NH Phantoms Draw On Road
June 15, 2007 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
New Hampshire Phantoms News Release
WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA - (June 15, 2007)) - The New Hampshire Phantoms and Wilmington Hammerheads played to a 1-1 draw at Wilmington in the 5th ever meeting between the two teams. The tie gives the Phantoms its first three-game undefeated stretch of the season after shutting out Western Mass last weekend 1-0 and tying Crystal Palace 0-0 on the road two weeks back.
Wilmington struck first midway through the first period on a re-start just outside the penalty box from the right side. Hammerheads defender Landy Madison ripped a shot which deflected off a Phantoms defender before Madison's teammate George Corrie redirected it into the Phantoms goal.
The Phantoms drew even when Amherst's Tyler Jackson (University of NH, 2005) corner kick at the 26th minute mark connected with teammate Almir Barbosa (USC Spartanberg, '04) who scored his second head ball goal in as many weeks.
The two teams entered the game with nearly identical stat lines - Wilmington in 7th place at 1-5-3 having scored 7 goals while allowing 14, and the 1-4-3 Phantoms 8th in the standings having scored one less goal while giving up one more tally than the Hammerheads.
Both teams entered the match playing some of their best soccer of the season. The host team's only loss in the last four games, to go along with a win and two ties, came against first place Richmond last week, 2-0.
The game featured some late-game heroics when Phantoms goalkeeper Brian Levey (UNH '07) made a pair of saves to preserve the tie for the visit team. Levey dove right and at full extension batted away a sure Wilmington goal and just second later show cat-wuick eye-hand reaction time with a tip over the crossbar on a shot at point-blank range.
James Greenslit (Wheaton MA College '06) and Durham's Marc Hubbard (Colgate University '03) continued their strong defensive play for the Phantoms.
Barbosa's goal keeps him in the top ten is USL-2 play in points (8), goals (4), and shots.
The Phantoms defeated Wilmington last year in Wilmington, 1-0, in June, and drew at home in its second game of the season 1-1. The Phantoms hold the series edge since the two teams' first meeting in 1995 with a 2-1-2 record. the two teams will battle again later in July in Manchester.
NH departs Wilmington and heads to Charlotte for a 8 PM kickoff versus the division leading 7-3-0 Eagles Saturday night at Waddell Stadium in Charlotte.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 15, 2007
- NH Phantoms Draw On Road - New Hampshire Phantoms
- Last Minute Rally Pulls Cincinnati Kings To 3-3 Tie With Western Mass - Western Mass Pioneers
- Kickers Return To Regular Season Action Sunday - Richmond Kickers
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