On Saturday October 22 2022, the George Brown Women's Soccer team (4-4-2) will be hosted by the Niagara Knights (6-3-1) in a playoff crossover match that will see the winner earn a spot to play in the 2022 OCAA Women's Soccer Championship, hosted by Durham College from October 27-30.
George Brown opened their 2022 season playing the Knights in an exhibition match. The Huskies would lose the contest 5-0. The Knights are entering this game after beating Conestoga College 3-0 in their final regular season game. In their 10 games, Niagara scored 22 goals, averaging 2.20 goals per game and have a 1.10 goals against average.
Huskies head coach Leslie Fitzpatrick (5th season) believes his team has what it takes to get deeper in the playoffs than ever before, "As a team we experienced a lot of growth throughout the year. Our biggest challenge has been consistency and maintaining a certain high level of performance regardless of who we play. We have gotten very good results against some of the top teams in the Division, and have been average in games we probably should have been better in."
The Huskies are entering this playoff match after their final home game victory against the Fleming College Knights by a score of 2-1. In the Huskies 10 regular season games, George Brown scored 20 goals, averaging 2.00 goals per game and have a 1.50 goals against average. The team has not lost on the road so far this year (3-0-2), therefore have a strong position going into it. But Fitzpatrick knows that will not be enough on its own.
"Ultimately, it culminates in how you perform at this time of the year.", Fitzpatrick continued. "We set goals at different points during the year and getting to the crossover game was one of the main ones. Of course, we would have liked to be hosting this game, but we are confident in our ability to step up this weekend and give our best shot against a very strong Niagara team."
The match is scheduled to kick off at 2pm and is being played at Youngs Sportsplex in Welland, Ont.
Players to Watch
The 5th year veteran laced it up in all games this season for the Huskies and leads the team in points with 10 total - 3 goals and 4 assists. She is a vocal leader and when she is on, her command of the midfield makes breaking through the Huskies defence incredibly difficult and also keeps defending teams on their toes for the counter attack.
The Huskies rookie goalkeeper has been one of the best in the OCAA this season and she will be a major factor in the final result for George Brown. So far this season, Broomer holds a save percentage of .861 putting her fifth overall in the OCAA, with three wins, three losses and two ties. She also has a goals against average of only 1.29.
Brianna Samuels-McLaughlin | #15
In her 10 games this season with the Huskies, Samuels-McLaughlin (4th Year) has scored 3 goals, collecting 6 points. The veteran attacker/defender will be an X-factor for the Huskies no matter which end of the field she plays. As captain, she will be relied heavily upon to drive her team's intensity and tempo.
The Huskies scoring threat and 3rd Year forward has played in 6 games for George Brown this season scoring 4 goals, collecting 8 points. Cabral is tied for most goals on the team and has had two multiple goal games.
