HIGH TIDE

By: Maine Footy 6/09/2024 6:00pm EDT

Photo: Cindy Russell Photography

Portland, ME - The Tide faced a challenging opponent on Saturday, 06/08/2024, but ultimately fell short to the top-ranked New England Mutiny 1-0 at Memorial Stadium. Attendance was solid, with 350 fans cheering on Maine Footy in their second home match of the season.

SUMMARY

The Tide put up a strong fight throughout the match, creating several scoring opportunities and showcasing great defense. Despite their efforts, the Mutiny capitalized on a late first-half goal to secure the win. Megan Scholten generated great shot attempts on goal, and Jasmine Leshnick worked tirelessly in the second half to create opportunities for The Tide. Emma Badger was voted Player of the Match for her clinical defensive performance, disrupting the Mutiny offense and making a crucial defensive save.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The match began with both teams looking to control the game. The Mutiny had an early chance in the 15th minute when a shot from Cat Barry went wide. The Tide responded in the 18th minute when Sarah Peternel serviced the ball to Anaé Malbete who launched a shot on target but found the body of Mutiny’s Logan Jacobs, leading to a defensive save. The Tide’s goalkeeper, Sally Rainey, made several key saves early on, keeping the game scoreless.

The breakthrough for the Mutiny came in the 43rd minute when Avery KIingensmith scored a header off an Abbey Jones corner, putting the Mutiny up 1-0 just before halftime. The Tide continued to press, with multiple shots on goal and several corner kicks, but the Mutiny's defense held strong.

In the second half, The Tide maintained their pressure on the Mutiny. Jasmine Leshnick, Anamari Bosnjak, and Logan Nicholson all played crucial roles, generating opportunities for The Tide. Despite several close attempts, including shots by Meghan Guarente and Megan Scholten, the Mutiny's goalkeeper Natalie Mutschler continued to defend the goal to maintain their lead.

Emma Badger's defensive efforts assisted in keeping the game close. She made a significant defensive save in the 75th minute, preventing a sure goal by Avery KIingensmith. Sally Rainey tallied 7 saves on the night, keeping The Tide in the match until the final whistle.

STANDINGS

Despite the loss, Maine Footy remains very competitive in the UWS Eastern Conference. The Tide currently hold a record of 2-2-0, currently ranking 5th on the leaderboards.

LOOKING AHEAD

Maine Footy will look to bounce back from this defeat as they prepare for their next match against Sporting CT. The match will be held at Xavier High School in Middletown, CT on Saturday, June 15th, at 3:30 PM EDT. The Tide aim to leverage their strengths and secure a win on the road.