Runco Hat Trick Powers Sting
The Seneca Sting defeated the U of T Mississauga Eagles 4-1 on Wednesday night as Andrea Runco netted a hat trick to lead the Sting.
Andrea Runco opened the scoring for the Sting in the 15th minute, netting her team-leading fifth goal of the season. The goal also moved Runco into the top fifteen of the OCAA Scoring Leaders.
The Sting nearly doubled their lead in the 20th minute. Haley Pozzo got in behind the Eagles' defense, but her kick past a sprawling Harnancy Dhugga in the Eagles' goal slid just wide of the far post.
Runco added her second of the match in the 61st minute on a penalty kick. Jamie Smith struck a ball off a free kick which found its way to Runco. The fourth year player was tackled in the eighteen yard box, earning the penalty kick.
In the 68th minute, Haley Pozzo had an opportunity to add to the Sting lead when she neatly tipped the ball past the Eagles' goalkeeper. Running down the ball just before the end line, Pozzo's sliding left kick curled just beyond the far post from a near-impossible angle.
Runco looked to complete the hat trick in the 70th minute as she drove past the Eagles' defenders alone on the goalkeeper. A well-struck shot was stopped by Dhugga with her feet to keep the score at 2-0.
Nicole Berardi scored her third of the season in the 79th minute. Berardi sped past the Eagels' defenders from nearly thirty-five yards out and pounced on a loose ball. Berardi faked a kick which froze Dhugga before dribbling around her and putting the ball into the net.
Just two minutes later, Megan Robertson made a beautiful crossing pass to Runco who one-timed the pass into the net for her third of the match.
Kahina Haroune broke the shutout in the 85th minute on a penalty kick goal past Kaitlyn James to complete the scoring. James guessed correctly on the shot, but could not get enough of the ball before it crossed the goal line.
With the win, the Sting improved to 5-0-2 and sit in second place in the OCAA Central Division. The loss dropped the Eagles to 0-6-1 on the season.