The University of Waterloo Warriors would rather forget Day 1 of their new 2010 OUA Season. However, in order to improve and progress, teams must learn from their mistakes and be strong enough to accept that they were just not good enough.
The first game of the current campaign was against the defending OUA Champions, the Guelph Gryphons, and while the last game played (during the York Invitational Tourney) was a close affair, the result on Saturday morning (Sept. 18th) was a different story. The Warriors started off well but were down 1-0 about 10 minutes into the game. Undeterred, the team played hard for another 12 minutes before Guelph got a counter-attack goal to double the score. Several minutes later, the Warrior players decided to be spectators and watch an individual effort by a Guelph forward put the score at 3-0. However, just before the half-time whistle, Courtney Bisch (Wellesley/) got her first goal of the season to make it 3-1.
Even though the team was determined to show better in the 2nd half, an early penalty corner goal resulted in heads being dropped and belief in a come-back disappeared. The team went through the motions the remainder of the game and the final score was 9-1.
Up next were the hosts, the University of Western Mustangs, who has also lost earlier by a score of 2-1 to the University of Toronto. Both teams were aiming to turn their fortunes around but the Warriors were still feeling the effects of their previous game and were very slow “out of the gates”. Despite a lot of pressure and several good attempts on net, rookie goalkeeper Bronwen Clayfield-Jewett (Waterloo/) kept Western off the score sheet and Kara Moro (Port Moody/) put the Warriors ahead. This turned the tide and the team should have had a penalty stroke when Meghan Bester (Waterloo/) made a great run on the right side and was only halted when she was tripped in the D. As such, the score at half-time was 1-0.
As expected, Western came out strong in the 2nd half and the Warriors feel asleep for a 10 minute period which cost them dearly. Down 3-1, the team decided to wake up and might have tied up the game if two clear pushes in the back to both Kara Moro (Port Moody/) and Jaimie Wey (Kitchener/), while in the act of shooting, had been called. But, this was not the case and when Western scored a dubious 4th goal, the Warriors were left wondering if they might as well just stop playing. However, having learned from earlier, they battled on and were rewarded with a goal by Meghan Bester (Waterloo/) to make the final score 4-2 before heading back home...
Sunday proved to be better despite the fact it was evident the Warriors were still thinking about the disappointment of Saturday when York went up 1-0 after 12 minutes. Realizing they needed to put the past behind them and take steps forward, the team started playing better and went into the half tied 1-1 with a goal by Jaimie Wey (Kitchener/) (who had earlier missed a penalty stroke). More aggressive and assertive play in the 2nd half resulted in 2 goals by Kara Moro (Port Moody/) with Jaimie Wey (Kitchener/) put the game away and redeeming herself with her 2nd goal of the game via another penalty stroke. However, somebody forgot to tell York that the game was over and they scored in the final minute to make the result 4-2.
The Warriors now look forward to a trip to Ottawa next weekend for their next 3 games.
Weekend Goals: Kara Moro (Port Moody/) (3), Jaimie Wey (Kitchener/) (2), Courtney Bisch (Wellesley/) (1), Meghan Bester (Waterloo/) (1)
Honorable Mention: rookie Ally Kocukov had 3 outstanding games in midfield…
