The New England Mutiny will set sail on its 20th season this month. One of the oldest women’s soccer franchises in the United States will have a brand new look in 2019. The Mutiny finished the 2018 campaign at 4-4-2, marking just the second time in its existence that the club failed to achieve a winning record. This off-season brought changes to the management of the club as well as naming a new head coach as former Mutiny assistant coach Jeb Booth will captain the ship for the 2019 season.

“For an organization to compete for the National Championship, it needs to have all three phases working together– management, coaching and players. Last season that did not happen, stated Managing Director Joe Ferrara. But this year there is definitely a positive buzz surrounding this group. The fact about this will be our 20th season and the move to Lusitano Stadium has created excitement and anticipation,” added Ferrara.

On the playing side, the team will also undergo a major overhaul in its roster as a club record 17 new players will join the crew this season. However, one constant remains as it has for six previous seasons and that is the return of the Mutiny’s all-time leading scorer Kate Howarth (University of Miami/Boston Breakers). Howarth with 49 goals and 17 assists for a total of 115 points surpassed the previous mark set by Mary Frances Monroe from 2003-2009.

On the topic of all-time scorers, the Mutiny are excited to announce the addition of local phenom, Brooke Murphy (Monson, MA/University of New Hampshire). Murphy is the all-time leading scorer in the history of the University of New Hampshire women’s soccer program with 43 goals and 97 total points. Murphy was twice named America East Striker of the Year and was named Midfielder of the Year in her senior season.

Accolades were also bestowed upon a trio of Central Connecticut State University stars as Roma McLaughlin (Donegal, Ireland) was named NEC Rookie of the Year, Shauny Alterisio (Danbury, CT) was named Defender of the Year and local star Charlotte Maurer (Northampton, MA) garnered Midfield of the Year award. McLaughlin is also a member of the Republic of Ireland National Team. All three players will suit up for their first season with the Mutiny after a stellar fall campaign under Head Coach Mick D’Arcy.

The Mutiny will have two new goalkeepers for 2019. Catalina Perez (Miami, FL/Mississippi State) and Kelsey Kohler (Ballston Lake, NY/UCONN) have signed on for their first season with the Mutiny. Perez is also goalkeeper for the Colombian National Team; making her World Cup debut in 2015 - coincidentally against the United States. Perez was pitching a shutout for her country when unfortunately in the 47th minute a red card infraction against U.S. forward Alex Morgan would end her evening prematurely. Kohler, who missed her first college season due to injury, was the championship net-minder for Quickstrike (NPL) and Shenendehowa High School. The Mutiny will look to sign a third goalkeeper in the coming days.

The Mutiny has always looked to its hometown heroes to impact the playing pitch and this year will be no different. Joining Murphy and Maurer are other local stars in Nissa Pereira (Ludlow, MA) who plays at UMASS, Carrie Ellis (Hatfield, MA) who will be playing at the University of Rhode Island and recent Sacred Heart graduate and East Longmeadow native Alyssa Hyland.

The Mutiny will announce its second wave of signings shortly as preparations will begin for its opening match in Worcester on May 11th. The Mutiny home opener at Lusitano Stadium will be Saturday, May 18th at 7:00pm against the Long Island Rough Riders.