The women’s team shut down one of the best teams in the country and earn a valuable point.
The Concordia Stingers women’s soccer team was looking to add another win on the season when they hosted the Carabins from Université de Montréal on Friday, Sept. 26. Heading into the game, the Carabins were the fifth best team in the country with an undefeated record of 5-0-1. Although it wasn’t a win, the Stingers fought hard for a well-deserved 0-0 draw.
The first half was a tight affair as both teams each started with chances to open the scoring, but good goalkeeping and solid defense by both teams kept the game scoreless. Even within the first few minutes of the match, spectators could tell that this was going to be defensive battle.
The Carabins have relied on their high-powered offense to win games this season, but on Friday, the Stingers’ defense refused to break. By the end of the first half each team had their chances to score, but both sides failed to capitalize on their opportunities.
The second half started with an all-out attack by the Carabins as they searched to break the deadlock. Concordia’s goalkeeper Maria Kaperonis kept her team in the game by saving every shot that came her way. By the end of the night, Kaperonis and her defensive unit would hand the Carabins their first goalless match of the season.
The best chance the Stingers had was when defenseman Lindsey Brooks took possession from her own defensive zone into the Carabins’ box, only to be turned aside by Carabins goalkeeper Sarah Boucher. The game opened up with a back-and-forth pace as both teams pushed for the opening goal, but neither teams could find the back of the net.
After the game, Stingers head coach Jorge Sanchez was impressed with the draw and pleased with how his team played against such a strong opponent. Although both teams headed into this game looking for a win, the Stingers can be proud of their play against the Carabins.
“We played a really good first half. I think we dominated them and we had 70 per cent possession,” he said. “I feel like we didn’t play a good second half but I’m happy we stole a point off the fifth best team in the country.”
Brooks was by far the player of the game and, like her coach, was pleased with how her team played.
“It was honestly a great effort,” she said. “I feel like I did my job. We knew we were playing the fifth best team in the country. I feel like we put in the work and it was a good team effort, and I felt we were solid on defense.”
The Stingers next home game is on Wednesday, Oct. 3, versus the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) at 6:30 p.m.
