Dec. 27, 1931 – New York Giants 3:2 New Bedford Whalers at Polo Grounds (Att.: 2,500)

Bert Patenaude, probably the most dynamic U.S.-born goal-scorer ever, converted once and earned an 85^th-minute penalty. Johnny Slavin (ex-Raith Rovers, Hearts) scored the deciding penalty kick after Patenaude was “tripped by Rebello six minutes from the end.”

Patenaude (b. Nov. 4, 1909 in Fall River, Mass.) was 22 years old as he led the ASL in scoring with 24 goals in 16 matches, apparently not having joined the team until the second month of the season. Patenaude, who had converted the first hat trick in the inaugural World Cup in 1930 (yes, he was only 20 years old), totaled 36 goals in 22 matches in all competitions for the Giants. Patenaude averaged more than one goal per game for five teams from 1928-32 and is listed with 118 goals in 124 ASL regular-season matches.

Dec. 27, 1931 – Boston Celtics 0:0 [aet] Swedish FC, North Massachusetts and New Hampshire State Cup series at Sullivan Sq. Grounds (Att.: 3,000)

“As in all previous games between the teams, the intense rivalry among the players and fans broke out at intermittent periods and on two occasions Referee White had to stop the game and have the fans cleared back of the lines. Several near-fights took place, but it was generally owing to the fever heat of the game that the incidents were occasioned.”

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY