The Ottawa FURY Women matched up against one of the divisions most defensively-minded squads in the Hamilton Avalanche on Sunday night. The FURY edged Hamilton 2-1 on goals by Sarah Sample and Jodie Taylor. The close score of the match is very misleading as the FURY dominated possession even after the sending off of Courtney Wetzel in the 53rd minute and a 81st minute penalty kick goal from the Avalanche.
The game started slowly but it was the Fury who settled into their possession and combination passing game which starved Hamilton of the ball. There were few clear cut chances in the opening 20 minutes of play but the Fury held the balance of play with Jodie Taylor and Shay Powell prominent in FURY attacks. In the 22nd minute Ottawa took the lead following good work from Sarah Sample who slotted in a ball behind the Avalanche defence for Jodie Taylor to score with an impudent chip off the outside of her foot. Anna Caniglia had a free kick well saved by Amy Holt before the FURY increased their lead to two in the 29th minute. Another Ottawa passing movement freed up Taylor on the right and her cross was beautifully struck on the volley past Holt in the Avalanche goal. A great piece of play from start to finish by Ottawa.
The FURY dominated the rest of the first half racking up 13 shots on goal in the half to only 2 for Hamilton and dominating possession. Sample, Taylor and Powell fed off the promptings of Rachael Axon, Courtenay Wetzel and Jennifer Hance to continuously threaten the Hamilton defence.
The game completely changed complexion in the 53rd minute when Wetzel, who two minutes earlier had been booked for unsportsmanlike behaviour, became embroiled in a tussle with Chelsea Spencer. The referee, Suzanne Morisset, issued Wetzel a second yellow card and she was ejected from the game leaving the Fury to defend their 2-0 lead with 10 men for the rest of the game. The FURY readjusted their line up and the game resumed the same pattern of play with FURY continuing to hold possession. As the half progressed the Avalanche began to throw more players forward and cracks finally began to show in the FURY armour. In the 67th minute, Heather MacDougall almost grabbed a goal for the Avalanche with a shot that just went past the post. Two minutes later. Erin Reinke was forced to make a diving save from a free kick from Greco.
Growing in confidence, the Avalanche finally broke through in the 81st minute courtesy of a penalty call. Danielle Johnson was adjudged to have pushed Kelly Heaton in the box and Greco confidently steered the penalty kick home past Reinke. The Avalanche piled on the pressure forcing the FURY to defend deep in their end against a succession of long, direct flighted balls. Anna Caniglia handles the ball on the edge of the penalty box in the 88th minute. The ensuing free kick was partially blocked by Hance and ricocheted off a Hamilton player who is felled by the ball. The FURY dig deep and are happy to simply clear their lines whenever the opportunity arises. The final whistle came as a much welcomed relief for the FURY who retain their spot at the top of the Northern Division.
The win, the seventh in succession, takes the FURY record to 9-1-0 and 27 points on the season, two points ahead of the Toronto Lady Lynx (8-1-1) and six ahead of the Laval Cometes (7-2-0).
The game started slowly but it was the Fury who settled into their possession and combination passing game which starved Hamilton of the ball. There were few clear cut chances in the opening 20 minutes of play but the Fury held the balance of play with Jodie Taylor and Shay Powell prominent in FURY attacks. In the 22nd minute Ottawa took the lead following good work from Sarah Sample who slotted in a ball behind the Avalanche defence for Jodie Taylor to score with an impudent chip off the outside of her foot. Anna Caniglia had a free kick well saved by Amy Holt before the FURY increased their lead to two in the 29th minute. Another Ottawa passing movement freed up Taylor on the right and her cross was beautifully struck on the volley past Holt in the Avalanche goal. A great piece of play from start to finish by Ottawa.
The FURY dominated the rest of the first half racking up 13 shots on goal in the half to only 2 for Hamilton and dominating possession. Sample, Taylor and Powell fed off the promptings of Rachael Axon, Courtenay Wetzel and Jennifer Hance to continuously threaten the Hamilton defence.
The game completely changed complexion in the 53rd minute when Wetzel, who two minutes earlier had been booked for unsportsmanlike behaviour, became embroiled in a tussle with Chelsea Spencer. The referee, Suzanne Morisset, issued Wetzel a second yellow card and she was ejected from the game leaving the Fury to defend their 2-0 lead with 10 men for the rest of the game. The FURY readjusted their line up and the game resumed the same pattern of play with FURY continuing to hold possession. As the half progressed the Avalanche began to throw more players forward and cracks finally began to show in the FURY armour. In the 67th minute, Heather MacDougall almost grabbed a goal for the Avalanche with a shot that just went past the post. Two minutes later. Erin Reinke was forced to make a diving save from a free kick from Greco.
Growing in confidence, the Avalanche finally broke through in the 81st minute courtesy of a penalty call. Danielle Johnson was adjudged to have pushed Kelly Heaton in the box and Greco confidently steered the penalty kick home past Reinke. The Avalanche piled on the pressure forcing the FURY to defend deep in their end against a succession of long, direct flighted balls. Anna Caniglia handles the ball on the edge of the penalty box in the 88th minute. The ensuing free kick was partially blocked by Hance and ricocheted off a Hamilton player who is felled by the ball. The FURY dig deep and are happy to simply clear their lines whenever the opportunity arises. The final whistle came as a much welcomed relief for the FURY who retain their spot at the top of the Northern Division.
The win, the seventh in succession, takes the FURY record to 9-1-0 and 27 points on the season, two points ahead of the Toronto Lady Lynx (8-1-1) and six ahead of the Laval Cometes (7-2-0).
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