New England Weekly Review: July 30, 2024
New England Weekly Review: July 30, 2024
League's Cup, USL League 1's Massachusetts star, and a finals-bound Seacoast United.
The New England Revolution kicked off its Leagues Cup campaign by beating Liga MX side Mazatlan FC 1—0.
Rhode Island FC found two late goals off the bench to beat North Carolina FC 2-1. Khano Smith’s side continue to climb up the table and sit in 7th place.
Hartford Athletic drew 0-0 with Phoenix Rising FC in a one-sided encounter.
The New England Revolution II enjoyed a bye-week and will continue their MLS NEXTPro season against Atlanta United 2 on August 4th.
Seacoast United progressed to the national final for the USL League 2 playoffs for the first time in the club’s history. Here are this week’s talking points.
Panayotou’s Knocking on Porter’s Door
Bruce Arena considered Jack Panayotou one of the Revs’ most promising talents. Head coach Caleb Porter took 29 matches to figure that out and give the Cambridge, Massachusetts, native a significant role on the team.
In the Leagues Cup debut, Panayotou scored the game-winner in the 69th minute. Panayotou’s first-ever Revs goal symbolized the reward the attacking midfielder deserves after his spectacular start with the Revs II and dream 4-game loan spell at Rhode Island FC.
The 20-year-old midfielder’s odd play-time management reflects an underlying problem in the youth set-up for the Revolution. Peyton Miller, Esmir Bajraktarevic, and Noel Buck feature consistently for the first team. Other youngsters have been featuring for the Revs II, but struggle to replicate their MLS NEXTPro with the first team.
Panayotou deserves a run of playing time as a starter with the absences of Carles Gil, Dylan Borrero, and Tomas Chancalay. Porter chose to start 33-year-old Thomas McNamara on the left wing. McNamara has played six games so far this season and looks to be in the dusk of his career.
The rise of the youngsters this season enabled a squad revival, but the roster needs adjustments in the transfer window.
New England’s Goal Machine in USL League 1
Portland Heart of Pine will kick off its inaugural USL League 1 season next year. Before the club makes New England’s first steps in the competition, Ropapa Mensah is taking the league by storm.
Born in Accra, Ghana, Mensah moved to Massachusetts and attended Lowell High School. After graduating, Mensah played at Salem State before transferring to UMass Lowell.
Since then, Mensah moved around different steps of the American soccer pyramid until he arrived at the Chattanooga Red Wolves SC in January 2023.
This season the striker scored six goals in eight games — tied for third in the league. At six feet tall and ambidextrous, he thrives off his speed to break through the lines.
The 26-year-old played one season in the USL Championship for the Pittsburg Riverhounds.
He finished last season with 12 goals in 28 games. Including his US Open Cup appearances, Mensah is just four goals off from last year’s tally.
With Portland entering the league, Mensah will pass close by to the city he grew up in and likely continue to tear up the league.
Seacoast United Looks to Cap Off Incredible Season With National Title
The Seacoast United Phantoms beat Lionsbridge FC 6-3 and Asheville City 1-0. They play Peoria City FC in the national championship with the chance to win their first-ever playoff title.
Alex Ryan’s side holds a 17-1 record having only lost against AC Connecticut all season.
With the return of Marco dos Santos, right-back Mitch Varley is the only starter who has missed the playoffs. However, his replacement So Nishikawa scored the game-winner to take the Phantoms to the final.
Peoria City’s record of 11-3-5 saw them stroll past FC Tuscon in a 5-1 victory.
Peoria City hosts the final on August 3rd at 7:30 p.m. as the Phantoms attempt to upset the home side.
With Ibrahim Conde, Terry Makedika, and dos Santos all scoring in the past two games, the Phantoms will rely on their offensive weapons to bring the championship to New England.