Western Mass Pioneers News Release -- www.wmpioneers.com
Friday, May 27, 2011
LUDLOW, Mass. – The Western Mass Pioneers qualified for the U.S. Open Cup with a 1-0 win over the MPS Portland Phoenix on Friday in front of 1,108 fans at Lusitano Stadium.
Halftime substitute Chris Roswess scored the game’s only goal in the 71st minute when he hammered the ball into the net on a half-volley from 18 yards out. Roswess, a West Springfield native, delivered the biggest win of the young season for the Pioneers (3-0-1, 10 pts.).
“In the first half Portland controlled the majority of play and dictated the tempo of play,” Pioneers Head Coach Joe Calabrese said. “But in the second half we made a couple of substitutions and we thought those two changes had a positive impact on the game.”
Roswess was one of those substitutions along with DJ Pereira. Both helped change the match against the previously undefeated Portland. With the win, the Pioneers qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, the oldest knockout tournament of its kind in the United States. Amateur and professional teams – including Major League Soccer – from across the country compete for the U.S. Open Cup.
“For some of our collegiate players this is a dream come true,” Calabrese said. “Many of our college players will never aspire to be professional players. This is once in a lifetime for many of them. You don’t know when your career is going to end so it’s spectacular to have them get this experience.”
The first round of the U.S. Open Cup takes place on June 14. The Pioneers return to Lusitano Stadium on Wednesday, June 1, at 7 p.m. to take on the Vermont Voltage in another critical PDL Northeast Division showdown.