Top kicks lauded
Soccer players first athletes of the week of the 2017-28 season at Niagara College
Two Wellanders, each in their second season playing soccer in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA), are the Niagara College athletes of the week.
Welland Centennial Secondary School graduate Kara Latham and Notre Dame College School alum Tyler Stranges made their presence felt on the pitch as the Knights kicked off the season on the road with losses.
The midfielder was dominate in attacking and controlling the ball, helping to spark a comeback from a 2-0 deficit to the Fanshawe Falcons in London, Ont.
“Kara was incredible on Saturday. She controlled the play, and she won every bat- tle on the pitch,” said Rob Lalama, who was making his debut as Knights head coach.
Latham was named 2016-17 female rookie athlete of the year in her freshman season at the region’s community college.
Stranges, also a midfielder, provided leadership and rock-solid stability playing all 90 minutes in a 1-0 loss to Fanshawe.
“Between the ears Tyler is one of the smartest players we’ve ever had,” Knights head coach Frank DeChellis said. “He was the best player on both sides of the ball against Fanshawe and he gets better and calmer as the game becomes more intense.”
Bad day for Knights
Niagara College men’s soccer team opened the regular season with a tough 1-0 loss to the defending OCAA West Division champion Fanshawe Falcons.
The Knights traveled to Saturday afternoon’s game in London, Ont., riding high after an impressive 7-1 preseason, but the team never found their rhythm against a talented Falcons side.
“The guys are disappointed with their performance and the result today, and I’m glad that they are,” DeChellis said.
Goalkeeper Sam Robson was outstanding for the Knights. The fourthyear veteran from Milton recorded nine saves on 10, surrendering just one goal 17 minutes in to Fanshawe midfielder Daniel Amaya Romero.
“Our goalkeeping was good enough to win that game,” DeChellis said of Robson’s performance in the match.
The Knights host the Mohawk Mountaineers from Hamilton today at Youngs Sportsplex on River Road in Welland starting at 6 p.m.
Niagara doubled Mohawk 2-1 in exhibition action at the Redeemer Royals invitational tournament.
Slow start hurts Niagara
A slow start proved to be the difference as the Niagara College women’s soccer program was defeated 2-1 by the Fanshawe Falcons on Saturday in London, Ont.
Fanshawe notched a pair of firsthalf goals, including the eventual game winner in added time that proved to be too big an obstacle for the Knights to overcome.
Making her OCAA debut, Fonthill’s Michelle Maecker found the back of the net in the 61st minute, but the striker and her teammates found themselves unable to pull even with the reigning West Division champions.
Rookie goalkeeper Alexis Hebert, Waterdown; was also fantastic in her post-secondary debut, turning aside nine of 10 shots on goal.
Up next for the Knights is a 4 p.m. start today against the Mohawk Mountaineers in the home opener at Youngs Sportsplex in Welland.
Mohawk blanked Niagara 1-0 during the pre-season.