With the top two teams in the Women’s Borderland Soccer Association going head-to-head in last Wednesday’s final, it had all the makings of a spirited, high-tempo matchup.
And that’s exactly what happened as Causeway, who finished first during the regular season, hung on for an exciting 3-2 victory over defending champ MEC to capture this year’s title.
Causeway jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the first half on goals by Kristina Tolen and Megan Reid, and looked to be in firm control of the game.
But MEC battled back as Elizabeth Leishman, the league’s top scorer during the regular season, cut Causeway’s lead in half to 2-1.
MEC came out flying in the second half but Causeway deflated that early pressure when Melissa Armstrong, who finished second in league scoring, scored on a corner kick that went behind MEC keeper Andrea Bell untouched.
It was a goal that surprised Armstrong herself.
“I always try to put [the corner kick] in the six-yard box but I put a spin on the ball and it just went in,” she enthused.
“I think that goal helped us a lot because if they would have scored [the next one], it would have been like being tied 0-0 again,” she added.
MEC did battle back once again to close the gap to one when Leishman beat Rachel Koprowski for the second time. But Causeway played tight defensively the rest of the way to earn the league crown.
MEC advanced to the final with a 4-1 win over Gillons’ while Causeway blanked the Merchants 3-0 in the other semi-final.
Meanwhile, last Wednesday also was a good end to the women’s soccer season.
“It was a really good game. It was intense and competitive and one team never really overpowered the other,” noted Armstrong.
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