BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Laurentian University womens' soccer team
rookie striker Krista Pantin has been waiting to score all
season long.
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With just seconds to go, the Lady
Vees scored the winning goal in Wednesday's game
against the University of Guelph. |
Her drought ended big time on Wednesday
afternoon, when she scored the winning goal in the Lady Vees
first ever, home playoff game against the University of Guelph
with just seconds to go in injury time.
Pantin's goal, the only one of the match,
gave Laurentian a compelling 1-0 victory, sending them into the
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) quarter finals. Laurentian
will now play Brock University Saturday in St. Catharines. Game
time is 1pm.
Pantin, who has had all kinds of chances all
season long, was relieved to finally hit the back of the net
and give her team a much needed win.
"It feels absolutely amazing to score," said
Pantin.
"The whole season I haven't been scoring, so
it feels good. We came out hard. We knew we had to win. This
win is going to give us a lot of
encouragement. It's only the beginning
though. We have to come out hard in our next game and push hard
and see where we can get."
The first half of the contest was slow, and
featured a few good chances for both squads, but the goalies
stood their ground.
The intensity of the play really picked up
late in the second half as both teams tried to get the winning
goal.
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The Lady Vees win sends the team to
the OUA quarter finals this weekend in St.
Catherines. |
With time winding down, midfielder Erica
Duczeminski launched a free kick at the Guelph net. The ball
took a wild curve and caused all kinds of
problems for the Guelph goaltender, who
fumbled the ball. Pantin was in the right place at the right
time and buried the ball.
Head coach Rob Gallo gave credit to Guelph
for bringing their A game to Sudbury.
"I thought Guelph played a hell of a game,"
said Gallo. "They put it to us. We responded at times, but we
didn't put a solid game together. I am happy with the fact we
won at home and that's an important building block for our trip
to St. Catherines."
Gallo wants a better effort overall in the
next round.
"We have to play consistently for 90
minutes," said Gallo. "We have to improve our transition and
come out more with our offence."
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Krista Pantin (front) waited
patiently to score all season and ended her drought in
a big way on Wednesday. |
Injuries wreaked havoc on the Lady Vees in
the game, but thanks to a season in which the team dealt with
numerous injuries and continued to win, they were able to
adjust.
Brittany MacMillan (knee injury) was lost
early on and Claire Miller (back injury) was lost late in the
game. Both are questionable for Saturday's game.
"We have had to adjust with all the
injuries...I thought the girls found ways to battle. The girls
came through."
The win meant the world to the team because
it was at home.
"Winning the game in the last minute
definitely gives us plenty of motivation when we go play
Brock," said defender Cara Smith. "We have a lot of adrenaline
right now, and we hope it carries over to Saturday."
