One down, one to go

New Rochelle, NY - 07/31/2004 - The Westchester Flames took one huge step towards the playoffs by defeating the Western Mass Pioneers 2-1 Saturday afternoon at City Park Stadium in New Rochelle. One more win this season will assure them of a spot in the Northern Division playoffs, for the second year in a row.

The Flames got on the board in the 6th minute as forward Evaud Thompson fed a low ball across the front of the goal mouth. Fellow forward Costea Decu ran onto it and after several rebounds, the ball crossed the goal line, leaving the Pioneers stunned.

In the 67th minute, the speedy Thompson broke behind the Pioneers defense, and taking the ball one on one with goalkeeper Bryan Quinn, blasted a shot into the lower right hand corner, giving the Flames a 2-0 lead. This goal proved to be the game winner as the Pioneers Rob Jachym sailed a shot over the head of Flames goalkeeper Guillermo Valencia in the 78th minute, making it 2-1. That was the final score.

A series of miscues and poor finishing on the part of Westchester is the only thing that kept the score from being much higher.

The Flames, 8-7-2, 26 points, are only two points behind the New Hampshire Phantoms. The Flames face the Phantoms on Saturday, August 14th, in New Hampshire. In a very deja vu scenario, this matchup could determine what team wins the division.

New Hampshire lost 3-2 tonight to the Harrisburg City Islanders, in New Hampshire. They must next face the City Islanders in Harrisburg on August 6th, followed by a game in Pittsburgh on the 7th, before facing the Flames to end the season.

A combination of victories for the Flames and losses by New Hampshire, and the Flames could win the Northern Division.

Match Report

Westchester 2 :: 1 Western Mass

Lineups:
Westchester: Guillermo Valencia, Frank Gizzo, Laurence Piturro, Julian Kapaj, Oliver Gonzalez, Fredy Nava (Daniel Ribeiro 89), Roberto Esquivel, Wanderson Oliveira (Julio Nosta 85), Alex Tobon-Villa (Juan Carlos Gomez 89), Costea Decu, Evaud Thompson

Western Mass: Bryan O'Quinn, Tony Fernandes, Dan Rudolph, Phil Flakes, Ryan DiNunzio (Jay Willis 89), Chris Mogavero, Dan Dalippi, Patrick Teague (Kyle Fletcher 45), Patrick Barry, Everson Maciel, Robbie Jachym

Scoring Summary

WFL: Costea Decu (Evaud Thompson) 6
WFL: Evaud Thompson 67
WMA: Robbie Jachym 78

Discipline

WFL: Evaud Thompson (caution; unsporting behavior) 42
WMA: Everson Maciel (caution; unsporting behavior) 59
WMA: Kyle Fletcher (caution; dissent) 66
WMA: Tony Fernandes (caution; unsporting behavior) 69
WMA: Dan Dalippi (caution; unsporting behavior) 70
WMA: Everson Maciel (caution; dissent) 70
WMA: Everson Maciel (ejection; 2CT) 70
WFL: Guillermo Valencia (caution; timewasting) 75
WFL: Julian Kapaj (caution; reckless foul) 80

Match Statistics

(WFL::WMA)
Shots 16::14, Saves 8::10, Corner Kicks 4::3, Fouls 15::12, Offsides 4::5

Attendance: 203

Officials:
Referee: Pat Pinzon
AR 1: Edwin Cespedses
AR 2: Patrick Okolo
4th: Brendan Mullarkey

07/31/2004