MONTREAL – Winning one game takes talent, winning multiple games takes character. Although it was their first win of the young 2019 RSEQ University Women's Soccer campaign, the Bishop's Gaiters team grinded out a 2-1 win over the Concordia Stingers in Montreal on Friday night and head coach
Paul Ballard felt it was thanks to their character.
"We had to grind it out," said Ballard, the fourth-year bench boss after the victory, their first since 2017. "I'm proud of the whole team. We used all of our subs and had to stay disciplined and we did that. I've been telling the girls winning one game takes talent but winning multiple games takes character. I believe it was character that won the game tonight."
The Gaiters went up 2-0 and showed signs of panic. It was a place many of them had never been before at this level. Bishop's did not score two goals in any of their games last year, but 2019 looks to be different. Under the guidance of Ballard and Captain
Lindsay Moore (Lennoxville, Que./Champlain College Lennoxville), the Gaiters were able to regain their poise and grind out a victory.
Moore was named game MVP and was part of a midfield group that Ballard praised after the game.
"They were solid; Lindsay, Kayla (Kyle) and Peno (
Penelope Cabana (Sherbrooke, Que./Champlain-Lennoxville)) were excellent in the middle of the pitch. Mehana (Heins) was steady and cosistent in the net and our defense played very well."
The Gaiters opened the scoring in the first half when 2018 U SPORTS all-rookie team member
Kayla Kyle (Vaudreuil-Dorion, Que./John Abbott College) headed in a
Kyra Simons (Hammonds Plains, N.S./Charles P. Allen HS) corner kick. Cabana tallied her first university goal with a strike from outside the 18-yard box in the second stanza for the 2-0 lead.
Concordia scored once but the Gaiters hung on to improve to 1-2-0 on the year while the Stingers fall to 0-2-1.
"I'm super proud," Ballard added. "I'm looking forward to regrouping tomorrow and preparing for a tough Laval team on Tuesday."
Next up the Gaiters are in Quebec City for a rare Tuesday night game. Kickoff with the No. 5 Rouge et Or (2-0-1) is slated for 7 p.m.
Stay up-to-date anytime with the Bishop's Gaiters at
www.gaiters.ca or on social media by using @BishopsGaiters.
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