Eagles prevail in shootout

Delaney McLeod came through in the clutch Thursday for the Grimsby Eagles girls soccer team.

The Eagles and the host Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs battled to a 4-4 tie after regulation time in the Niagara Region High School Athletic Association Zone 4 AA final and after a scoreless overtime, the Grade 9 keeper backstopped her team to a 2-1 victory in penalty kicks.

The Grade 9 student made three saves in the shootout and saw another shot go wide to help her team advance to the overall Zone 4 final

“It was crazy,” said McLeod, who plays travel soccer for the Ancaster Soccer Club. “It’s the most nerve-wracking thing for a goalkeeper because you feel like if you lose, it’s your fault.

“It’s between you and the striker and it feels really good.”

The ref lost track of what the score was in the shootout and Grimsby ended up celebrating twice.

“I felt so relieved because we have been working so hard for this and especially being in my first year of high school and being able to move on is great,” McLeod said.

She admitted to feeling the nerves during the shootout.

“I just put them in the back of my mind and told myself I need to do this.”

Grimsby coach Erika Smith has seen McLeod improve as the season wore on.

“She has been absolutely fantastic,” Smith said. “She started out the season a little hesitant because she was a Grade 9 rookie and we needed her in net.

“She has just been building and building her confidence and the team has really been supporting her and I think that really showed today.”

Smith was impressed with McLeod’s calmness under pressure.

“After letting four goals in, she came back and made saves during the penalty shootout which is incredible especially for a Grade 9,” she said. “Penalty shootouts are hard enough for the professionals and she knocked them down.”

And while the Eagles were ecstatic with the win, there was no joy at Churchill.

“It was a tough way to lose,” Churchill coach Steve Mouck said. “We lost a couple of tournaments in penalties this year and last year so we worked on them a lot. To lose that way was really unfortunate.”

Churchill had 2-0, 3-2 and 4-3 leads, but just couldn’t hang on.

“They took advantage of the wind,” Mouck said. “They didn’t really get shots during the game that threatened, but their tying goal was on a free kick from 30 to 40 yards out.”

That tying goal came in the final two minutes of the second half.

“It was nicely taken under the bar and (keeper) Kaley DeMont just couldn’t get to it,” he said. “She did her best but it was under the bar and in.”

It was the second straight year that Churchill lost to Grimsby in the NRHSAA Zone 4 AA final. Last year, the loss came in overtime.

Sir Winston Churchill went 3-1-1 in regular season play and advanced to the finals by defeating Eden 3-0 in the semifinals.

“I thought we had an improved team this year, they worked well together as a team and I thought we had a better attack this year,” Mouck said. “Four goals today attested to that and we defended better. I don’t know if there is such a thing as being unlucky, but that was us today.”

STATS PACK

Eagles 5 Bulldogs 4

Mick and Angelo’s/Johnny Rocco’s Player of the Game: Grimsby keeper Delaney McLeod with three saves in penalty kicks.

For the Grimsby Eagles: Regulation time goals by Brianna Kool (2), Sahara Zigano (2) and Aria Heil. Penalty kick winner by Kool.

For the Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs: Regulation time goals by Morgan Buchan (3) and Gabby Digirolomo.

SUPPORT US