GOLDEN HAWKS ELIMINATE LIONS WITH 1-0 WIN
Midfielder Heather Malizia scored the lone goal in an OUA quarter-final game as the No. 5 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks defeated the York Lions 1-0 in Waterloo on Saturday (Oct. 29).
With the win, the Golden Hawks earned the right to host the OUA Final Four Championships next weekend at Knight-Newbrough Field, University Stadium on Wilfrid Lauriers campus. The loss ended the Lions' season after a 5-4-5 regular season and their first playoff victory since 2009.
Malizia, of Burlington, Ont., finished the pass from OUA rookie of the year Emily Brown (Waterloo, Ont.) that beat York netminder Sarah Fiorini (Newmarket, Ont.) in the 70th minute of the game.
"It felt great to get the goal today," commented the second-team provincial all-star. "It could have been any of us today. We put a lot of pressure on York throughout the game."
Laurier had four shots on the Lions in the first half of the game including a pair by Kelsey Abbott (Waterloo, Ont.). York only put two shots on purple-and-gold keeper Mallory Woeller (Kinburn, Ont.) who claimed another shutout on the year.
"Their goalie played excellent," commented head coach Barry MacLean. "This afternoon we dominated position and created an abundance of chances. We played very well on every aspect of the game today."
Fiorini challenged several Golden Hawk opportunities throughout the day, including a great chance late in the contest when Julie Mahue (Oakville, Ont.) was charging towards her with the ball. She was named an OUA second-team all-star earlier this week, the third straight year she has earned the award.
With files from Laurier Golden Hawks sport information
