The senior soccer team travelled down the Mount Seymour Parkway for their annual tilt against the Windsor Dukes yesterday. As has become customary in games between Collingwood and Windsor, this one involved a classic Cavs’ comeback and a penalty shootout.
Collingwood fell behind 1-0 after some lax defensive play allowed a Windsor midfielder plenty of time and space just outside the 18-yard box. He made no mistake and the Dukes had an early lead. They doubled this lead before halftime when they scored off a corner kick. Jack made a terrific reflex save off the original header, but his teammates were slow to react and a Windsor player blasted in the rebound.
Down 2-0 at halftime, things were looking bleak. However, Collingwood picked up their game considerably in the second half. Despite some good pressure they were unable to crack the Windsor defence until a moment of magic by Rio where he dribbled through multiple Dukes’ defenders before slotting the ball into the right-hand corner.
With 13-minutes to play, it was game on. The Cavs continued to pressure and after they won a freekick just outside the 18-yard box, Rio put a delightful ball around the Windsor wall and the stunned keeper could only watch it sail into the net.
With penalty shots looming, Windsor stormed forward in the last five-minutes of play. Only some terrific goaltending by Jack and a fabulous header off the goal-line by Sam saved the day for the Cavs.
The penalty shoot-out was won 4-2 by Collingwood. Rio and Rowan were clinical and when the second Windsor player shot the ball weakly at Jack, the Cavs were up 2-1. Sam made it 3-1 with his usual classy finish from the spot. With the score 3-2, Sebastian hammered it into the top corner to truly put the pressure on the home side. Jack’s diving save put the exclamation point on a stunning come-from-behind victory.
The Cavs now face Mulgrave on Thursday afternoon.
Rio's two-goal performance and penalty shoot-out goal propelled the Cavs to victory yesterday.
Jack stopped two penalty shots in yesterday's comeback win over Windsor.
Sam's return from injury could not have come at a better time. He saved the game by getting just enough of his head on a shot to deflect a sure-goal off the crossbar and out. He then scored in the penalty shoot-out.