New York Fury Fall to Boston 2-1

Added by Steven Farkas on May 24, 2012.

The New York Fury battled the Boston Breakers last night in a battle for first place in the WPSL Elite league at Hofstra University.  When the final whistle came, Boston had won 2-1 and taken over sole position of first place in the league.

The Breakers jumped in front of the Fury early when Tamika Butt scored in the 9^th minute of the game.  She was assisted on the goal by Courtney Jones.  The first goal was followed by another just ten minutes later as Katie Shoepfer put the ball in the net in the 19^th minute.  This gave Boston a 2-0 lead in just the first twenty minutes of the game.  It looked as though the Fury would be routed by the Breakers.

However, after those two early goals, the game and the Fury settled down.  The rest of the half, both teams battled back and forth, Boston hoping to put the nail in New York’s coffin and the Fury trying to claw its way back into the game.

The second half saw just one goal.  New York’s Merritt Mathias scored in the 66^th minute.  This was Mathias’ fourth goal of the season.  She previously scored a three goal hat trick in the first game of the season against New England.  But, her goal would not be enough to lift the Fury over Boston.  When the final whistle sounded, the Fury found themselves on the wrong side of the score sheet.

“The better team won tonight,” said Fury coach Paul Riley. “They had more fitness, more energy, more organization. They destroyed us in the first half and we really never found any type of rhythm until the second half.”

The loss dropped New York out of first place as their record fell to 2-1.  Boston, now 3-0 on the season, takes over first place.

“We have a ton of work to do and tomorrow morning we will get back on it,” said Riley. “Boston are the favorites and they showed why tonight. They are dangerous up front, talented in the midfield and athletic in the back. Lesley Osborne was a class above everyone tonight”

The Fury are back home next Thursday night, May 31 when they take on the Philadelphia Fever at 7:00 pm at Hofstra.