Mylie Decoff scored two huge goals as the Centennial Colts took a hard-fought 3-2 win over the previously unbeaten Seneca Sting, last Wednesday night in OCAA women’s soccer action at Newnham Campus.
That victory kept the Colt’s own unbeaten string alive at 7-0-2, one point back of their biggest rivals (8-1-0) with a match to go.
Decoff, a second-year forward, made the best of the opportunities created by her teammates, easily finding the back of the net twice.
Her first goal was a redirection off of a beautiful cross from the left wing, giving Centennial (7-0-2) a 2-1 lead. Her second came off a rebound from a shot the Sting keeper couldn’t handle.
“Its good to (win) as a team, more so than individual work,” said Decoff, on everyone contributing towards this important victory. “I feel like as a team, it was a good win.”
Centre-back Jaelyn Reymer made it 1-1 for Centennial in the 43rd minute with one of best goals of the season, taking a free kick from outside the midfield circle. The shot went top shelf, just out of reach of the keeper.
“I was pretty confident knowing that I could get it in,” said the rookie from London, Ont. on going directly for the shot from all the way out at the circle. “Every time I take a free kick, I always say the word ‘confidence’ in my head and it really just helps me kick it (farther) and be able to just play my game.”
Forward Kai Douglas was the driving force for the Colts, keeping the team in the game during a slow first half.
Her aggressiveness bringing the ball up the left wing created many opportunities for Centennial, including all three of the plays that led to their goals. She drew the foul for Reymer’s free kick, made the cross on Decoff’s first goal, and took the shot that created the rebound for Decoff’s second.
The Sting were dominant in the first 20 or so minutes, putting the pressure on the Colts as they kept the ball in the visiting side’s half. Shanice Alfred opened the scoring for Seneca, with the first goal of the game in the 11th minute.
The remainder of the game was all Colts, as they kept control of the possession battle all the way to the end.
In the 81st minute, Seneca made it very interesting. Forward Emma Gattoni slotted it just past Colts keeper Jordyn Chrons-Slaght for her fifth goal of the season, cutting the lead to 3-2, but Centennial’s second-year keeper would not be beat again.
She made a diving save to her right five minutes later to stop Gattoni’s equalizer attempt.
Colts open the playoffs on Oct. 18 at home to George Brown.