Soccer standouts
Goalkeepers Sam Robson, Kaylee Boulley named Niagara College athletes of the week
Soccer player Sam Robson is Niagara College’s top male athlete for the week ending Sunday.
Since he assumed the starting goalkeeping duties for the men’s team last season, his third-year with the team, the Milton native has been outstanding for the Knights.
Last week was no different, as the 5-foot-11 advanced law student recorded his second shutout of the 2017 season during Niagara’s 3-0 road victory over the Lambton Lions in Sarnia.
Robson has played a major role in helping lift the Knights to a 3-1 start to the 2017 season. He has started all four games, allowing just one goal in the process.
“Sam has been outstanding this year,” assistant coach Rino Berardi said. “He has really managed to elevate his game and has now established himself as one of the premier goalies in the OCAA (Ontario Colleges Athletic Association).
“Sam’s on-field leadership is a big reason why we are off to a terrific start this season.”
Robson and his teammates returned to the pitch Tuesday in Ancaster Tuesday hoping to extend their winning streak to four games with a victory over the Redeemer Royals.
Female athlete of the week Kaylee Boulley also was in goal for the Knights in soccer.
However, unlike Robson, the rookie from Chatham was thrust into the position after injuries to the team’s two goalkeepers. After suiting up for three games as a midfielder, she was put through a one-week goalkeeping boot camp run by Knights assistant coach Gerry D’Angelo.
Boulley proved to be a quick study backstopping the Knights to a 2-1 road victory over Lambton.
“Kaylee played a confident game, saved a penalty kick, and helped seal our first victory,” Rob Lalama, head coach of the women’s team, said. “Just to overcome the pressure of that situation is admirable, she did a great job for us.” The women’s team also played
The women’s team also played the Royals on the road yesterday.
Scoring record tied
Niagara won its third straight game and striker Carlos Williams tied a school record when the Knights shut out the Lambton Lions in men’s soccer last Saturday in Sarnia.
The third-year veteran from St. Catharines scored on a penalty just five minutes into the contest. The game-winning goal was the 10th of Williams’ OCAA career, tying him with Matt Miedema on the all-time career scoring list at Niagara.
“I’m honoured to be tied for the all-time scoring lead, but this season is more about the team than me,” the Governor Simcoe graduate said. “We have goals set, and each day we work toward our ultimate goal – a championship.”
The Knights carried a 1-0 lead into halftime, and the team came out strong in the final 45 minutes, putting an exclamation mark on a dominant road performance.
Niagara extended its lead on a three way passing play at the 62nd minute mark. Connor Diacur, St. Catharines, beat a Lambton defender and drove the ball across the six-yard box to Williams, who headed the ball to rookie forward Noah DiEgidio. The Wellander buried the ball into the back of the net for his first career tally.
At the 80-minute mark, MarcAndre Boucher, a second-year midfielder from Niagara Falls, found the back of the net for the third time in as many games to round out the scoring for Niagara.
“Our fitness program paid big dividends in the sweltering heat today,” said assistant coach Rino Berardi, who was in charge in head coach Frank DeChellis’ absence.
“As the game grew longer, we continued to dictate play and created scoring chances.”