Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues Improve to 3-0
Official Press Release
Lady Blues down Washington Freedom 4-2 to remain undefeated
The Hudson Valley Quickstrike Lady Blues went to 3-0-0 on the season Sunday after defeating defending W-League Northeast Division Champion Washington Freedom in front of 2,115 fans at Newburgh Free Academy.
Washington started off strong and claimed most of the possession. The Freedom’s Brittany Tegeler opened the scoring in the 29th minute with a looping shot that beat goalkeeper Ashley Thompson.
However, the Lady Blues responded immediately. After the ball pinged around in the box, Whitney Palmer’s header found forward Angelika Johannson, who slotted the ball home for the 30th minute equalizer.
Then, Campbell Hall, NY, native Brittany Taylor put the home side ahead on the stroke of halftime. Her 45th minute volley from 25 yards out was a laser that Freedom goalkeeper Alyssa Pont could only watch sail into the upper corner of the goal.
Head coach Jesse Kolmel was extremely impressed with the goal, as was the entire crowd.
“You can’t say enough about her,” he said. “That is one of our marquee players stepping up to the challenge and executing.”
That goal gave the Lady Blues a 2-1 lead going into halftime.
The Lady Blues started the half the way that they ended it when Whitney Palmer made a run in behind the Freedom defense. Pont came out to challenge Palmer, who tapped the ball around her and walked it into the net to give the Hudson Valley a 3-1 lead.
Palmer was a menace all night and wreaked havoc on the Washington defense, which could not keep up with her speed.
“Stepping out on the field tonight I think everybody went in with the mentality that we were going to win and we could get out there and work hard the entire game,” Palmer said. “So, I think our mentality was really good.”
Tegeler did pull one back for the Freedom. Her 75th minute chip shot beat Lady Blues goalkeeper Erin McNulty, who was a halftime substitute. That cut the Lady Blues lead to 3-2.
Unfortunately for Washington, Palmer’s speed was too much. She broke through the Freedom defense again in the 88th minute. When Pont came out to challenge her, Palmer tapped the ball around the Freedom goalkeeper and walked it into the net to ice the game and give the Lady Blues a 4-2 victory.
Kolmel was happy with the result, but realizes it is only one win. Washington was also playing its second game in less than 24 hours after beating the Long Island Lady Rough Riders 3-1 Saturday.
“There’s nothing to celebrate right now,” he said. “Our goal is not to beat the Freedom. Our goal is to move on to the playoffs so we have some work to do.”
Next up for the Lady Blues (3-0-0, 9 pts.) is the final game of a three game home stand against the Boston Renegades on Saturday, June 6 at 7 p.m.
Based in the Hudson Valley, NY, Quickstrike FC is a registered 501(c)3 soccer program which offers comprehensive development opportunities for boys and girls from ages U9 through U20, including a W-League women’s team.
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