Written by Mason Bugaresti
TORONTO – The Carleton Ravens women’s soccer team suffered their first loss of the 2022 season after two late goals from the University of Toronto Varsity Blues put them ahead 2-1.
The Ravens and Varsity Blues played a tight first half in which both teams struggled to generate chances. Both Carleton and the University of Toronto tightly packed their midfield making it difficult to work the ball up the pitch with short passes.
The first chance of the match fell to the Varsity Blues off a corner kick 17 minutes into the match. A dangerous delivery found the head of a Toronto defender, but the attempt was cleared off the line by Carleton’s Lauren Illman (Whitby, Ont.).
Just before halftime, the Ravens had a corner kick of their own. Salena Devellis (Barrie, Ont.) stepped up to deliver and scored one of the OUA’s goals of the season scoring directly off a corner. Her shot curled into the top corner of the net, a tremendous strike which gave Carleton a 1-0 lead at the half.
As Carleton’s legs began to tire, goalkeeper Chloe Lachance-Soulard (Ottawa, Ont.) put on a clinic with save after save to keep the Ravens in front. She made three huge saves in the opening minutes of the second half, including a tremendous save off a Varsity Blues’ header which required some acrobatics from the third-year keeper.
With time running out in this one, the Ravens were booked for a shirt-pull inside the box sending Hannah Chown (Mississauga, Ont.) to the penalty spot for the Varsity Blues. She sent Lachance-Soulard the wrong way, grabbing a late goal to tie the game at 1-1.
With moments remaining in the match, Karly Hellstrom (Sudbury, Ont.) grabbed a late winning goal for the Varsity Blues as her shot went off the underside of the crossbar and in past Lachacne Soulard.
The Ravens are back in action on Thursday, Sept. 29 for a 7 p.m. showdown with the uOttawa Gee-Gees on the road. On Oct. 2nd, the Ravens and Gee-Gees will meet at TAAG Park for a 1 p.m. matchup. Tickets are available now!