Western Mass Pioneers News Release -- www.wmpioneers.com
Sunday, June 19, 2011
PORTLAND, Maine – The Western Mass Pioneers and MPS Portland Phoenix played to a 1-1 draw on Sunday in Portland. Midfielder Sam DeMello scored the game-tying goal for Western Mass in the 84th minute off a feed from Ludlow native Jesse Pereira.
MPS took the lead five minutes before halftime as Joel Thiessen found the back of the net as the Phoenix outshot the Pioneers 12-6 in the first half, but the Pioneers nearly equalized in the 75th minute when Christopher Roswess beat Portland’s center backs only for Portland goalkeeper Matt Williams to make the save to keep the home team in the lead.
However, the Pioneers continued to press for the equalizer in the final 15 minutes and DeMello delivered it in style, beating Williams at his near post.
“Portland had us on our heels during the first half, but we managed to weather the storm,” Pioneers Head Coach Joe Calabrese said. “In the second half our guys played with a great amount of urgency and emotion. We are pleased to take away a point from this match on the road.”
The draw keeps both Western Mass and Portland deadlocked at the top of the PDL Northeast Division standings. Both teams sit on 14 points with 4-1-2 records, but Western Mass owns the tie-breaker having beaten Portland at home on May 27. The two teams will face off three times in July. Western Mass returns home to Lusitano Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. to take on the Ottawa Fury.