Powell's Hat Trick Gives FURY Division Lead

The Ottawa FURY travelled to Laval on Friday night for a match against the Cometes with huge playoff implications on the line. Tied for second in the division with Laval and trailing the Lady Lynx by a single point the FURY anticipated a tough match. Shay

Shay Powell provided the offensive punch for the FURY scoring all three goals in a 3-0 victory sending the FURY into first place in the division. The win is Ottawa's sixth in a row improving their record to 8-1-0 and remaining undefeated on the road this season.

The FURY immediately took the initiative in this much anticipated clash with the Cometes and began to play their fluid passing game making it difficult for the Cometes to gain possession or put any rhythm into their play. However for all their promising play, the FURY did not create many chances and the first 15 minutes of the game was devoid of goalmouth action. With much at stake, the game had the feeling of a playoff clash with no quarter asked or given. FURY defender Ashley Kennedy and Laval striker Aimee Legault would tussle all evening and both players were booked in the 17th minute by referee Matthieu Barclay who kept a tight rein on affairs.


There were close calls for both teams as first Jodie Taylor glided past two defenders before unleashing a tremendous long range shot which Marie-Pier Bilodeau did remarkably well to push onto the crossbar. At the other end the FURY defence got in a tangle following a dangerous Laval free kick but eventually the ball was cleared. As she has done so many times this season, Shay Powell would break the game open in the 31st minute for the FURY. Taylor did the spade work feeding Powell with a great through ball which Powell lashed past the Laval keeper with aplomb. The FURY midfield trio of Courtney Wetzel, Rachael Axon and Jennifer Hance began to take control of the game and just before half time the FURY would score a crucial second goal. This time it was Axon who provided the final pass for the speedy Powell; the in form striker did the rest shooting wide of Bilodeau to give the FURY a 2-0 lead at the break.


In the second half, the FURY played perhaps their best soccer of the season with Powell and Taylor mesmerizing the Laval defence with their pace and strong running. Powell made a great run down the left wing soon after the break leaving several defenders in her wake. The chance went begging however with two FURY players waiting to convert the cross. Another Powell run left Courtney Wetzel in a one on one with keeper Bilodeau who made a fine save. Melisssa Busque threatened twice for Laval before Powell delivered the coup de grace in the 66th minute by completing her hat trick. After running past three defenders, Powell was brought down in the box and stepped up herself to dispatch the penalty kick to register her eleventh goal in nine league games.


With a three goal cushion, head coach Craig Smith rang the changes with some of the evening’s top performers including Powell, Taylor, Zoe Avner and Jennifer Hance taking a well-earned rest with Sunday’s game with Hamilton in mind. Ashley Kennedy and Anna Caniglia continued to keep a tight leash on the Laval attackers and before she left the game Powell would hit the woodwork once again. In the closing stages Sarah Sample would rattle a Laval post as the FURY closed out the game by denying the Cometes any quality possession. Erin Reinke earned the shut out for the Fury. The two teams meet again in Ottawa on July 16th.