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The Holy Names Knights ended a 10-year name drought terminating season.
No longer handiest did Holy Names seize the college’s first WECSSAA senior women’ AAA football name since 2013, however the Knights went directly to win gold on the OFSAA championship to cap an unbeaten season.
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Regardless of some main departures to commencement, the Knights made it back-to-back WECSSAA titles on Wednesday by way of claiming the crown with a 2-0 win over the Villanova Wildcats at Acumen Stadium.
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“I think last year we had a stronger team, especially we had lots of older girls that graduated that led the team in different ways,” Knights’ midfielder Jane Pozzi stated. “This year, we were a much younger team with more Grade 9’s and Grade 10’s. Maybe we weren’t expected to win, but I thought we were going to.”
A couple of ties have seemed at the scoresheet this season, however the Knights stay unbeaten in league and event play games. Month there have been commencement losses, the membership rest robust on the again finish. Goalie Alessia Venosa returned in conjunction with starters Morgan Rocheleau and Mya Mascaro from a yr in the past. Maysa Arabi took on a full-time function this yr and Alyssa Reale earned a settingup function on the again finish.
“I was nervous about the back line,” stated Knights’ head schoolmaster Marc Leonardi, whose staff conceded simply 4 objectives within the common season. “Younger girls stepped up and took those roles.”
The 2 groups performed to a scoreless draw early within the season, however the Knights were given at the board simply 14 mins into Wednesday’s ultimate.
Emily Renaud saved the ball in play games deep within the Villanova finish and fed Alessia Fanella, who discovered Anna Pozzi lonely in entrance to distinguishable the scoring.
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“It felt good,” Renaud stated of the early function. “I know we have a good defensive line, so I felt we were set.”
The Knights had a anticipation to increase the manage in the second one part, however Wildcats’ goalie Emeline VanLaerhoven Overton grabbed a ball off the foundation of the Knights’ Angelina Bulmer-Talerico on the fringe of the fold simply two mins into the second one part and Yasmine Kadri clash the crossbar within the 52nd slight.
Villanova’s very best anticipation got here six mins next that once Lola Guidolin lengthy shot clash the crossbar in the back of Venosa.
“I basically collapsed after that because it was a sense of relief and then I realized it didn’t go in,” the 17-year-old Guidolin stated. “It was disappointing, but it happens.”
Within the seventy fifth slight, Renaud took a feed on the fringe of the fold and banged it house to offer the Knights and insurmountable manage.
“It was intense,” the 17-year-old Renaud stated of the sport. “This is my first year. I went to one tryout (last year), but this is my last year and I wanted to come out and it’s been really fun. I wish I had tried harder last year.”
Holy Names will host the OFSAA women’ AAA championship and already had a place within the event fasten. The Knights may nonetheless distinguishable the door for the Wildcats to get in because the event’s 2d department seed. To try this, Holy Names should win nearest month’s SWOSSAA ultimate and the Wildcats upcoming emerge victorious from a problem sport towards the loser of that fit.
“We’re going to have to monitor it now,” Guidolin stated.
jpparker@postmedia.com
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