The stage was set Sunday for the Panhellenic U21 ladies to avenge their 1-0 overtime loss to the Richmond Hill Raiders in the Ontario Cup semifinal last year.
The Panhellenic was on home turf Sunday, squaring up once again against the Raiders for round three of the 2009 Ontario Cup.
But as the final whistle blew, the Sudbury ladies were left with the same sinking feeling of being one goal behind, as the Raiders took the game 2-1. The Panhellenic's solo goal was scored by Jenna Schroeder.
“The Ontario Cup was a tough loss to swallow,” said head coach Giuseppe Politi. “We didn't have an ounce of luck and the refereeing was questionable, at times. Overall, I think we deserved a better fate given the way the girls played.”
The team faced more misfortune when starting centre back Ellen House left the game by ambulance with a major ankle sprain.
“She will be out for the rest of the season,” Politi said. “The other girls will have to pick up the slack and fill the void.”
Despite the loss, the coach said he was still “proud of the team because of the effort put forth.
“Everything was left on the field — soccer can be cruel sometimes.”
The Panhellenic has four league games left and is currently sitting in third place. Politi said the top three finishers will likely be determined by this weekend's games as his team once again battles against the Raiders.
The team will take the field on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m. at Cambrian College. The remaining two games will be played in Oshawa. No date has been set for those games yet.
