The Waterloo women's soccer team upset the York Lions on Saturday afternoon by a score of 1-0 to pick up their first win of the season and put a stop to York's six game unbeaten streak. The game played at York Stadium featured back and forth play with Waterloo earning the lone goal on a penalty kick.
Warriors' goalkeeper Lesia Bandura (Kitchener/) made 10 saves in the shutout. Sarah Fiorini (Newmarket, Ont.) made four saves in goal for the Lions. The Warriors are now 1-0-1 against York as they fought to a 0-0 tie back in early September.
With the loss, the Lions fall to 3-2-3 on the season and currently sit fourth in the OUA West with 12 points. The Warriors improved to 1-5-2 and remain in last place with five points.
An accidental handball by Lions defender Felicia Turone (Brampton, Ont.) in the 15
th minute led to the game's lone goal. With the Warriors driving into the Lions box, Turone's hand instinctively shot out and made contact with a floating pass, sending the Warriors to the penalty spot.
Adrienne Goldsworthy (Waterloo/) stepped up to the spot and snuck a low shot under a sprawling Fiorini, giving the Warriors an unlikely lead.
The Lions, hungry for an equalizer, responded by controlling the flow of play for the remainder of the half, but they were unable to sustain any meaningful pressure. Their best scoring chance came in the 24th minute when Bandura was taken out in her box trying to field a corner, but no Lions were able to find the open goal.
The Warriors would hold until halftime, setting up an important second half for the Lions.
Early in the second, the Lions got what would end up being their best scoring opportunity of the half when defender Rebecca Barlow (Markham, Ont.) redirected a corner kick towards an opening in the top right corner of the Warriors' goal, but Bandura would quickly close the gap and tip the shot harmlessly wide.
The Lions continue to press the attack, firing nine shots on goal in the half, but they could not solve Bandura. Bandura got a lot of help from her defence, which did a good job clogging the midfield and shutting down the Lions' best scorer, Nicole Markowitz (Toronto).
Waterloo take to the field in hopes of their second straight win next Friday, Oct. 7 as they host the Windsor Lancers at Warrior Field. Kickoff is set for 2pm.
