Sept. 16 Niagara College report: Soccer; golf
A weekend split of games has the Niagara College Knights women’s soccer team tied for first in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association West Division with a record of 3-1.
Niagara opened the weekend with an 8-0 victory over Lambton. Aneisha Gobbels and Lily Ryder each netted a pair of goals and single scores were recorded by Tessa Vahrmeyer, Siera Warkentin, Sara Vogel and Sara Walsh. Contributing assists were Cienna Toromoreno (2), Gobbels (2), Vahrmeyer and Ryder. Sarah Haist recorded the shutout.
“The team continues to be focused and willing to commit to the hard work needed in our quest for continued improvement. We played a solid game today versus Lambton with everyone contributing,” Niagara head coach Rob Lalama said. “On such a hot day with a big game tomorrow (Sunday) against St. Clair, we needed to share the workload.”
Niagara then lost its first game of the season 4-1 to the St. Clair Saints. Ryder netted the lone goal with an assist from and Ashley Phillips.
“St. Clair was better than us today. There is no other way to put it. As the saying goes, ‘Sometimes you learn more in a loss than you do in a win.’ We’ll rebound, get back to training and be ready for Mohawk on Wednesday,” Lalama said. “If someone told me before the season that we would have a 3-1 record and be tied for first place after four games, I think we’d take it.”
Ryder, a second-year forward from St. Thomas, was named Niagara’s female athlete of the week after netting three goals in the two matches.
“She was causing absolute havoc up front for the Knights,” a Niagara College press release said.
Niagara is at the Mohawk Mountaineers Wednesday at 6 p.m. before hosting the Conestoga Condors Friday at 6 p.m. at Youngs Sportsplex.
MEN’S SOCCER
The Niagara men’s soccer team (1-3) split a pair of games last week, blanking Lambton 1-0 and falling 2-1 to St. Clair.
Robert McMillan scored the game winner against Lambton at the 90-minute mark on an assist from Adian Astudillo. Recording the shutout was Saint Francis graduate Nolan Freel.
Mike DiMaurizio netted the lone goal versus St. Clair on an assist from Astudillo.
“Today’s (St. Clair) loss was costly, not just in points but in people. We were trying to plug holes all over the field, but it was still a very winnable game. We were up 1-0 and after the 70-minute mark we started giving the ball away in the worst places.” Niagara head coach Frank DeChellis said. “Our small group and individual defending was abysmal and that is what frustrated me the most. Mike DiMaurizio scored a goal on a nice shot at the end of a sweet play and we let that effort go to waste. We also squandered a good goalkeeping performance by rookie goalkeeper Nolan Freel.”
Astudillo, a second-year midfielder from Welland, was named Niagara College’s male athlete of the week.
“Adian controlled the midfield very well and provided his forwards with lots of great scoring opportunities,” a Niagara College press release said.
Niagara is at the Mohawk Mountaineers Wednesday at 8 p.m. before hosting the Conestoga Condors Friday at 8 p.m. at Youngs Sportsplex.
“We have Monday and Tuesday to regroup,” he said. “We are frustrated but not discouraged and we will bounce back.”
GOLF
Niagara’s men’s golf squad finished fifth with a team score of 319 at a tournament at the Blackbear Ridge Golf and Resort in Belleville. Niagara’s Ethan Siebert shot a team-best 77 to record a top 10 individual finish.
At a two-day event at the Ambassador Golf Club in Windsor, the Knights placed ninth with a team score of 590. Siebert was the top Niagara golfer on Day 1 with a 79 and Matthew Palumbi carded an 80 on Day 2 to lead the way.
Niagara is hosting an invitational Friday, Sept. 20 at the Cardinal Lakes Golf Club in Welland and playing in another Sunday, Sept. 22 at Sawmill Golf Course in Fenwick.
