Aurora United women earn big second win

July 13, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Jake Courtepatte

The women’s side of Aurora United FC had the second three-point match of their League 1 Ontario history Saturday in a 2 – 1 win over the Kingston Clippers.

Both Jessica Mithrush and Alanna Manning capitalized on their first goals of the year to down the Clippers 2 – 1 on the road.

“I think the girls did well tonight, they each put in one hundred and twenty per cent and we had very little cover from the bench,” said Aurora head coach Ramin Mohammadi. “They focused on the plan and completed what we told them before the game and at half-time. We scored a goal that was basically what we spoke about before the game.”

Mithrush opened the scoring at the 37 minute mark, which Kingston countered before the half. Manning’s goal came with less than ten minutes remaining and proved the winner.

“This result wasn’t easy – Kingston is a very good team with some excellent players and coaching, and the match was entertaining – but I’m just glad that we got the three points.”

The win brings the team’s record to 2-4-3, seventh in the nine-team women’s side, but in close contention for a higher ranking. The team is just one win away from jumping as high as fourth.

Making it more impressive is that it was accomplished without the help from one of the team’s top strikers, Sarah Stratigakis, who is tied with Meghan Reynolds as Aurora’s top scorer.

Stratigakis has been called to represent Canada at the under-17 Women’s Youth Football Tournament in China, along with Marissa Zucchetto, also from the Aurora team.

A tough challenge lies ahead in London FC, the league’s top team, at 8-2-0. The two face off Saturday at Sheppard’s Bush, with a kickoff of 4p.m.
On the men’s side, Simon Adjei scored his team-leading fifth goal of the season in a 2 – 2 tie with Brampton’s ProStars FC.

The ProStars got on the board first just ten minutes into the match Saturday, before Gianmariano Della Serra tied it up with his first of the season seven minutes later. Adjei gave the road team the lead just before the end of the first half.

ProStars countered with a notch at the hour mark of the game to tie it at twos.

“We were up 2-1, we were controlling and winning,” said Aurora head coach Jim Brennan. “And we should have held off, finished the ninety minutes and take the three points, but we let ourselves down with the second goal we conceded and obviously had a man sent off, which didn’t help either.”

Aurora went down a man in the 75th minute when substitute Dylan Rennie received a red card, playing shorthanded for the remainder of the match.

“We wanted to keep pushing forward even after going a man down,” said Brennan, “because we felt we were going to get further opportunities and could hopefully put one of them away.”

“When we started the second half we were up one and we just wanted to manage the lead, and that’s where we let ourselves down a little bit today – game management.”

The tie ended a three-game losing streak for Aurora, who remain sixth in the East division with a record of 1-8-2. They return home this Saturday to Sheppard’s Bush in a matchup with the 8-2-1 London FC.

“Overall I thought we did well, created some chances, and now we’re looking to get ready for the next game.”

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.