It wasn't the way the team wanted to end their 2014 season, but the Niagara College men's soccer program know they are a group headed in the proper direction.
The team won a total of five regular season games this year, and added a playoff victory over the Redeemer Royals. But a quarterfinal road matchup six hours from home versus the Algonquin Thunder, the CCAA's top ranked team, proved too much for the Knights to handle. The Thunder cruised to an impressive 7-0 victory in a windy and rain soaked affair.
"Today was a bad day for a program that is heading in the right direction" said Knights head coach Frank DeChellis. "Today's outcome was the last thing the Knights expected going back to Algonquin for the second straight year."
The game was much closer than the score sheet reflects as the Thunder were up just 2-0 at half time.
Coach DeChellis continued "in the second half we gave up balls in bad places and they punished us. They are a strong team."
The Knights typically play a controlled game that relies on patience and the breaking down of a team's defensive structure. The two-goal deficit at half forced the team to alter their strategy and take risks in an effort to get back into the game.
"While pushing to score we left ourselves vulnerable for Algonquin to attack. We were playing for the win. Not to keep the score close, so we took our chances" added DeChellis.
The loss simply marks a tough end to what has otherwise been a strong 2014 campaign for the Knights.
The team advanced to the second round of the OCAA playoffs for the second consecutive year, hosted a home playoff game, and most importantly won five games for the first time in program history. The Knights also finish 2014 with a perfect 5-0 record on home field.
Saturdays match also served as the final game in a Knights uniform for graduating student-athletes Ajaleon Dill (Bermuda), Jesse Derwinsky (Port Robinson), Leandro Almeida (Salvador, Brazil) and three-year team captain Will Janetos (St. Catharines).
"These players are valued members of our program and are good ambassadors for Niagara College. We appreciate the key roles they have played in establishing a high performance culture around the Niagara College Knights soccer program" said DeChellis.
Janetos, a fourth-year General Arts and Sciences student, has been a lynchpin for the Knights defensively over the last four seasons. The 2013 Niagara College Outstanding Leadership award winner commented "I loved my time for Niagara and I am sad that it's all over. Being a leader and playing my heart out for my teammates and coaches was a great blessing and I'll never forget it. I would like to thank coaches Frank, Luch, Rino, and Gerry for developing the program and for trusting me to be the on field leader for three years."
For his tremendous play in both Saturday's game and over the course of the 2014 season, Janetos was named SAC Male Athlete of the Week.
