky and Amanda and expect them to make a major contribution the rest of the season”, stated Mutiny head coach Tony Horta.

 The excitement brews about playing in West Springfield.

“[When the Mutiny called asking to play a match at the high school], I wanted to make it happen because it would be great to see Becky and Amanda back here”, stated West Side Athletic Director Cathy Meader.

And that match will take place this Saturday at 7:00pm at West Springfield High School.

When Santos was asked what was her most memorable moment playing soccer, she responded, “Playing games under the lights at Clark Field”- a feeling that the 2006 Western Mass High School Player of the Year will once again get to experience; an opportunity to get her first point with the Mutiny on a field that she is used to scoring several.

For more on the Mutiny visit www.mutinysoccer.com. Regular admission is $6 for adults and $3 for youth. Free admission for all West Springfield Pioneer Valley players wearing their jerseys and all West Springfield High School students who show ID.