WELLAND, Ont., (September 6, 2019) – After coming off a 5-0 pre-season, the Niagara College Knights women's soccer team began their regular season with a 3-2 win over the Humber Hawks tonight at Youngs Sportsplex in Welland.
After a quiet first 20 minutes, Humber got on the board first with a goal from Lily Campbell. The Knights didn't take long to respond, with Kaitlyn Pressley (1st year, St. Catharines) netting one less than a minute later tying things up at one-a-piece. While the first half started off slow, tensions rose in the last 20 minutes of the half with both teams trading yellows. The Knights' Terin Hultink (1st year, Fenwick) capitalized with just a minute remaining in regulation time, after a controversial collision between two players at midfield, pulling ahead 2-1 heading into the final 45 minutes of play. Humber's Campbell tied things up for the Hawks with her second of the night, after catching Knights keeper Taylor Major (4th year, Stoney Creek) off her line to even things up at 2-2 at the 60 minute mark.
Once again the Knights would respond with a beautiful set up on a shot from Hultink, with Julieanne Buist (1st year, Canfield) putting the finishing touch on the eventual game winning goal.
Head coach Rob Lalama was pleased with his team's effort in what was a high tension match-up.
" I think we proved to ourselves tonight that we can compete with a very good team in Humber," said Lalama.
"Heading into tonight's game I wasn't sure how we were going to perform under the pressure of the first regular season game, or how we were going to match up against Humber. I am very proud of this team tonight, they worked hard and deserved this win."
Next up for the Knights is next Friday September 13th against Mohawk. Game time is set for 6:00 P.M.
