OAKVILLE, Ont. - When they upped the intensity and played with a sense of urgency, the Sheridan Bruins women's soccer team (2-2 OCAA) were able to string together some high-quality play. However it took a little too long to find their groove and a first-half two-goal deficit proved to be too much to overcome, as they dropped a 3-2 decision to Humber.
"The first half we didn't play that well, but in the second half we definitely played Sheridan soccer and that's what it's all about," Sheridan assistant coach Nadene Boothe said. "Unfortunately we didn't have the extra oomph we needed to at least get a draw, but we definitely did play well in the second half."
The task for the Double-Blue became somewhat daunting early on, as Humber was able to find the back of the net in just the seventh minute of play.
That advantage for the visitors would double when halftime rolled around, with a second tally recorded in the 33rd minute.
Neither side found the required scoring over the next 37 minutes, but Sheridan was able to pull one back in the 70th minute.
Sam McLaren launched a ball into the box from the right wing, where Kaysia Williams gathered it and - even though she didn't strike it quite as well as she would have liked - beat the keeper low on the short side.
Humber wouldn't be without the two-goal edge for long though, as they responded just two minutes later, pulling back in front 3-1.
McLaren pulled the Lady Bruins back within one in the 84th minute, cutting into the box from off the left wing and bending a right-footed blasted into the top left corner.
Sheridan applied some more pressure as the game neared time, but never managed to get their boots on an equalizer.
They now have only a few days to re-group before their next game, hosting Conestoga on Sept. 25.
Boothe says they will look to bring the intensity in their training sessions, knowing their season is just entering the stretch run.
"We'll go into practice on Monday hard," she said. "We definitely won't sit too lax. We'll have to work through some injuries, but the season is short so we can't really worry about them. The girls have got to ice and do the necessary stuff at home to stay healthy."
Source: Sheridan College