WSOC | Vees Secure First Win of Season at Home

In their final home weekend of the year the Laurentian Voyageurs Women's Soccer Team welcomed the struggling RMC Paladins to The Rock on Saturday afternoon.

With the Voyageurs looking to pick up their first win of the season in their penultimate home match the game plan was to get on the front foot early. However, RMC had other ideas as the first 20 or so minutes seemed to put the away team in control. The Vees were forced to stand strong and the backline held firm, turning away some early Paladin chances to keep the game level. 

In the 32nd minute a brilliant run down the right wing side from the Voyageurs attack led to their first corner kick of the game. With Mary Whiffen standing over it her delivery into the box found the head of Kiera Smyth who's attempt deflected off an RMC defender and into the bottom corner of the net putting the Voyageurs up 1-0. 

Laurentian thought that goal would be enough to have a half-time lead and be in a great position to win the game. That wasn't meant to be however as in the final moments of the first half, a looping ball found its way between the Laurentian backline with RMC forward Angelica Labelle bearing down on it. As she outmuscled the Voyageurs defenders she then dispatched her chance to put the game at 1-1 going into the break. 

At 1-1 Laurentian wasn't satisfied. Their play improved in the second half outshooting the Paladins 6-3 in the second 45, knowing that one more goal was likely going to be enough to win it. 

Sure enough just before the hour mark the combination of Smyth and Whiffen was at it again. This time it was Smyth who sent a long ball over the top looking for Whiffen whose first touch took it down beautifully. The ensuing shot was fired in the far corner out of the reach of the RMC keeper and nestling into the back of the net. 

The scoreline read 2-1 for the rest of the game with the Voyageurs picking up their first win of the season in their second to last home game. 

Sunday afternoon sees the Queen's Gaels come to town for our annual seniors game with Kiera Smyth, Hunter Jones and Ava Garcia highlighted as the senior class of 2024 playing their final home game for the Voyageurs. Kick off begins at 12pm at the LU Fields.

- Andrew Lemieux