The Niagara College women's soccer program (2-2-1) is hot. As in red hot. Over the last three matches the Knights are 2-0-1 including a September 26th 3-3 draw against the defending OCAA Champion Seneca Sting, and most recently their stunning 1-0 victory over the CCAA's #13 ranked Humber Hawks on September 29th.
The win on Tuesday night is the first ever victory by the Niagara College women's soccer program against the Humber Hawks. Entering the match the Knights sported a record of 0-8 against their OCAA Central Division rival.
"As I get older, as a coach I am becoming more interested in building chemistry by seeking and creating confidence building moments for individual players" said Niagara College women's soccer coach Frank DeChellis. "Tonight we had many of those moments . We had five players give us 90 minutes and role players step in and come up big. Kelsey Snyder is today's example as she came in late, and got her head on three Humber crossing attempts to preserve the victory."
The difference on the score sheet came in the 67th minute when second year midfielder Rebecca Morrison (Erin) converted on a spectacular free kick from 25 yards out. The second year sport management student, used her powerful right leg to curl a strike around the defensive wall into the top corner of the Hawks net. The tally marks Morrison's third straight game with a goal.
"It's nice to display what the Niagara Knights represent" said Morrison after the match. "Hard work and determination. But most of all we just played a great game of football."
DeChellis was quick to credit his defensive core for the shut out performance, heralding the outstanding play of Natalie Semenuk (Welland) and Chelsea Hay (Ottawa). DeChellis continued "they forced Humber to strike from a distance making life much easier for our keeper Jenna Vasiliaskis to record the clean sheet."
The win moves the Niagara College women's soccer program to 2-2-1 on the season. The victory gives the Knights their first three game unbeaten streak since the 2010 season. After playing three games in six days, the team will get some much needed rest. The Knights will not return to action until October 4th when they travel to Mississauga, to take on the University of Tornoto-Mississauga Eagles (0-3-1) at 1:00pm.
