Two goals apiece by both Arianne Saumure and Alexis Bélanger have extended the soccer season for the MacDonald-Cartier Panthères.
The Panthères survived a tie-breaker, in girls soccer action, bouncing the Lasalle Lancers 5-1 Monday at the James Jerome Sports Complex, and earning the sixth and final playoff slot in the process.
Lina Audet rounded out the scoring for Macdonald-Cartier, who move on to face the third place St. Charles College Cardinals on Tuesday, while Karly Hellstrom answered for Lasalle.
Beyond that, the Panthères also secured a berth in the NOSSA "A" Championships, something that was at the forefront of the minds of the players.
"Everyone was really pumped," said veteran defender Ines Bagaoui.
"We know that there are some really good players on the other team, so we wanted to show them that we were good too."
Bagaoui joins the likes of Saumure, Bélanger and Audet, as members of ESMC with a vast amount of competitive soccer experience, having suited up with head coach Vince Muscolino in recent years.
But while the bulk of the Panthères' rep talent is spread out through the midfield and at striker, Bagaoui helps solidify the back line, working with a handful of young ladies who have not necessarily been exposed to the same level of soccer.
"They are all really good athletes, so it's mostly helping them know where to go, where to stay placed on the field," she said. "And if someone like Karly (Hellstrom) comes up, and one of us gets beaten, we have to support and not give up."
Still, Bagaoui noticed the definite head start that comes part and parcel of the increased touches on the ball courtesy of playing with the GSSC (Greater Sudbury Soccer Club) in years gone by.
"You learn stuff that we don't get to learn here," she said. "In high school, you don't have a lot of time. It's like six or seven games, and not a lot of practices."
