Women's Soccer opens postseason with win over Cambrian

By: Nina Kersnik
Humber Athletics Communications

VAUGHAN – Women's soccer (6-2-3, 3^rd West) defeated the Cambrian Golden Shields (4-7, 6^th East) in the OCAA Championship qualifying round at Vaughan Grove Sports Park Stadium Field. Rookie Olivia Di Cesare contributed two of Humber's six goals in today's match, marking her career high.

Match Recap

In their first fixture of the postseason, Hawks fans welcomed the ladies to Vaughan Grove Sports Park Stadium Field for a matchup against the Cambrian Golden Shields. The Shields are 4-7 after todays match and rank sixth in the East after last Friday's 1-0 win against the Lakehead Thunderwolves.

Right from kick-off Humber showed their dominance to keep the Shields out of their offensive end. Cambrian, on the other hand, were off to a slow start as they couldn't push past Humber to create chances.

With a bad pass from the Shields goalkeeper, the Hawks controlled the midfield to drive it up the middle into the Shields' territory, as fifth-year Chantel Spalla had space to pass it off to third-year midfielder Micayla Santaguida. The Vaughan native would give Humber the advantage, less than 10 minutes into the match.

Minutes later, the Hawks would regroup in their own end to drive up the field once more, as third-year forward Kaylese Callendar dodged a defender to play the ball to the left side for Di Cesare. The first-year winger would punt the ball into the bottom right of the netting to score Humber's second, and her first goal of the match.

Halfway through the first, Santaguida would drive the ball up into offensive territory launching it to Di Cesare for her second, and Humber's third of the match. She is placed second in Humber for assists with three.

The Hawks would go up 3-0, while still looking to increase their lead.

Not long after, Chantel Spalla would get Humber's fourth, with an assist by Di Cesare, as head coach Jose Caro would put some fresh legs on the field moments later. He sent in Sofia Aguair, Alia Cutone and Mia Lavorato on for Olivia Di Cesare, Micayla Santaguida and Chantel Spalla.

It was clear from then on that Cambrian was slowly losing steam, forcing turnovers and continuously missing chances as the half progressed. Humber on the other hand, kept pressing up the field, and in the final minute, Kaylese Callender would send the rock forward allowing Mikayla Orrico to record the assist. Callender would put the Hawks up 5-0 as she scored her first of the match.

Into the second, the Shields created their first chance of the game as defense Molly Watson launched one from just outside the box, curling to the left of Bernardi who kept it out for Humber.

In the 52^nd minute Humber powered forward once again with Elisia Olivera scoring the teams sixth, and her first of the match. She would send one from just outside the box over the Shields' keeper Olivia Skinkle and into the netting. Olivera ranks seventh in the conference and tops Humber with four assists. This is also her career high.

Minutes later, Cambrian locked in to score their first goal of the game. The strike deflected off the left side of the woodwork and in, was just out of reach for Bernardi. Then the Hawks would force a turnover giving a chance for the Shields to score another. Cambrian's Watson fired the rock from distance, sending it high over Humber's goalkeeper to cut their deficit to four.

Minutes later, the Hawks would send in a substitution. Both sides would work to create multiple chances, before the final whistle, but none resulted in a goal.

Humber closed out the game 6-2, punching their ticket into the quarterfinals.

Humber Highlights

• Humber holds a 64-22 all-time OCAA postseason record.
• Humber improves to 12-2 all-time record against Cambrian.

What's Next?

Humber will face the Algonquin Wolves (10-1, 2^nd East) in the quarterfinals on Saturday.