Match Recap: https://stories.uslcup.com/games/69ed4b73916c404c621468f7.html
Alexi Armas beat keeper Hunter Morse with a drive to the low right side of the net, as WSC prevailed 5-4 in penalties over Portland Hearts of Pine Saturday night in Mount Vernon, giving WSC its first-ever points in the Prinx Tires USL Cup. Armas’ dramatic clincher followed Andrew Hammersley’s second stop in penalties, as he denied Brecc Evans to give WSC the chance for the clincher. Earlier Hammersley had stonewalled Tyler Huck to give WSC the edge, but Jonathan Jimenez was stopped by Morse to force the deciding sudden death penalty round.
The two clubs entered penalties tied at 2-2, which came about when Portland’s Ollie Wright found the back of the net in the 84th minute, sliding a shot behind Hammersley through the heavy downpour. Daniel Burko’s goal in the 50th minute had given WSC a 2-1 lead, and with conditions deteriorating in the heavy rain, wind and cold, it appeared the lead was insurmountable until Wright found a path through the slippery field and into the back of the net.
Portland grabbed an early lead when Esteban Espinosa got open deep in the box and headed in Matteo Kidd’s corner kick in seventh minute. Conor McGlynn tied it with a penalty kick in the 24th minute after Kyle Evans was fouled in the box by Mo Mohamed.
The win was WSC’s second in penalties this season, after they defeated Vermont in the second round of Lamar Hunt US Open Cup play 4-3 on April 1. In their first season of play, WSC went pointless in USL Cup play.
The return to League One action on May 1 at Richmond, their first of two consecutive league road matches.
