SARNIA – It’s not how you start, but rather how you finish.
For the Lions, the first game of the 2021 season may not have gone their way, but they still have five more opportunities in the regular season to make a statement. On Saturday afternoon, the Lions dropped a 6-0 decision to the Conestoga Condors at the Lambton College Soccer Field.
The win for Conestoga helped the Condors earn a split on the day, as the Lions picked up a 4-2 win over Conestoga in the Women’s Game earlier in the day.
It was a feeling out process for both the Lions and Condors early in the first half, as both teams tried to find their footing on the offensive end. As Conestoga started to apply some pressure on offense, they were the beneficiaries of a defensive gaffe from the Lions, one that resulted in the Condors having an open net to get on the board first.
The Condors would add a second goal just a few minutes later. Conestoga captain Malachi Ramsay made his way into the box untouched and found the back of the net off a corner kick to make it 2-0 before the half.
In the second half, the Condors continued to pull away from the Lions. A penalty kick midway through the half made it 4-0 for Conestoga, and the visitors would add two more down the stretch to pad their lead even more.
Ky Duong (Sarnia, Ont.) was the much-busier keeper of the two in the match. The veteran keeper made 15 saves in a losing effort for the Lions.
Injuries forced Head Coach Adam Lakey to get creative with his lineup throughout Saturday’s match. First year student-athletes played big minutes in their first collegiate game, and while the result wasn’t what they had envisioned, they gained valuable experience that they can then take with them the rest of the season.
It’s a quick turnaround for the Lions on the field, as Lambton will play host to the St. Clair Saints on Wednesday, September 22nd at the Lambton College Soccer Field. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m.
The last time that Lambton played the Saints was in the regular season finale of the 2019 season. Lambton picked up a 3-2 win to secure a playoff spot, and they will be looking for a similar result this time around as the 2021 season continues along.