Eight clean sheets, three goals against: St. Clair women ready for playoff run
If defence wins championships then the St. Clair women's soccer team is well positioned to go on a deep playoff run this fall.
"If we can get that, if we can get that established, we got a shot at at winning again. So defense is where we're starting everything at." Head coach Steve Vagnini told PowerplayWindsor.com.
The Saints goalie tandem of Scotlyn Fick and Lilly Estephan combined for eight clean sheets in ten regular season games. St. Clair allowed a league low three goals against.
The keepers are quick to share the credit.
“It’s been really fun." said Fick who posted five shutouts. "When we work together well as a team, honestly, no one can stop us, Three goals against feels great. Our defenders have worked really hard to help us with those three goals against because we haven’t got a lot of shots.”
On the flip side, St. Clair has scored a lot of goals having found the back of the net 45 times which has helped alleviates some of the pressure at the back end.
"They're helping us out putting the ball in the net. When we play good, we're good. We pass the ball. We move the ball. We keep possession. How we play helps us." Estephan said.
St. Clair, who finished 2nd in the West at 8-1-1, opens the playoffs at home Wednesday at 6pm against St. Lawerence who placed 7th in the East with a 4-4-2 record. The Saints locked up home field advantage all the way until the Final Four.
St. Clair won the OCAA championship a year ago at home.