Phantoms End Season Strong

PDL Side Ties Newark, Loses Close One to Long Island

July 20, 2009

The PDL�s New Hampshire Phantoms came into the weekend with a three-game unbeaten streak and on Saturday at SNHU extended that streak with a 2-2 tie against the Newark IronBound Express.

The Phantoms took an early lead in the fifth minute on Dan Hernandez�s fifth goal of the season on a through ball by Michael Todesca. Newark came back to score twice in the 33th and 39th minutes to take a 2-1 lead.

It wasn�t until the 86th minute that the Phantoms tied the game on a penalty kick by Chris Banks.

�This was our game all the way, but we made it difficult for ourselves not being able to convert on one of the six one-on-one opportunities that we had with the Newark goalkeeper, who came up big every time,� said New Hampshire coach Jim DeDeus. �Had we put one or two of those breakaways in the back of the net, then it would have been a different game. But we did well to come back and continue our four-game unbeaten streak.�

Sunday against Long Island, New Hampshire playing its third game in five days and found the early going difficult, as Long Island took an early lead in the 11th minute. The Phantoms then settled and took the attacking opportunities that eventually led them to tie the score in the last moments of the first half, with Banks scoring his eighth goal of the season on an excellent setup by Dan Hernandez.

In the second half, after both teams made several substitutions, the game became more evenly matched. In the 59th minute, Banks had a clear opportunity to get the Phantoms ahead but missed from close range with the Long Island keeper out of position.

Eventually it was Long Island that went ahead in the 68th minute to earn the 2-1 win.

�We played the best team in our division today and we stayed with them the whole game,� said DeDeus. �Playing two games in less then 20 hours is never easy. We were one of the youngest teams in our division, and all season long we were in every game but two. Having only lost once in our last five games is a great tribute to our young players.�

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