Gameday in 5
A recap of the week that was (Oct. 25-31) — and a look to the week ahead — for London’s teams and athletes.
(Photo: Bruce Laing).
The Knights remained undefeated to start the season, improving to 8-0 with wins over the Owen Sound Attack and Sarnia Sting. London beat Owen Sound Wednesday, thanks to two Luke Evangelista goals and a Max McCue game-winner in a 4-1 road win.
Evangelista then followed up his performance on Wednesday with a hat-trick in Friday’s game against Sarnia, a 5-2 win at Budweiser Gardens in front of 7,881. The captain entered this week tied for first in the OHL with 10 goals. Cody Morgan and Landon Sim scored the other two Knights goals Friday, while Sean McGurn picked up two assists and Ruslan Gazizov also logged an assist in his debut game with the team. The win was goalie Brett Brochu's 8th of the year.
Up next:
The Knights (8-0-0-0) will look to continue their undefeated streak and remain atop the standings when they take on the Owen Sound Attack (at home) and Flint Firebirds (on the road) this week.
Fri. Nov. 5 (7:30pm vs. Owen Sound Attack)
Sat. Nov. 6 (7:00pm @ Flint Firebirds)
Women
After a highly successful season, FC London’s Women’s season came to an early end Sunday, as the top-ranked team was upset 2-1 in their semi-final match against No. 4 Blue Devils FC. Playing at Tricar Field, FC London struck first, as Thalia Lewis scored at the 27-minute mark to put London ahead 1-0. But the Oakville team tied things up 12 minutes later on a Patrycia Kozak goal, and then Laura Twidle scored the game-winner in the 71st minute to pull off the upset and earn a trip to the League1 Ontario finals.
The FC London women went 9-1-2 in the regular season, good for first place in the league — and the Ron Smale Cup. Striker Jade Kovacevic earned the Golden Boot award as the league’s top scorer (16 goals).
It was a two-game split for the Nationals last week. On Wednesday at home, in the team’s ‘Pink the Rink’ game (in support of breast cancer awareness), London earned a 4-2 come-from-behind win. After falling behind 2-0 against the St. Marys Lincolns, the Nationals’ Deacon Holmes got the team on the board to make it 2-1, and then Zach Power tied it early in the third period with his 10th goal of the year. London then took the lead on a Lucas Chard goal, and later added an empty netter to secure the win.
The Nats didn’t fare as well in their second game of the week, losing 3-2 to the Komoka Kings. Though London went up 2-0 after one period of play, thanks to goals by Jeff Burridge and Nicholas Beaupre, the Kings responded with two power-play goals in the second period to tie things up — and then won it in the third with just three seconds left in the game on a goal by Carter McLlwain (his second of the game).
Up next:
The Nationals (8-3), who enter the week in third place in the GOJHL’s Western Conference, will look to gain ground in the standings when they take on the first-place Leamington Flyers (10-2) and the 8th-place Strathroy Rockets (2-8-1-2).
Wed. Nov. 3 (7:00 pm vs. Leamington Flyers)
Sat. Nov. 6 (7:30pm @ Strathroy Rockets)
The Mustangs continued their dominance with a 66-0 win over the Windsor Lancers in their final game of the regular season. The Mustangs (5-1) came to play, putting up 30 points in the first quarter. Quarterback Evan Hillock threw for 321 yards and two touchdowns (with one interception). Running back Trey Humes ran in three scores on just nine carries, while star receiver Savaughn Magnaye-Jones hauled in seven catches for 160 yards and a touchdown. The win clinched first place in the West for the Mustangs.
Up next:
After clinching first place in the division, the Mustangs will host the No. 4 Waterloo Warriors (3-3) in an OUA quarter-final matchup on November 6 at Western Alumni Field.
Sat. Nov. 6 (1:00pm vs. Waterloo Warriors)
Around the Perimeter: London and KW are the final two teams standing. It’s experience vs. youth; Will Lightning match the Titans’ energy?; Will defense decide this matchup? Read our series preview …