The New Westminster Soccer Club women’s Blackout gutted out a 3-1 win over Delta on Sunday, stretching their undefeated streak to 14 consecutive games.
The lone blemish on the team’s Metro Women’s League record this season came in the first match back in September, when they fell 2-1 to Richmond despite dominating the game.
Against Delta, the Blackout began the match with only 10 players, due to a combination of illnesses, injuries, and work commitments. It took 40 minutes before the 11th player joined the fray but the Blackout were already up 1-0 on Naomi Noda’s well-executed play 34 minutes into the game.
Celeste Bain converted a Noda pass through the goal box in the 58th minute to make it 2-0. Two minutes later, Delta replied with a lofted shot just outside the reach of New West keeper Jasmine Kazi.
But the Blackout locked up the victory on Sarah McCarthy’s left-footed screamer, a 20-yard blast to the far post, to make it 3-1 in the 66th minute.
Defenders Simran Dhillon, Sarah Spring and team co-founders Zena and Zoe Loewen put up a determined front, limiting Delta to just one shot in the final 20 minutes.
It was their seventh straight victory, but came at the cost of team scoring leader Carly Cody. Cody, who has 11 goals over 13 games, left with 25 minutes remaining after suffering a injury in the first half.
The win gives the Blackout more momentum heading into the playoff round and locked up first place in Div. 3, and a likely promotion to Div. 2 for next season. They square off against West Coast on Sunday.
FOOTIE FOR FOOD BANK: The New Westminster Soccer Club’s under-10 girls Riot are hosting a special Food Bank Days this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Moody Park (south side, by the swimming pool). People are invited to drop off donations for the food bank to help members of the community.
