Tide was Strong in Season Opener

BANGOR, ME (May 19, 2008)- The Maine Tide started their season in strong fashion but couldn't hold on for the win against Soccer Plus on Saturday. The Tide made their debut in the Women's Premier Soccer League (WPSL) at Husson College's John P. Boucher Field, and did very well to compete with Soccer Plus, currently ranked first place in the North East Division.

The first half was played in a steady rain which created some dangerous chances for both teams as the goal keepers were having a hard time hanging on to the ball. The Tide's back line, consisting of Laura Harrison, Becky Ferguson, and Kaley Morris, did well to weather the storm throughout the game.

“We were happy going into halftime with a shutout,” said Morris. “We stuck to our system of low pressure defense and they were having a hard time getting past us.”

Soccer Plus started the second half hungry for a goal as former Penn State striker Tiffany Weimer took the ball from kickoff, ran down the field and took a shot before the Tide could get behind the ball. Weimer, the Big Ten Female Athlete of the Year in the 2005-2006 season, got Soccer Plus on the board in the 63 rd minute when she took a 30-yard free kick. She sent her free kick to the far post and the ball bounced through traffic and skipped past Tide goalkeeper Vanessa Peters. Former University of Maine star Heather Hathorn made a run to the far post and was credited with the goal but she said “I never touched it.”

Peters agreed with Hathorn. “There were two people in front of me and I anticipated a deflection,” said Peters. “They both missed it and I went to come out and get it but it just bounced past me.”

There was no confusion who deserved credit for the second goal, which came in the 83 rd minute. Weimer chested down a pass from Libby Guess, flipped the ball over Harrison, and chipped the ball over the helpless Peters from 18 yards out.

Peters had a phenomenal game, making numerous spectacular saves, including an acrobatic dive to stop a ball destined for the back of the net. She also made several amazing split second reaction kick saves to stop point blank shots. “Their goalie kept them in it,” said Soccer Plus assistant coach Lisa Cole, who was filling in for head coach Tony DiCicco who is also coaching the U-20 USA National Team.

The Tide's team defense worked well to contain Soccer Plus and yielded some counter attack opportunities. Kim Stephenson had a great chance in the first half, but goalkeeper Joy McKenzie made a diving save to stop the well placed shot from 22 yards out. Second half goalkeeper Jill Mastroianni maintained the shut out for Soccer Plus when she slid out to smother a long ball from Laura Harper that nearly found the feet of Meg Willette.

Graham Chandler, head coach of the Tide was impressed with his team's first game performance. “I was pleased with the effort. The girls worked really hard.” The Tide get their next shot at a victory against the AC Diablos Saturday May 24 th at 3:15 PM on Boucher Field. The game will be the second match in a double header that features the Maine Sting making their debut in the NPSL against the men's AC Diablos at 1 PM.

May 17, 2008 John P. Boucher Field, Husson College 1 2 F
Maine Tide (0-1) 0 0 0
Soccer Plus (2-0) 0 2 2

LINE UPS:
MAINE TIDE: Rebekah Ferguson, Laura Harrison, Laura Harper, Kyla Hoskins, Abigail Jenkins (Nikki LeBlanc), Valerie Kamuf, Isabelle Miles, Kaley Morris, Vanessa Peters, Kim Stephenson, Megan Willette.
SOCCER PLUS: Bianca D'Agostino, Leah Blayney, Corie Halasz, Tiffany Weimer, Manya Makoski, Katie Schoepfer, Erika Sutton, Nicole Cross, Joy McKenzie, Heather Hathorn, Libby Guess.

GOALS:
Soccer Plus: Weimer (unassisted) 63 rd minute
Soccer Plus: Weimer (Guess) 83 rd minute