Regals fall to Cards in city girls soccer final

With a dozen or so graduating players this year, the St. Charles College Cardinals girls soccer team knew that this was pretty much their last kick at the can, as a core of talent prepare to move on to post-secondary education.

The Cardinals made the most of their chance, receiving first-half goals from Siobhan Dzuirban and Aymie Holota and a clean slate from Allison McLean in recording a 2-0 win over the Marymount Regals on May 27.

In a game that matched a pair of solid defensive units, the team that would capitalize on offensive opportunities would likely emerge victorious.

"We were in the box, so there were like five players in there," recalled Dzuirban.

"Somebody passed it to me. It was so fast that I don't really remember. I think it went in the right corner."
A striker through much of the year, Dzuirban was pressed into action as a defender through the final 10-15 minutes, forced to mark Marymount attacker Chantae Robinson following an injury to one of the Cardinal midfielders.

"It was kind of intimidating, because Chantae is really good," said Dzuirban. "I've never played defense before."

Receiving final words of wisdom as she moved to the backline, the St. Charles senior was not provided with additional tactical ammunition.

"Sometimes I get rough, so they told me to watch it," she said with a smile.

The Cardinals travel to North Bay on Friday, site of the NOSSA AAA championship game, with the winner moving on to the all-Ontario tournament in Windsor.