HAWKS KNOCK OFF HOST SAINTS AND ADVANCE TO OCAA SEMI FINAL
AMHERSTBURG, ON: The Humber Hawks women's soccer team have advanced to the OCAA Championship Semi-Finals by way of a 1-0 win over the host St. Clair Saints on Thursday evening. With the win, the Hawks will face the Seneca Sting on Friday night at 6:00 pm for the right to play for OCAA gold and a trip to the CCAA National Championship tournament.
Guilia Zanardi broke a goalless tie in the 51st minute by way of a free kick from just outside the left side of the box. Her strike flew past a number of white and blue jerseys and landed in the top corner of the right side of the Saints net. Zanardi, and her big leg, has been a major factor in many Hawk wins this season, but none bigger than this, to date.
The two teams, Hawks second in the Central and St. Clair, second in the West, battled through the first 45 minutes with no team able to score. Most of the play was contained to the middle of the pitch, a credit to the defence of both squads.
Hawk keeper Vanessa Fiore, who continued to be the difference for the Hawks this year, recorded the shutout. This was her second consecutive whitewash in two playoff games.
For her efforts, Zanardi was selected as the Humber Hawk Player of the Game.
Both semi-final matchups have been confirmed, with two teams in the East – Algonquin and Cambrian, and two teams in the Central – Humber and Seneca, battling for OCAA medals over the next two days. The losers of the games today, will return to the field early tomorrow and will play for fifth place.
