Knights survive Tier II final without ‘injuries, cards, crying’ or hypothermia

A chilled group of College Avenue Knights try their best to stay warm and dry during the TVRA South East Tier II final. (Jeff Tribe Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Echo Correspondent

The Woodstock College Avenue Knights boys’ soccer game plan changed in a hurry on May 21 at Woodstock’s Cowan Park.

One moment, they tied the Thames Valley Regional Athletics South East Tier II boys’ soccer championship game at one on a 21-yard Hayden Lindau free kick hammered into the bottom, left corner of the Lord Dorchester Beavers goal.

“Big gap,” said Lindau, who successfully worked around a Dorchester defensive wall.

But in the next couple of minutes, the Beavers broke the game open, capitalizing on a less-than-ideal clear following a pressured pass back to the keeper, compounded by rainy, windy and chilly weather and slippery field conditions. Moments later, Dorchester upped its advantage to 3-1 on a left-wing cross to the crease deflected home at point-blank range.

“After that, we made sure everyone got some time,” said College Avenue coach Justin Sperduti.

The Beavers rounded a 4-1 final later in the second half off a scramble inside the 18-yard box.

In a word, the weather was ‘brutal’, Sperduti able to celebrate the fact the Knights got through the game with ‘no injuries, cards, crying’ or, for that matter, hypothermia.

“It’s a gross day,” said Lindau, operating in part in survival mode. “Not trying to get injuries and having fun.”

College Avenue’s Cayden Alexander-Mahar was among those making the most of the opportunity, continuing to hustle on defence to make a guest save and a strong head ball clear in the game’s final ten minutes, despite a score which was effectively out of reach.

“Just having fun,” he shrugged.

“Just cold, it’s freezing,” the Knights’ Kaleb Krupp added. “(But) a good season, fun.”

As the players and a few fans headed for warmer and drier climes, Sperduti hung in long enough to concur on a 2025 Knights campaign that had been both enjoyable and productive.

“Much improved from last year,” he concluded.