This season's edge over York House was always small. They're a good team who, like us, are stuck behind Crofton (the clear favourite at Provincials and top ranked team in the Province) in the Vancouver region. Only one team goes through to Provincials. The second place team gets a back-door opportunity through a wildcard tournament. 

When LFA scrapped their way to a 2-2 draw with Crofton in the early season and followed up with a convincing 3-0 win over York House in our first game, we gave ourselves the best chance to access the wildcard entry into the Provincial Championships. On this day, even a tie would secure second place for LFA and the regional wildcard berth. The shame for York House will be that they've just returned from a tournament where they beat several teams who have already qualified from other regions in the province. That's just how strong the region is again this year.  

With much on the line, LFA showed their nerves through the first five to ten minutes. Instantly on the back foot, they gave up a short corner and a couple of opportunities around our own D. As has so often been the case this year, our defence stood in well. Sarah Foster '17 was able to contain their left side threat while Jessica Chong '18 played error-free in the middle at the back. Ashley Klomp '18 has elevated her game in the past few weeks and added a tough, speedy element to our back line as we sought to correct the flow of play. 

In typical form, the trio of Eleanor Morrison '19, Nicole Shi '18 and Grace Doyle '17 found a way to wrestle back control of the midfield from York House. Once they put their stamp on the middle of the pitch, the game switched ends. Naomi Shi '18 and Alex Legge '19 started to get fed the ball more and LFA found it's gear. It was only a matter of time before we got our first goal, which came off a crazy goal mouth scramble where Allison Kuzyk '20 applied a degree of wizardry to create space and confound the defenders. 

As we stretched the game, the wingers got more ball. Lorraine Fabre '18, Olivia Graham '17 and Mira Teoli '18 had a continual string of passes getting to them in the attacking zone. Mira, in particular, was finding the ball with regularity. With our forwards getting the ball with good build-up rather than counter-attack, York was left to some desperate defending. Keely McConnell '17, Frances Scheepers '18 and Gracie Korak '19 all spelled into the backfield and were diligent and effective in their marking, meaning we were fresh and could maintain our speed across the field.

Then, somewhat against the run of play, York House countered, breaking up the right side and slipped a ball past Claudia Aparicio '17 to tie the game. It would be the last time that Claudia allowed any real shot as she upped her aggressiveness to kick through anything else near her after that. 

At half-time, the team sensed it was playing well but not as well as it could. As has so often been the case this year, the second half was dominant for LFA. They came out charging. Naomi slipped up into the forward line and worked brilliantly with her sister along the right side. Elmo (Eleanor) dictated a new pace through the middle of the pitch and Grace's vision in distribution was extraordinary. As we've practiced, the team moved to a press. Allison attacked through some shocking stick-work by the defenders. York coughed up the ball and it was all attack. Short corners came but we couldn't execute on the field turf at Livingstone. 

While York House seldom threatened, the game wore on and it moved to a midfield battle. Fewer opportunities came to the Angels too. It took some wonderful vision and awareness by Nicole to spot an opening and fire a super ball forward to Gabby Lee '19. Quiet for much of the game, what Gabby can do best is turn that moment of opportunity into something amazing. She did it again. Pulling away from the defender on a clean break-away, the goalie came out to challenge Gabby. Gabby kept her head up and calmly slipped the ball by the goalie at just the right moment. 

With ten minutes to go and up 2-1, York House truly needed the win to have any hope of un-seeding LFA. It wasn't going to happen on this day. 

With the win, LFA goes to Vancouver Island on October 25th for a three team wildcard tournament. Only one goes through to Provincials. Good luck Angels!