MOHAWK 2, NIAGARA 1

Ashley Hagen of the Mohawk Mountaineers won the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association scoring title in women's soccer last year. This despite the fact Mohawk was shutout in the first two games. But Hagen and the Mountaineers got off to a fast start in the 2012 season. She scored three times in Mohawk's 6-0 romp over Niagara Knights in their season opener in Welland Tuesday (Sep.11).

It was actually Hagen's sister, Jody, who opened the scoring at the Welland Soccer Club. She took full advantage of a stiff wind and blasted a 30 yard shot off the crossbar, the back of the goalkeeper and into the net. Long shots were the order of the day. Kaitlynn Staniuk and Ashley Hagen twice scored from well out as the Mountaineers led 4-0 at the half.  Hagen then completed a natural hat trick with an exquisite left foot shot into the upper corner in the second half. Marissa Oddi scored on a free kick on the final kick of the game.

Nicole Roberts and Kaitlyn Clark Robinson shared the shutuout.

Ashley Hagen said the team is getting stronger. "We have more rookies than we've had in a few years and we can build it up. It's easy to score when we have a team like that.

Mohawk co-coach Michael Castellani, also praised his newcomers. "I was incredibly impressed by the rookies that have come in and our veteran players coming onto the field. It was nice to (have) a game where the girls can jell right away, said Castellani.

Meanwhile, the Mohawk men had a tougher time, but rallied to defeat Niagara 2-1.

The Knights struck first as Austin MacDonell found himself free in the box to slot home the opening goal 20 minutes into the contest. The score remained 1-0 for Niagara until an unexpected turn of events, not even two minutes into the second half when Sokiri Kenedy of of the Mountaineers shot a ball along the ground and it went right between the Niagara keeper's legs to tie the score. Then in the 60th minute Matthew Kernick scored what would prove to be the winning goal with a long free kick from an acute angle which soared into the far upper corner. Kernick, a fifth year player with Mohawk, when asked if he planned the goal, joked "Coach told me to put it to the back post, which is what I did. It just happened to slip in there at the end."
Kernick also credited strong Mountaineer defending in the second half, keeping the ball in the Niagara end of the field.

Mohawk head coach Richard Bennett said his team had some opening game jitters, but he has a good bunch of players including  several rookies.
"I'm looking forward to the season. We had a nice training camp. If they take what they learn in practice into games, I think we'll be okay."

Mohawk will get a good test Saturday (Sep. 15) when the Humber Hawks visit.  The women play at 2:00 pm and the men at 4:00 pm at Redeemer's outdoor field.

Source: Mohawk College