sports Lancers women’s soccer team splits weekend games
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Lancer Women’s soccer dominated Waterloo in a 2-0 win Saturday. • photo alanna kelly
goran dabic
SPORTS EDITOR ________________________________ Lancers 2 | Warriors 0 Lancers 1 | Golden Hawks 2 The Windsor Lancers women’s soccer team split their opening weekend home series against the Waterloo Warriors and Laurier Golden Hawks on Alumni Field. The Lancers got the weekend started off on the right foot as they dominated the Waterloo Warriors in a 2-0 win Saturday on Alumni Field. The Lancers set the tone early, controlling possession and playing aggressive. The Lancers’ late first half pressure on the ball paid dividends as Kelly Riccardi’s goal from inside the 18-yard box in the 42nd minute gave the Lancers a 1-0 lead at the half.
The second half was much of the same as the Lancers dominated possession and created multiple scoring chances. A Warrior turnover led to a Lancer counter-attack that saw a searching pass find its way to Brianne Riccardi, who could not convert one-on-one with the keeper. As the second half continued, the Warriors looked visibly tired and had difficulty gaining possession and mustering up any sort of counter-attack. Despite constant pressure by the Lancers, the game remained 1-0 until the 83rd minute when Kelly Riccardi made another solid run down the left side of the field and fired a cross that found freshmen Alyshia Phillips, who calmly put the ball in the back of net. Head coach Angelo Verardi said he was proud of the way his forwards played all day. “Our forwards did well and freshmen
Alyshia Phillips had an outstanding game,” said Verardi. “Kelly (Riccardi) was strong on our left flank making great runs forward and pressuring their back line”. The Lancers had an opportunity to stretch their lead one minute later when Candace Garrod found herself on a breakaway, but her shot was turned away by Waterloo goalkeeper Lesia Bandura, who made several big saves to keep the Warriors in the game.
fought game. The Lancers got off to a good start when, just eight minutes into the game, Tiffany Phillips fired a shot past the out-stretched arms of Laurier’s keeper. The Lancers took the lead to the lockerroom but lost it just four minutes into the second half as Laurier’s Emily Brown was able to slide it past the keeper to tie the game at 1-1.
The Lancers’ relentless pressure and physical play proved to be a difference in their 2-0 win.
The goal seemed to spark the Golden Hawks, who began to control possession and create quality scoring chances as the game progressed.
“Overall the ladies were able to finish the game strong, we had good pressure and quality scoring chances throughout the game,” said Verardi.
They finally broke through in the 75th minute when Krista Cellucci beat the Lancer keeper to secure the 2-1 win for the Golden Hawks.
It was a different story on Sunday, as the Lancers relinquished an early one goal lead to lose to the second-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks 2-1 in a hard-
The Lancers will be on the road next weekend when they face the Western Mustangs on Sunday Sept. 18 at 1:00pm in London.