The Windsor Lancer women's soccer team went head-to-head with the Waterloo Warriors twice this weekend.
In their first match of the home-and-home weekend series which was held in Windsor on Friday at Alumni Stadium the blue and gold ended the game in a 1-1 draw with the visiting black and gold.
Despite Friday's tie, on Sunday when the weekend series shifted up the 401 to Waterloo, the Lancers emerged victorious in a hard-fought battle earning a 1-0 win edging out the Warriors.
Also coming alongside Sunday's victory was the team's clinched playoff berth which will grant them the opportunity to compete in the post-season in pursuit of the 2023 OUA women's soccer league championship title.
FRIDAY STATS
Lancer striker
Kailyn Robertson had the lone Lancer goal on Friday scoring on one of her four shots off her boot towards the Waterloo goalkeeper.
Emma Beaulieu and
Elizabeth Elliott also had scoring chances for the blue and gold with their recorded shots towards the Warrior goal.
SUNDAY STATS
Robertson scored the only goal of the game on Sunday recording her tenth goal of the season.
While Lancer goalkeeper
Jordan Samping stopped all 10 shots faced within her 90 minutes of play between the posts.
HOW IT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY
On Friday, the blue and gold hosted the Waterloo Warriors in a match under the lights.
Lancers were in a close battle with the Warriors for possession in the first 45 minutes. Though the half saw no score,
Olivia Corraza had a solid challenge in the final minutes before halftime.
In the spotlight was Beaulieu who had an impressive showing on both ends of the pitch. Defensively, Beaulieu was vital in shielding the ball away from the goal post to block out the Warrior's primary goal-scoring opportunity in the 17th minute of play.
On the attack Beaulieu also showed her prowess, not only in setting up strikers on the counterattack but using her speed to rush up the wing and weave through the Warriors' defense.
In the second frame the Warriors managed to crack the goose eggs in the 50th minute. Less than one minute later, however, Robertson answered back to put up the tying tally—her ninth of the season.
Brooke MacLeod had a strong show, particularly with a solid defensive tackle in the 71st minute to deny a tie-breaking opportunity for Waterloo. Up front, Elliott had fans on the edge of their seats in coming just shy of adding to the Lancer charge, driving a ball just high of the Warrior net.
Injury time saw both teams kick it into high gear. Robertson had another try at the Warrior goal while meanwhile shortly thereafter Samping made a stellar sliding save for the blue and gold while guarding the Lancer net.
Even though the Lancers were relentless with their offensive pressure, the score would stand as a pair of ones, leaving each team walking off the pitch with one point.
HOW IT HAPPENED ON SUNDAY
In a match that saw loads of scoring opportunities on both directed at each team's goalkeeper neither keeper allowed one to pass until the second half rolled around.
A scoreless first half at halftime perhaps may have inspired Robertson to elevate her performance in the second half when she was able to hatch open the goose egg on the scoreboard and put the Lancers ahead 1-0 with her unassisted marker at the 46th minute of play on the pitch.
The Lancers then heavily relied on their defensive efforts to carry them across the 90th minute with the eventual victory and defeat the Warriors on their home turf in Waterloo.
With the win the Lancers earned a playoff berth and improve their record to 5-3-2 on the season.
UP NEXT
The Lancers will now get set to head to Hamilton on Friday October 20th when they will take on the McMaster Marauders while on the road with a slated 6:00pm kickoff time.
The blue and gold will be back home in action again on Sunday October 22nd at 1:00pm when the Laurier Golden Hawks come to town to take on the Lancers at Alumni Stadium.
Fans can purchase their tickets either in advance at goLancers.ca/tickets or at the gate on gameday.
