It wasn't the start the Redeemer Royals were hoping for. It's always difficult hitting the road for the first games of a new season instead of opening at home in the comfortable confines of Royals Field. This proved to be true on Friday and Saturday as the men's and women's soccer teams were able to secure just one point in four games on their Western road trip against Lambton College and St. Clair College.
Both teams opened up against Lambton College on Friday night in their first regular season games of the 2012-2013 season. The Lady Royals came out with a 2-2 while the men's team dropped their match 2-0.
The Lady Royals seemed to be in full control after taking a 2-0 lead with goals by Leesha DeWeerd in the 22nd minute and Carly Voortman in the 28th minute. However, Lambton settled in and started to put pressure on the Royals. Victoria Regan pulled one back for Lambton in the 37th minute bringing the score to 2-1 going into halftime. The second half had the Royals looking for that third goal which would bring them back to a two goal lead and likely put the game away but the women could not find the back of the Lambton net. With 10 minutes to go, the Lions grabbed the equalizer on a goal from Lauren DeJong. Full time score was 2-2.
The men's team came into their Friday match with high hopes to take three points off of the Lambton Lions who were on a 43-game losing streak having not won since 2007. The Royals were stunned in the third minute when Justin Passalacqua from Lambton gave the Lions the lead 1-0. The men were never able to rebound and struggled to find their scoring touch. With the Royals pushing for the draw in the final minutes, Lambton countered and put the game out of reach with Passalacqua's second of the match. Full time score was 2-0.
Both teams made the trip from Sarnia to Windsor on Saturday morning for an afternoon matchup against the St. Clair Saints. The men's team once again put themselves in a hole early in the 12th minute on a goal from Gabriel Poulino from St. Clair. Poulino added his second of the game in the 34th minute for a 2-0 lead for the Saints at halftime. Two more goals in the 62nd (Brian Santos) and 82nd (David Carlesimo) put the game out of reach for Redeemer. Jordan Bokma got the Royals on the board in the 85th minute with the men's team's first goal of the season. Full time score was 4-1.
The Lady Royals were shut out for the first time in the season with a 3-0 loss to the Saints. Two quick goals in the fourth minute (Nicole McKenzie) and 11th minute (Ashley DaParteria) put the game out of reach for Redeemer as they were unable to gather any momentum. Another goal by the Saints in the 35th minute by Sara Kox secured the victory for St. Clair as they went on to win 3-0.
Both men's and women's teams now return home for two big games on Tuesday night as Redeemer welcomes the Fanshawe Falcons in the Royals home openers. Both teams will have some work to do to get back into the playoff hunt. The Royals were strong last season at home conceding very few goals and will look to do the same to get back on track for 2012.
The Royals will hope to see a lot of fans out on Tuesday to support the teams. The games will also serve as a fundraiser event for 'One Step at a Time – Our Walk for a Cancer Cure' benefiting the Cancer Research Society (CRS) with 100% of the money raised going directly to cancer research! A suggested ticket donation of $2 will be taken at the door which automatically enters fans names to be drawn for 'Shoot for Swag' during the women's half time. There will be many other ways to help support cancer research and some GREAT prizes as well as an 'Accuracy Challenge' during the men's half time!
The women take the field at 4 p.m. with the men following at 6 p.m.
Source: Redeemer University College