Saturday, October 24th saw the Niagara Knights women's soccer program compete in their first OCAA playoff game since 2010. The Knights travelled to Windsor to take on the 9-1 St. Clair Saints.
The back-and-forth affair saw two of the OCAA's most talented sides lock horns in a match that could have gone either way. Riding two goals in the final three minutes of the match (including one into an empty net as the Knights attempted to tie the game), the Saints edged out a 3-1 victory.
"It was an unjust ending to a great and emotional season for these girls" said Niagara College women's soccer head coach Frank DeChellis. "They battled through every scenario possible this year and still produced our best season ever. Our entire coaching staff is very proud of this group."
It took the Knights the majority of the first half to acclimatize to the smaller grass pitch of the Saints. The field plays far different than the full size artificial surfaces that Knights played on during eight of their 10 games this season.
Niagara paid the price for not converting on two two early scoring chances as St Clair jumped to a 1-0 lead on a cross that found its way through Niagara's goal mouth and into the back of the net. The Saints carried the one goal lead into the half.
The Knights opened the second frame determined to even the score and just moments after the opening whistle, leading scorer Jackie Lawther (Grimsby) played a beatiful cross to Alex Pasco, and the Niagara Falls native made no mistake in heading the ball into the back of the net.
The two teams traded scoring chances over the next 40 minutes, until finally in the 87th minute a St Clair cross was headed past Knights goalkeeper Brittany Haanappel's outstretched arms to give St Clair the lead.
In the last minute of added stoppage time Niagara earned a corner kick. Rebecca Morrison pulled all 10 of her teammates (including Haanappel) in the box looking for the equalizer. The Saints recovered the ball and scored in the vacated Knights net.
"Our women's program has made a name for itself across the OCAA that Niagara College can be proud of" said fifth year centre back Olivia Page who was playing in her final game in a Knights uniform. The team's all-time games played leader continued "I will really miss being on the pitch with these ladies. The season seems truly too short."
The Knights wrap up a 2015 season that saw the team set Niagara College women's soccer records in wins, goals, fewest goals against, and countless individual accolades.
Standout Jackie Lawther, who more than triple the Knights single season scoring record with nine tallies added "we played very well today and the game could have gone either way. It has been a pleasure to play with such an open-minded and positive team."
