WSOC | Voyageurs Win Northern Battle
The Laurentian Voyageurs women’s soccer team faced their northern rival, the Nipissing Lakers, on Sunday afternoon in Sudbury and came away with a 3-1 victory.
The match marked the opening leg of the Riley Gallo Cup and was the first contest to count towards the newly minted ‘705 Challenge Cup’. The game began as a back and forth affair with each team having their chances but late in the first half the Voyageurs applied some pressure and were rewarded as Sarah Sanford collected a pass inside the 18 yard box, side stepped a defender and slid home the opening goal in the 36th minute.
The second half picked up where the first half ended, with the Voyageurs applying relentless pressure and they were rewarded in the 51st minute as Michelle Walsh made a strong run down the side of the pitch before sending a low cross in that Catherine Rocca deflected in off the far post. The Voyageurs’ second goal seemed to light a spark under the Lakers and they upped their attack looking to get back into the game. The rest of the game was played at a torrid pace with chances at each end of the pitch but it would be the Voyageurs adding to their tally in the 83rd minute as Mia De Gasperis fed Amanda Kwan a wonderful ball into space and Kwan would make no mistake, pushing the lead to 3-0. The Lakers finally broke through in the 85th minute as Selena Innamerati converted a penalty kick but it was too little too late as the Voyageurs took the game 3-1.
The Voyageurs now get ready to face the Trent Excalibur when they come to town next Saturday for a 12pm kick off.
Laurentian University's Department of Athletics is home to 23 varsity sports teams. The Voyageurs decorated history of pride and tradition includes 62 provincial championships as well as 10 national championships in 54 years of competition.