NWSL: WNY FLASH FINISH SEASON WITH A WIN

Western New York Flash Season Ends With 3-2 Win Over Portland Thorns FC

Soccer News: The Western New York Flash closed the 2015 National Women’s Soccer League season with a 3-2 win over the Portland Thorns FC on Friday night in front of a season-high 4,147 fans at Sahlen’s Stadium.

It only took the Flash eight minutes to build a two-goal lead, snapping a 188-minute scoreless streak.

“I think the team was just really eager to finish the season with a win,” said Flash head coach Aaran Lines. “’We had a great crowd tonight, which was really important. We’ve had a tough season in phases and we’ve been good in phases. This team has shown they can beat anyone, on any given day. Today was a good day, against a quality Portland side that came in here.”

In the 6th minute, Michelle Heyman and Samantha Mewis combined on the left side, with Heyman sending Mewis to the flag with a quick pass. Mewis cut in and sent the ball across the goalmouth, finding Halimatu Ayinde for her first NWSL goal.

Just two minutes later, Mewis and Heyman got things going again, with Mewis sending the Australian down the field on a lofted ball. Heyman got to the ball and chipped it over Betos, who had come well off her line for the challenge. Forward Jasmyne Spencer made a run behind the defense and poked the ball into the open net.

Mewis then got on the board herself, with a great individual effort to strip the ball from defender Claire Polkinghorne close to the Thorns net. The rookie made no mistake, firing the ball past Betos for the three-goal lead.

Portland earned a goal back in the 24th minute after Alex Morgan collected a ball on the left side and found Jodie Taylor in the middle for the one-touch score. Allie Long scored the Thorns second goal late in the match, after Chantel Jones first made a save on Shim, but the visitors ran out of time to find a third tally.

Mewis came close to her second goal in the 62nd minute when Abby Dahlkemper placed a perfect ball on a set piece, but Mewis was unable to connect cleanly.

Both the Flash and Thorns end the season with a 6-9-5 record (23 points).

Playing all 90 minutes, both Becky Edwards and Jaelene Hinkle completed a full-season, with Hinkle becoming the first rookie to play each minute of a season during the NWSL era.

“[This season we were] good in patches, but not quite ready for that step into the playoffs. We’ve got the youngest team in the league, we blooded a lot of young players into the NWSL and they got better,” Lines added postgame. “We’ll be looking to build around them and strengthen other areas. I think we invested this season in the youth and it’ll pay off next year.”

Tickets for the 2016 WNY Flash season are now available online or by calling (716) 655-PLAY. Packages for all 10 games start at just $100 and the first 30 fans who purchase club level seats will receive free parking for the entire 2016 season. Also, anyone who purchases seats by October 1, 2015 will be entered to win a VIP match experience to a game, including a suite for 12.