On a cold, windy afternoon at Youngs SportsPlex, the Niagara College women's soccer (3-2-2, 3rd Central) program battled the second place Sheridan Bruins (4-1-2, 2nd Central) to a 1-1 draw.
The Knights opened the game with numerous chances from their top scorers but were unable to find the back of the net. Then, in the 14th minute, Emily Babcock (Caledon) hit a beautiful corner kick and Alex Pasco (Niagara Falls) out jumped every Bruin defender and headed in her third goal of the season. Pasco's header snapped a five-year scoreless streak for the Knights against the Bruins.
With little time to celebrate, the Bruins sent a through ball behind the Knights defenders, setting up Kendra Cooper on a break. Cooper capitalized on her opportunity, sneaking the ball under the arm of Knights goalkeeper Jenna Vasiliaskis (Burlington) and tied the game 1-1.
Late in the first half, Knights superstar Jackie Lawther (Beamsville) steals the ball from a Bruins defender and races towards the net. Bruins goalkeeper Balpreet Bal chargers out of her box and Lawther tries to chip the ball over the keeper. The ball hits the crossbar, bounces off the ground and back up off the crossbar before Bal manages to get her hands on it. The ball looked to have crossed the line however the side judge did not agree.
With the wind against them in the second half, the Knights were unable to generate any opportunities. The Bruins outshot the Knights 5-0 in the second half, 9-4 overall in the game.
Second-year midfielder Rebecca Morrison (Erin) played outstanding on the defensive side of the ball and she always found herself in position to break up a pass or block a shot.
The draw gives the Knights one point and they are now tied with Seneca (3-2-2, 3rd Central) in the standings.
Alex Pasco's third goal of the season moves her into 22nd place in the OCAA in scoring.
The Knights lose the season series 0-1-1 and are now 0-7-2 all-time against the Bruins in the regular season.
Up next for Niagara is a road game against the Seneca Sting in a battle for third place in the central. The game is set for October 14th at Newnham Campus at 6:00pm.
