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MAINE TIDE 0, NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB 3 HAMPDEN, ME (07/11/2009) – The New York Athletic Club (NYAC) traveled to the Hampden Academy for the return match with the Maine Tide, needing a win to remain in contention for the eighth and final playoff spot in the WPSL East division. The NYAC team came out playing aggressive attacking soccer right from the start, created many scoring chances but could not finish. The Tide defense countered the aggressive runs of the NYAC forwards with its own aggressive use of the off-side trap. NYAC was called for six off-side infractions in the first half. The persistent attacking pressure finally paid off for NYAC in the 36th minute, when forward Melissa Montalvo slotted a square pass from the right side of the Tide penalty box into the path of the on-coming midfielder Stephanie Barrett, who hammered the ball past Tide goalie Michelle Rich. The second goal for NYAC came in the 55th minute, off of a free kick from about 25 yards out on the right flank of the NYAC attacking half. Alisha Moran floated a perfectly paced cross just out of reach of the Tide goalie; midfielder Katie McDermott timed her run to the back post to perfection, beat a back-tracking defender to the ball, and headed it into the roof of the goal. The final tally for NYAC came in the 60th minute, from a PK, when a Tide defender on the ground in the middle of the penalty box was ruled to have intentionally touched the ball with her hand. Stephanie Barrett stepped up, and calmly put the ball past the Tide goalie, for her team-leading sixth goal of the season. Stephanie is among the league leaders in goals scored (6) and points (13; 6 goals, 1 assist). For her two goals and stellar play in the NYAC central midfield, Stephanie Barrett was voted the game's offensive MVP by the coaches. Courtney Fedge, with another solid effort in the middle of the NYAC defensive line, was voted the game's defensive MVP. This is Courtney's third defensive MVP honor of the season, which puts her among the league leaders in this category. NYAC (4-6-0) now sits in eighth place in the WPSL East division, with 12 points. It awaits the result of the Bay State Select v. New England Mutiny match on Tuesday, 7/14, to find out whether it has qualified for the playoffs. A Bay State Select win, or a tie, will put the NYAC team through.
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