Knights shut out Royals on home pitch
Simcoe grad Oti Frigole sets season scoring record as Niagara sweeps Redeemer
Niagara is continuing its winning ways in men’s and women’s soccer in record-setting fashion.
Rookie Oti Frigole netted a hat trick and set the Knights record for goals in a season with nine as the Niagara men blanked the visiting Redeemer Royals 4-0.
It was the first career hat trick at the post-secondary level for the St. Catharines native and Governor Simcoe graduate.
Matt Miedema held the previous regular-season goal scoring record for men’s soccer with eight in 2009.
Harrison Fyke rounded out the scoring for the Knights who improved to 6-1-1 with two games remaining in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association regular season.
Credit for Niagara’s recordtying third shutout of the season went to Nolan Bradshaw. Romario James was in net for the other clean slates.
“It was a good night for the team and for Nolan himself,” head coach Frank DeChellis said. “To secure a clean sheet in a big game like tonight can only motivate him to keep working and gives the team more comfort with our goaltending duo.”
Niagara doubled Redeemer 2-1 for its fourth consecutive win in women’s soccer thanks to scoring from E.L. Crossley alum Michelle Maecker, extending her career goal-scoring record to 12, and Welland Centennial grad Kara Latham, the team captain.
“This team is learning how to win, we knew Redeemer was going to be tough,” said head coach Rob Lalama, whose team improved to 6-2.
At the halftime break, with the Knights trailing 1-0, the coaches reminded the players to work hard and to be patient with the ball.
“I have to credit Kara Latham with leading us in the comeback,”
Lalama said. “She scored the tying goal and was all over the field.
“She has raised her game to a new level.”
Latham appreciated the way the team was able to forget the first half and focus on the task at home when it took the pitch for the final half against the
Royals.
“Each and every girls worked hard until the last whistle,” she said. “Next week we will be up against another tough team, so it’s time to focus and be ready for the game.”
Niagara visits the Fanshawe Falcons — men, 6-0-1; women, also 7-0 — in a doubleheader starting 6 p.m. Wednesday in London, Ont.
Fanshawe opened the season series with the Knights Sept. 19 at Youngs Sportsplex in Welland with 3-0 and 3-1 victories in men’s and women’s action, respectively.