George Brown Soccer came off their 2022-23 opening weekend with an even 1-1-1 record.
The Huskies Women (1-1) took care of business on the road on Friday (Sept. 9) in their season opener beating the Loyalist Lancers 2-0 on their home turf, but then fell to Durham at home on Sunday (Sept. 11) by a score line of 4-0.
The Men’s squad (0-0-1) saw a seesaw affair versus Durham on their season opener at home at Esther Shiner stadium on Sunday, making their way to a final 2-2 draw with the Lords.
HOW IT HAPPENED | WSOC @ LOYALIST: The Huskies (1-1) came out on Friday evening with a defensive minded approach against the Loyalist Lancers (0-1), backstopped by rookie goalkeeper Victoria Broomer. Building their attack patiently, George Brown waited for key moments to press forward. The opening goal came in the 24th minute on a brilliant through-ball from Cynthia Pellegrino to a cutting Brianna Samuels-McLaughlin (1), who slipped behind the defence to then find the back of the net.
The Lancers nearly found the equalizer at the dying seconds of the first half, but Broomer stood tall on a breakaway to keep the home team off the board.
The second half proved to be much of the same style of play from the Huskies, who took advantage of their opportunities. On a nearly mirrored play from the first half, Pellegrino found Samuels-McLaughlin (2) again in the 55th minute, getting a through-ball in behind the defence where the forward easily slid the insurance marker passed the Lancers goalkeeper.
Broomer is credited with the shutout victory in her first OCAA game, making 4 key saves during the match to help steer her team to victory.
HOW IT HAPPENED | WSOC vs DURHAM: The Huskies played host to Durham College Lords (1-0-1) in their home opener at Esther Shiner Stadium on Sunday (Sept. 11). After an evenly played first 30 minutes, the Lords opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Jessica Ferreira was set free on a ball that got behind the defence. Goalkeeper Victoria Broomer came out to challenge, but the ball squeaked through to put Durham on the board.
Durham kept the pressure on from there tallying 12 shots on goal for the game, with Broomer making 8 saves in a losing effort. The Lords’ Kyra Barton found the back of the net twice in the final 10 minutes of the first half, with Erika Bjorgum netting one more in the 58th minute to put the game out of reach.
WHAT’S NEXT: The team travels to Centennial College (1-0-1) on Wednesday (Sept. 14) and will look to bounce back into the win column against the Colts. Kick off is scheduled for 6pm, watch the game LIVE!
HOW IT HAPPENED | MSOC vs DURHAM: Durham College (1-0-1) opened up their 2022-23 road season with a trip to Esther Shiner Stadium to take on the hometown Huskies (0-0-1). While the Huskies dominated control of the ball through most of the first half, it was Durham who struck first on one of their only opportunities of the half on a goal by Guedei Djimi in the 41st minute.
The Huskies would not fall back though, keeping the pressure on coming out of half time. A pressure that resulted in a free kick for the home team just outside of the penalty area in the 54th minute. While the initial strike from defenseman Mark Do Coito (2) was blocked by the Durham wall, Do Coito corralled his own rebound and launched a bullet of a follow-up with the outside of his right foot to find the top left corner of the goal.
Do Coito would not finish there, as less than two minutes later he would connect a header with the back of the net for his second goal of the afternoon after a great circling cut off a Huskies free kick from the wing.
With an intense next 25 minutes that would amount to five yellow cards between the two teams, Durham made no mistake on a free kick of their own from just outside the penalty area with under one minute to go in regulation. The strike went over the wall and passed the outreached fingertips of the sprawling Huskies goalkeeper, Mabroor Butt.
The next few minutes of added time saw each team with the opportunity to mount an attack, but neither could capitalize to break the 2-2 tie. A score which proved to be the final.
WHAT’S NEXT: The Huskies travel to Centennial College (1-1) on Wednesday (Sept. 14) in search of their first win of the season. Kick off is scheduled for 8:15pm. Watch the game LIVE!
