No. 8 Women's Soccer falls to Niagara at home

By: Nina Kersnik
Humber Athletics Communications

VAUGHAN - No. 8 Humber women's soccer (2-1-2, 2nd West) fell to the Niagara Knights (3-0-1, 1st West) on Wednesday evening at Zanchin Automotive Soccer Centre, 1-0. Rookie midfielder Mikayla Orrico stood out from the team with three shot attempts, but none would result in a goal.

Match recap

At the beginning of the match, Humber came out with defensive pressure to keep Niagara out of their own end. The Hawks had a few chances, but none of significance as play would swap sides for the first 20 minutes.

Just shy of the 24^th minute, fifth-year forward and captain Chantel Spalla was awarded a yellow card, as Hawks midfielder Sofia Aguiar came in at the 25^th minute as a substitution.

Halfway through the first half, Humber would quiet down offensively, and the possession would remain in the hands of their opponent.

At the start of the 34^th minute, Elisa Oliveira would come away with a free kick for the Hawks, after getting tripped up in midfield. However, the Hawks could not capitalize on the opportunity to put Humber in the driver's seat.

Nearing the end of the first half, Niagara took a free kick to put themselves up on the board. A poor defensive clearing found the boot of Niagara's Mariana Orozco who made no mistake and blasted a goal into the back of the net past a diving Isabella Bernardi.

The Knights would take a 1-0 lead by the end of the first half.

Heading into the second, Humber hoped to ramp up their momentum and end the game on a good note.

After a not-to-exciting first few minutes into the next frame, the Hawks slowly became alive for the first time since the beginning of the game.

But this would not stop the Knights, who locked in to keep the pressure high, while continuing to dominate possession.

In the 54^th minute, defenseman Doreen Anane-Bediakoh, received a yellow card. Humber's second of the night.

The Hawks' best chance of the night came from Humber's Sofia Aguiar in the 73^rd minute, as she launches a bomb into the box, finding Mikayla Orrico. After a block from a Niagara Knight defenseman, Orrico would rebound, but couldn't finish to tie it up for the blue and gold.

Late in the second, Francesca Arduini would come in as fresh legs for the Hawks with the hopes of providing one last push for the home team.

But the Knights would prove to be too much, and the Hawks would finish the game with a final score of 1-0, in favour of the Knights.

Second-year goalkeeper Isabella Bernardi stood tall for the Hawks, recording five saves to keep her team within striking distance. Humber generated seven shots, four on target, with Mikayla Orrico, Elisa Oliveira, Micayla Santaguida, and Doreen Anane-Bediako testing Niagara keeper Sarah Haist.

The contest was physical throughout, featuring eight yellow cards and one red. Niagara played the final minutes down a player after Orozco was sent off in the 88th minute, but Humber couldn't capitalize on the advantage.

With the loss, Humber's unbeaten run comes to an end after four straight positive results to open the season.

Game Notes

• The Hawks fall to Niagara at home for the first time since 2015 and is now 14-4-1 against the Knights.
• Elisa Oliveira leads Humber in assists with two.
• Bernardi's five saves were one shy of her career-high set in 2023 against Redeemer.

What's Next?

The Hawks travel to London to face off against the Fanshawe Falcons (1-2-1 ) on Saturday, Sept. 20. Kick-off is scheduled for noon.