Pickard plays hero, Griffs tally first conference win
By Andrew Nowel, Editor-In-Chief
With the clock winding down, the Canisius women’s soccer team had one last opportunity to put the ball past Rider Broncs’ goalkeeper Ashley Moore. The scoreboard read 1:07 at the Demske Sports Complex as senior captain Jessica Whitaker lined up for a free kick, and as soon as the ball was in the air, junior Ava Pickard tracked the rebound and sent it into the back of the net.
In a back-and-forth game between the Broncs and the Golden Griffins, Pickard stepped up when the lights got bright and gave the Griffs a 1–0 lead as time escaped them. Moore had stopped all three shots on goal until that point as she tried to maintain the shutout to help the Broncs earn a point on the road. However, as the last minute ticked off, the Griffs celebrated their first three–point conference victory of the season.
Winning their first–ever Metro contest meant something to the team, not only because program history is not something that you see everyday, but because it was the three points the Griffs had been searching for.
“I think the whole team needed the three points because getting that win in conference play has given us confidence. We have been playing well, but getting that first win out of the way is what we needed,” said Pickard after the game. The Griffs put up 11 shots, a category they have been struggling with this season, showing a positive direction for the team.
Head Coach Ryan Louis noted that the Griffs had been struggling this season to find space on set–piece chances, but to find that in the final minute was a perfect way to close out a hard–fought win. “We always talk to our players about following the ball in and finding space, and to do it in the dying end of the game was just brilliant,” said Louis after practice on Wednesday.
After facing Sacred Heart and Fairfield, the Blue and Gold have gotten through the toughest part of their schedule. Those games, though losses, Louis says, have given the team a boost of confidence as they prepare for the rest of Metro play.
“I think the girls left that game thinking they could compete with Sacred Heart. Last year, I felt the game at their place before the championship game was one–sided, but even though we lost 2–0 [this year], I felt really good about the game and how we performed,” said Louis.
For the junior transfer from Hofstra, Pickard’s goal gave her more confidence off free kick opportunities, something the team had been working on in practice.
“I tried to anticipate [Jessica] getting it on target, which she did, and I positioned myself with that in mind, and I was able to get it off the rebound,” said Pickard. Louis had wanted more offensive productivity from his wingers as the team got ready for conference play a couple of weeks ago, and he hopes Pickard’s goal is the open door for players like senior Elizabeth Cavanaugh and sophomore Ailis Osmond to find their opportunities.
With fall foliage on the ground, the Griffs travel across the Empire State to New Rochelle, N.Y. as they face another roadblock in their quest for glory. The Iona Gaels are the Griffs’ next test to see if Canisius is ready for the big stage, or if the Metro is just too fast–paced.
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