Captain Lindsay Appleton scored her first Ontario University Athletics (OUA) goal to lift the Brock women's soccer team to its first win of the season in Windsor on Sunday, Oct. 3.
Appleton, a third-year defender, saved her first university goal for an essential moment in her team's journey.
"Winning this game was a definite must for the team to begin to turn this season around. It's the absolute best feeling in the world when you know you've earned those three points," said Appleton, a Nursing student. "I believe I speak for the whole team when I say we're just getting started."
Goalkeeper Isabelle Newkirk and the defence earned the clean sheet with five saves.
The match remained scoreless until the 47th minute.
First-year winger Sabrina Bisante delivered a pin-point cross to Arnelle Douglas, who defenders in the box brought down.
"When the foul was given, everyone was looking to the coach to pick someone to take the shot," Appleton said. "I knew this was my time to step up as captain and get this goal for the team. Scoring that penalty kick was one of the highlights of my OUA career."
She set the ball down on the spot and knew precisely where she wanted to put it as she sniped a shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
Head coach John Di Pasquale chatted with Appleton about leading by example during the bus ride to Windsor.
"When Arnelle was fouled, Lindsay stepped up to take the penalty. The pressure was enormous, but she calmly slotted the ball in the corner. It was almost symbolic. Good for her," Di Pasquale said. "Lindsay wanted the challenge of being the captain at the start of the season. Although she's not a loud or boisterous player, she gets the job done, and she does it well."
Later in the half, Douglas rang a shot off the post after receiving the go-ahead pass from centre midfielder Grace Tawil.
Tawil, Bisante and Juliana Andolina each recorded a shot.
Next, the Badgers (1-3) have two days to rest and prepare to host Wilfrid Laurier (1-0-1) at Alumni Field on Wednesday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m.
