Shooter goal scorer Kadien Leckie

With a two week break from CSL league play, and coming off an emphatic 4-0 victory over the Toronto FC men’s reserve team in an exhibition match at BMO field mid-week, the Vaughan Italia Shooters travelled to Windsor this past Saturday to take on the Windsor Border Stars, a team that is unpredictable as the weather. The Border Stars have had their struggles on the road this year, but when at home the team from Windsor is a side transformed. With the Border Stars team including numerous players from across the border - players who play professional indoor soccer in Detroit - the Border Stars always have a strong team when played at home, and the Shooters were well aware of this fact before coming into Saturday evenings game.

 

In addition to the difficulty of playing away, the Shooters were without their leading goal scorer Frank Jonke, as well as several other starters. This was a game where Shooter coach Isacco would have to demonstrate the quality and depth of his 25 man roster.

 

The first half saw both sides generate some scoring chances, and both keepers had some work to do in order to preserve a clean sheet. The torrential downpour prior to kick-off made for a quick paced and physical game, where both teams demonstrated their worth. After 45 minutes of entertaining soccer, the first half ended scoreless.

 

The second half saw one substitution for the Vaughan Shooters, as speedy striker Kadian Leckie came into the game, as the Shooters hoped that his speed and direct style of play could provide the away team with the advantage they needed to score the game’s first goal. Within the first 10 minutes of the second half, Leckies fresh legs and sheer determination almost saw the substitute score two goals, although the Border Stars keeper was alert and get the game scoreless. The remainder of the game was a see-saw battle, with both teams playing quality soccer, and providing an entertaining match for the fans. With the game drawing to a close and with both teams knowing that one mistake could cost them the game, Shooter striker Kadian Leckie took the game into his own hands and broke away down the right side. He used his speed to beat his marker and calmly put the ball into the corner of the net beating the Windsor keeper and surely securing a win for his team. With the game all but done, the Border Stars pressed all their men forward hoping for the equalizing goal, and were unlucky not to score, as a Windsor forward beat Shooter keeper Camilo Benzi but could not beat the outstretched leg of defender Franco Ruscetta, who used his 6 ft 3 frame to his advantage and stretched back to clear the ball off the goal line. Final score Shooters 1 Border Stars 0.

 

With this win the Shooters remain International division leaders and are tied in the overall CSL league standings with the Trois-Rivieres Attak. The Shooters next home game is on Sunday August 23 at St Joan of Arc High School Turf Field in Maple, where they will play host to the Serbian White Eagles. Kickoff is set for 4pm.