Article content
The Holy Names Knights ended a 10-year title drought last season.
Not only did Holy Names capture the school’s first WECSSAA senior girls’ AAA soccer title since 2013, but the Knights went on to win gold at the OFSAA championship to cap an unbeaten season.
Article content
Despite some major departures to graduation, the Knights made it back-to-back WECSSAA titles on Wednesday by claiming the crown with a 2-0 win over the Villanova Wildcats at Acumen Stadium.
Article content
“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 said. “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 few ties have appeared on the scoresheet this season, but the Knights remain unbeaten in league and tournament play. While there were graduation losses, the club remains strong at the back end. Goalie Alessia Venosa returned along with starters Morgan Rocheleau and Mya Mascaro from a year ago. Maysa Arabi took on a full-time role this year and Alyssa Reale earned a starting role at the back end.
“I was nervous about the back line,” said Knights’ head coach Marc Leonardi, whose team conceded just four goals in the regular season. “Younger girls stepped up and took those roles.”
The two teams played to a scoreless draw early in the season, but the Knights got on the board just 14 minutes into Wednesday’s final.
Emily Renaud kept the ball in play deep in the Villanova end and fed Alessia Fanella, who found Anna Pozzi alone in front to open the scoring.
Article content
“It felt good,” Renaud said of the early goal. “I know we have a good defensive line, so I felt we were set.”
The Knights had a chance to extend the lead in the second half, but Wildcats’ goalie Emeline VanLaerhoven Overton grabbed a ball off the foot of the Knights’ Angelina Bulmer-Talerico at the edge of the crease just two minutes into the second half and Yasmine Kadri hit the crossbar in the 52nd minute.
Villanova’s best chance came six minutes after that when Lola Guidolin long shot hit the crossbar behind 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 said. “It was disappointing, but it happens.”
In the 75th minute, Renaud took a feed at the edge of the crease and banged it home to give the Knights and insurmountable lead.
“It was intense,” the 17-year-old Renaud said of the game. “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 girls’ AAA championship and already had a spot in the tournament secured. The Knights could still open the door for the Wildcats to get in as the tournament’s second area seed. To do that, Holy Names must win next week’s SWOSSAA final and the Wildcats then emerge victorious from a challenge game against the loser of that match.
“We’re going to have to monitor it now,” Guidolin said.
jpparker@postmedia.com
twitter.com/winstarparker
Share this article in your social network
