Huskies run out of time, not determination and effort

Glendale goalie Elysse Davis gathers the ball up as Huron Park’s Gulalay Khan (#16) drives to the net. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

The Woodstock Huron Park Huskies girls’ soccer team ran out of time, not effort and desire.

“Super proud,” said Huskies coach Steve Vanderlugt following a 5-2 Thames Valley Regional Athletics South East Tier II championship game loss to Tillsonburg Glendale on May 21 at Huron Park. “They never gave up, they kept going strong.

“Even when they were down, they kept playing their hearts out.”

The Huskies had ample opportunity to figuratively throw in the towel, a particularly useful accessory on a day featuring a bone-chilling combination of chilly temperatures, rain and wind.

“The whole game,” said Huron Park’s Violette Caskanette. “Not very nice,” she added in an understatement.

In conjunction with a hat-trick’s worth of inclement weather, the Huskies also faced a 2-0 second-half deficit. Led by the indomitable determination of centre midfielder Payton Cowan, Huron Park kept pressing, however, resulting in a glorious opportunity to pull within a goal on an 18-yard cracker from Makila ‘MJ’ Jones. A shot labelled for the top, left corner was denied by Tillsonburg goalie Elysse Davis, arguably her best of numerous key stops.

“Their keeper did play very well,” credited Vanderlugt. “Lots of great saves, lots of good kicks.”

Glendale extended its lead on a quick strike advancing down the right wing and back into the centre, finished by Kherington Spanjers with her second marker of the contest. Instead of pulling within a single goal, Huron Park found itself down by three, a quick and potentially devastating turnaround. The Huskies continued to press, breaking through as Cowan crossed a high, looping pass from the right wing, wind-blown to the far post where Gulalay Khan was able to direct it home.

“It was a good strike, a good strike,” Cowan credited. “Right on target.”

Cowan added Huron Park’s second marker shortly after, bringing the Huskies back within a single goal, momentum on their side.

“We all just kept playing,” said Khan. “Teamwork.”

“I would say we pushed harder (instead of giving up),” continued Caskanette.

“It’s like the last game,” added Cowan, “you just want to give it everything.”

In a contest of punch and counterpunch, Tillsonburg managed to absorb Huron Park’s challenge, countering with another quick strike up the left side before being moved back to the centre, from where Sophia Monsere upped the visitors’ lead to 4-2. Huron Park’s last, best opportunity to affect the outcome came on a penalty, denied by Davis, before Glendale rounded an eventful 5-2 final.

“It was a good match, back and forth,” said Vanderlugt, who felt the Huskies had pressed throughout the contest. “It was just when they had their chances in front of the net, they got them.

“Both teams played really well. They just came out on top.”

As Cowan referred to, the game was her and Jones’ last.

“Two strong Grade 12s,” said Vanderlugt, noting their contributions will be missed, but already looking to the next season. “We’ve got a lot of potential returnees and hopefully some new players coming up.”