VAUGHAN, Ont. - For the third straight season, the Humber women's indoor soccer program captured the provincial title, coming from behind to beat the Fanshawe Falcons, 4-2.
In the early minutes of the opening half, Fanshawe converted a penalty kick to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.
All-star Giulia Zanardi responded for the Hawks, blasting home the equalizer with 6:42 remaining in the frame. Claudia Piazza intercepted a Fanshawe pass and found a streaking Zanardi in the box, scoring her fifth goal of the tournament.
Minutes later, the Falcons saw a great scoring chance thwarted by a diving Vanessa Fiore to keep the score tied.
With time about to expire, Fanshawe capitalized on Humber's defensive miscue and went into the break leading, 2-1.
Humber began the second half pressing, breaking down Fanshawe's defence and generating goal scoring opportunities. With 11:32 remaining in the championship match, the Hawks finally found the equalizer off the boot of Claudia Piazza. Off of a corner kick, Stephanie Gutierrez found Piazza inside the box, going bar down to tie the game, 2-2.
Less than two minutes later, Zanardi and Piazza pulled off a beautiful give-and-go, with Piazza recording her second tally of the match and her fourth of the day.
Shaniece Bennett sealed the victory for the Hawks, dribbling through three defenders and drilling home a strike to the back of the net.
Humber's halftime adjustments by head coach Mauro Ongaro paid dividends and the Hawks responded with three unanswered goals to secure the program's 10th provincial title.
Fiore and Zanardi were named to the Championship All-Star team, while Piazza was named the Championship MVP.
Championship MVP
Claudia Piazza, Humber
Championship All-Stars
Vanessa Fiore, Humber
Amber-Lea Hodgins, Fanshawe
Sabrina Mariani, Mohawk
Giulia Zanardi, Humber
Chelsea Zavitz, Fanshawe
Source: Humber Hawks
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/isoc
Championship Results
Thursday, March 21
Round Robin
St. Clair def. Mohawk 3-2
Humber ties George Brown 1-1
Seneca def. Conestoga 3-1
Fanshawe ties Sheridan 0-0
Mohawk def. Seneca 1-0
George Brown ties Sheridan 0-0
St. Clair def. Conestoga 2-1
Humber def. Fanshawe 2-1
Humber def. Sheridan 3-0
St. Clair def. Seneca 2-0
Fanshawe def. George Brown 4-1
Mohawk def. Conestoga 1-0
Friday, March 22
Semi-Finals
Humber def. Mohawk 3-1
Fanshawe def. St. Clair 1-0 (3-2 PK)
Bronze Medal Match
Mohawk def. St. Clair 1-0
Gold Medal Match
Humber def. Fanshawe 4-2
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