I don't think I've seen a more thrilling back half of a high school soccer game in my long career in the sports community. On a cool night at Holy Names, it was St. Anne hosting Chatham's Ursuline College with the winner advancing to OFSAA next week.
You know, based on the picture above, that St. Anne won. It's how they scored the victory that had soccer fans in attendance enthralled. It looked as though a first half goal by would hold up. The Saints were playing tough defence but the Lancers stuck to their game plan and would finally break through with about 25 minutes left in the game.
Reese Evans was sprung loose and flew down the left wing before cutting toward the goal and scoring the tying goal.
With under five minutes to play Matteo Mosca theaded a pass across the crease to Mattia Roma for what felt like the goal that would hold up as the winner.
UCC would get a free kick from 40 yards out on what was going to be the final play of the game. Aiden Venhuizen knocked home the tying goal as the whistle blew to end regulation. Cries of "no way" could be heard as players took a break before the overtime to process what had just happened. "We didnt' think we were playing bad," Roma said. "We just kinda thought the ball bounced their way that time and they scored so we just kinda kept playing our game. That was the focus."
After a scoreless first overtime Matthew Chimenti dished a pass to a streaking Ottavio Liburdi who settled the ball down before firing the game-winner, his second of the game, with under five minutes to play. "Obviously we got the win but it was a battle," Liburdi told Powerplay Sports. "Everyone of us kept our heads in it all the way through and just proud to get the result and now we get a chance to go to OFSAA and show what we're worth."
OFSAA begins June 6th in Windsor.
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