Firestorm Civics return from WOSL road trip

The Dundee Wealth Management U16 Girls Civics soccer team returned home this past weekend with a win and a tie against two London Teams in the Western Ontario Soccer League.

In Game 1 on Saturday the Firestorm were down by 1 at the 12 minute mark of the first half when a goal by Christina Tamse of the London Quasars got by the Sault Keeper Jodie Gillespie. Just 12 minutes later striker Carissa Holley put one in for the Sault with great support and strong offensive play provided by the midfielders Meghan Diangelo, Camille Lemay, Kristen Seaton, and Tessa Kasch.

The second half went scoreless with the help of the defensive squad of Kaitlin Morin, Vanessa Tucci, Heather Bedell, and Carly Iannelli and the Sault walked away with 1 point for the tie against the London Quasars.

On Sunday in Game 2 the Firestorm battled the London Supernova for a huge win against a strong London team. The Firestorm drew first blood at the 23 minute mark of the first half with a kick just outside of the box by Carissa Holley. The Supernova answered that goal just 5 minutes later with a goal on Gillespie by Hollie Mackenzie of London.

At the half it looked like the Sault would be walking away with another tie until the 53 minute mark when Heather King put the Sault ahead by a goal on the London Keeper assisted by Melissa MacDonald. At the 72 minute mark Krista Roy broke free from the London defenders and got one more by the Keeper to put the Firestorm up by 2 goals.

It looked like the Firestorm would pull off the win but 5 minutes later London's Sarah Clarkson got one by Gillespie to put them back in the game with just over 10 minutes remaining and only down by 1 goal. The Sault began to play a defensive game and hold the London Supernova off but the heat from the firestorm seemed to wear down the London Defense and Roy again broke free and got one more at the 87 minute mark with only three minutes remaining in the game putting the Sault up by 2 goals once again.

With Vanessa Tucci sidelined because of a leg injury early in the second half and Heather King with a cut to the head from a head butt in the first half the Sault Firestorm ended the battle with a 4 to 2 win against the London Supernova with no substitute players left to put into the game.

The Sault's next action will be this coming weekend when they once again travel to Southern Ontario to take on Kitchener and Waterloo on Saturday and Sunday.

(Submitted by John Veale)