A great Saturday of footy at the Manotick Polo Club this past week, as both the men and women teams were in action.
First up, the Lady Swans took to the full field and played the Montreal Angels, their first of three meetings this season. While Ottawa won all three of the full-side matched in 2015, it was Montreal who won the last meeting at the Pre-season Tournament. So, anyone could have walked away victors.
Ottawa came out with a strong first half. They set the stage by winning the ball out of the middle and moving it into the forward line where Belinda Wozniak and Amanda Paradis converted for points on the scoreboard. By half time the Swans were up by 6 goals. The Angels were not ready to give up and the game was much closer in the last half. The Swans defense had to remain accountable and shut down the surging girls from Montreal. Catherine Geci was solid as always in the back helping keep the majors against to just one. First Swanges clash goes convincingly to the home team. Swans 8.8.56, Angels 1.4.10.
“Really great game, it took everyone playing together to get a victory like that!” Women’s Head Coach Chris Lockhart.
The next match of the day saw the men take on the Broadview Hawks, the team that ended Ottawa’s run in the finals last year. The Swans may have lost the last 4 meetings, but this time they dealt out a long overdue beating in the sun.
A disciplined, committed and focused team delivered across the park with some outstanding individual efforts. Nathan Strom ran tirelessly all day and his consistency in delivery got the ball up the field to key forwards who light up the scoreboard. In the Ronan Shaughnessy had a great, four bounce run from half back to then perfectly kick the ball to Kyle Graham, who finished the play with a beautiful goal.
With the hot sun beating down, the Swans needed to maintain the pressure on the opposition for the whole 80 minutes. It helped that Ottawa had a talented interchange that was used to full potential, providing breaks and needed energy when required. A true team effort. Swans 14.8.92, Hawks 7.3.45
Next week, the ladies have break while the men attempt to win back some silverware. The annual “Canada Day Cup” match against Guelph will be at the Manotick Polo Club. You better believe the Swans want to bring the trophy back to the Fox and Feather come this Saturday night. Game starts at 2.
Last Modified on 24/06/2016 01:07