Lady Pioneers Drop Home Opener

Fall, 3-1, to Hudson Valley

May 17, 2009

LUDLOW, Mass. – The Western Mass Lady Pioneers dropped their home opener, 3-1, to the Hudson Valley Quikstrike Lady Blues on Saturday at Lusitano Stadium.

The game moved at a quick pace for the first 30 minutes, with the Quickstrike living up to their nickname. Quality organization by central backs Brook Johns and Kacy Richards allowed the Lady Pioneers to stage good transition into counter attacks that resulted in two corner kicks, but each attempt created scoring chances that missed just wide.

As the game started to move from one end to the other, Quickstrike wing mid fielder Mercede Konig found herself unmarked on the left flank. Serving a quality ball along the edge of the six yard box, Angilika Johanson edged out the defender to net the first goal at the 35th minute of the first half.

In the second half, Hudson Valley’s Kriston Edmunds took the ball deep once again for a dashing cross that was finished on the first strike to make it 2-0 in the 55th minute. A

Sam Kelly, who entered the game at the 70 minute mark for the Lady Pioneers drove to the net for a ball played through and was taken down inside the six-yard box. Without hesitation, the referee called for the penalty kick. Kacy Richards was able to place the ball left side netting to pull the Pioneers within one, 2-1.

As Hudson Valley continued to counter at a pace that eventually broke down the defense, Amanda Costa drove in a game ending third goal (86th minute).

The loss drops the Lady Pioneers to 1-1 on the season, while Hudson Valley earns the win in their first game of the year.

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