MUTINY ROLL TIDE, 1-0

BANGOR,ME: One can only say that it was appropriate that a match between the Mutiny and the Tide be played in high winds and driving rain, but the conditions calmed enough for the Mutiny to prevail 1-0 in its Women’s Premier Soccer League match against the Maine Tide in Bangor.

The Mutiny played some elegant soccer against a feisty and disciplined Tide side. The Mutiny would get the game’s first scoring opportunity in the 18th minute when a hand ball infraction in the penalty area was called on a Maine defender setting up the penalty kick for Mutiny forward Mary-Frances Monroe. Monroe unfortunately would slide her attempt wide of Tide keeper Vanessa Peters.

It would take Monroe just one minute to atone for the error as she assisted on the game’s only goal of the match. Monroe collected a loose ball 25 yards from goal and unleashed a meteoric blast that knuckled on frame. Peters did well to see it let alone save it as she made the initial stop on the shot, but Mutiny forward Erin Gatto swooped in on the rebound, like a hawk that just spotted some roadkill, and headed the ball into the Tide goal.

The Mutiny almost got a second goal just before the halftime whistle. West Springfield native Amanda Santos, playing in her first Mutiny game of 2008 after recovering from a season-long injury last year, started a terrific combination play with Mutiny forward Karen Gurnon who would cross to Monroe, but Monroe’s shot sailed just over the bar.

The teams went into halftime with the Mutiny leading 1-0. The second half was controlled by the Mutiny and in the 66’ minute Mutiny midfielder Becky Gundling hit a blast from outside the area in which Peters made a leaping save to keep the score 1-0. The Tide did not muster much of an attack on Mutiny goalie Lauren Luckey, but the UMass product did snuff out their most dangerous opportunity in the 76th minute preserving the shutout.

The Mutiny was able to protect the one-goal lead and improved its record to 3-0 on the season while the hard luck Tide fall to 0-3.

“I felt today we played our best game so far this season. We showed some flashes of brilliance and the players responded to what we worked on in training. Maine is very organized defensively and deserves a lot of credit,” stated Head Coach Tony Horta.

The Mutiny’s next game will be Saturday against the Boston Aztec at Amesbury, MA and then the team will return home to Agawam High School on Friday, June 13th to take on SoccerPlus CT.