Phoenix rally to tie Celtics
WATERLOO — Persistence isn’t always rewarded. This time, it was. Spencer Parker scored in the 89th minute Monday to help the Resurrection Phoenix secure a 1-1 tie Monday with the St. David Celtics in a District 8 girl’s high school soccer league showdown at St. David Catholic Secondary School. The Phoenix controlled significant stretches of the second half, just as the Celtics had done in the first half, in a game between the league’s last undefeated teams. St. David remains in first with a 4-0-1 record and Resurrection kept pace at 2-0-2.
“I thought we played good as a team and, of course, St. David is a good team too,” said Phoenix central defender McKenna Rice.
“It was hard competition and I liked how we stuck together as a team and never stopped trying. Everyone on this team stays positive and when someone makes a mistake, we keep going for the all and no one stops.”
The Phoenix are the reigning champions in the seven-team league and are in a three-way skirmish with the St. Mary’s Eagles and St. Benedict Saints to secure a berth at the Central Western Ontario triple-A championship. The Celtics, who advanced to last year’s all-Ontario (OFSAA) tournament, are locked in a two-team struggle with the Monsignor Doyle Mustangs to advance to the CWOSSA double-A tournament.
Rain stopped falling just before kickoff and St. David dominated the early possession, forcing Phoenix goalkeeper Krissia Vasquez to make several key saves.
The Celtics finally managed to score in the 43rd minute on a play that started with a booming shot from Jocelyn Orellana that Vasquez stopped but couldn’t control. Maddie Swart pounced on the rebound and blasted a shot past Vasquez to put her team up 1-0.
The scored stayed that way until near the end when Parker beat Celtics goalkeeper Hannah Petrosino from close range. Parker had a similar opportunity a few minutes earlier but fired wide.
Both goalkeepers came up with key saves during the game that turned out to be crucial.
Celtics left defender Thalia Cruz, who was extremely strong at the back, offered a similar take to Rice when asked about the hard-fought affair.
“I thought it was a really good game. We are both very good teams and it was very good competition for us. It could have gone both ways,” said Cruz, whose sister Olivia also plays on the squad.
“What I like about our team is that we’re a team. Everyone likes each other and we work well together.”
The Phoenix features a sister act as well, with Janelle, Jada, and Jailyn Ward on the roster.
The Père-René-de-Galinée Chevaliers and Woodland Cavaliers are the D8 league’s other two entries and are vying for a spot at the CWOSSA single-A championship.
Resurrection faces Woodland in its next game Wednesday, and St. David faces St. Mary’s.