Nighthawks girls face next hurdle

From left, Nighthawks girls co-captains Katie Walsh, Karleigh Avery and Veronica Deno hold the Northumberland Region banner the Nighthawks won with a 5-1 victory over the Amherst Vikettes Thursday in Alma.

ALMA – The Northumberland Nighthawks are hoping the combination of home field advantage and a seasoned, skilled and deep roster will earn them a ticket to the provincial high school female soccer championship.
The Lady Nighthawks posted a 5-1 win over the Amherst Vikettes last Thursday to win the Northumberland Regional Championship and earn the right to host a provincial qualifier Saturday in Alma.
They will meet the winner of Friday’s game between Hants East and Barrington Municipal High School in a showdown slated to start at 10 a.m. Saturday.
“No matter who’s left, they’re all quality teams,” Nighthawks head coach Bob Boardway says. “We have a veteran team and the players rely on one another, but we have the spare parts if we need them. We’re deep, but a lot depends on the weather and how we play. We have players who have played a lot together, but how that turns into a win we’ll have to wait and see.”
The Vikettes visited the Nighthawks as defending regional champs after securing a semifinal victory over Hants East. But the Nighthawks established themselves by scoring twice in the first six minutes of the opening half.
Jessica Williams knocked home the rebound of a Katie Walsh free kick before Sydney Adamson added her first of two goals on the afternoon assisted by T-Anna Fraser and Krishma Joshi.
Amherst played a physical style and got their only goal with 30 minutes gone.
The Nighthawks dominated the second half and took a 3-1 lead on a sharp-angled goal by Heather Beaton.
Adamson completed a combination play with T-Anna Fraser and Season Brennan in the 18 yard box to widen the lead.
Captain Veronica Deno completed the scoring on a pass from Juliana Ali.
Marli Johnston and Savannah Lees shared the victory in goal.
Vicki Oliver, Krishma Joshi and Karleigh Avery had solid games for the Lady Nighthawks.
This is the first Regional banner for the school since it’s opening year and the first one where all the student athletes have been schooled at NRHS.
The Nighthawks started nine years ago when the players were products of former soccer programs in Stellarton and Westville, as well as West Pictou District High School.
Meanwhile, the NRHS boys were shut out 2-0 by the Hants East Tigers in their regional final. They are in a qualifier later this week against Breton Education Centre in New Waterford.