Saturday, September 26th saw the Niagara Knights women's soccer program host the defending OCAA Champion Seneca Sting (2-0-2) at Youngs SportsPlex. Fresh off an impressive 4-0 victory on Thursday, the Knights turned in another outstanding effort, battling the 2014 CCAA bronze medalists to a 3-3 draw.
The Knights are now unbeaten in their lasts two contests and now have a record of 1-2-1 on the season. The team sits in fourth place in the 'group of death' OCAA Central division.
"We played great soccer over the first 70 minutes today" said Niagara Knights women's soccer head coach Frank DeChellis. "We struggled somewhat over the final 20, but anytime you can pick up points against a top team in nation, it's a solid effort."
The Sting opened the scoring in the 15th minute on a strike from Mariam El-Masri. The Knights responded almost immediately on a spectacular free kick in the 18th minute by second year midfielder Rebecca Morrison. The Erin native converted on a free kick from just outside the penalty area, bending her strike around the defensive wall into the top left corner.
After carrying a 1-1 draw into half time, the two sides opened the second frame with an offensive frenzy. Seneca pulled ahead 2-1 in the 48th minute on a goal by forward Peta-Gay Burrell. Over the next 10 minutes however the match became the Jackie Lawther show. The Beamsville native notched two goals, giving her four in the last two games.
Lawther's first goal in the match came in the 54th minute on a fantastic individual effort. The third year Sport Management student stripped the Seneca defender near the center line, streaked down field and chipped the ball over the challenge of the Sting keeper. The play seemed to reinvigorate the Knights, as the team generated multiple scoring chances over the next 10 minutes.
Lawther again found the net in the 58th minute, cradling a crossing pass in the penalty area, and beating Sting keeper Angela Naccarato in a 1v1 situation. The goal gives Lawther five career tallies, the most ever for a Niagara College women's soccer player.
The Sting drew even in the 73rd minute via a crossing attempt by defender Cassie White that hung up in the wind and eventually ricocheted off both the post and Knights keeper Jenna Vasiliaskis before trickling over the line. The hard luck goal seemed to strip Niagara of momentum.
The closing 20 minutes, saw the Sting apply significant pressure, forcing the Knights to weather an offensive storm. Vasiliaskis was strong in net, turning aside 10 saves in the match, helping her team earn a hard fought draw.
"We are getting goals and significant contributions from our best players" continued DeChellis. "This is what it takes to compete with the best teams in the province. All season we have been playing strong and working hard in our system. We knew the positive results would follow."
Up next the Knights will travel to Humber to take on the undefeated Humber Hawks (2-0-1). The two teams last met on September 12th in a rain soaked affair the saw the Hawks earn a tight 2-1 victory. The Knights will not return to their home field until October 9th when they host the Sheridan Bruins at 4:00 pm.
