KNIGHTS OUTDUEL THE ROYALS
WELLAND – In the last game of the OCAA regular season, despite forcing the Niagara Knights to pressure for 90 minutes, the Redeemer Royals Women's soccer team was unable to secure a much-needed victory, dropping the Friday night road contest by a score of 4-0.
Fourth-year Goalkeeper Lilly Brown (Hamilton, ON) held off the early attacks from the Knights' potent attack, giving the Royals attack chances to open the scoring. Ultimately it was a great individual effort from the Knights' leading goal scorer Sydney Sica that opened the scoring in the 12th minute.
The Knights would follow by adding more ball pressure and forcing a Royals turnover inside the 18-yard box resulting in midfielder Terin Haltink's attempt slipping just past an outstretched Brown to give Niagara a 2-0 lead in the 23rd minute.
Led by recently named Royals Player of the Month Leah Sloots (Ottawa, ON), the Royals did not give up and producing another great chance in front of Knights goal. The back and forth contest went in the wrong direction for the Royals in the 29th minute when the Knights took advantage of a defensive mistake and put the game out of reach. Niagara would add a fourth goal midway into the second half to secure the 4-0 victory. The first-place Knights, having their best Women's soccer season ever, outshot the Royals 16-2 and will now head to the playoffs confident they can win it all. The Royals, on the other hand, see their 2021 outdoor season come to an end.
"Unfortunately, we could not maintain the energy that our group started the game with," said head coach Meaghan Rudd. "The ladies had a great season. We improved in every position and, our team tactics grew leaps and bounds. We have a skilled and committed group of ladies, a group, that despite some tough losses and missing out on the playoffs, continues to showcase a unique team bond. These are exciting times to be a Royal"
Playing in one of the toughest divisions in the province and returning many key contributing players, the Royals can look ahead to what should be a very bright future. The team will take some time off before beginning training for the Indoor OCAA season.
