With 1-0 record, soccer team ahead of last year

After only one game, Forest Hill Collegiate’s girls’ varsity soccer team already has more wins than last year.

Led by the combination of Haley Greenspoon’s hat trick and some solid goaltending from Victoria Moosa, Forest Hill shut out the girls from Monarch Park.

“Everyone was going hard and it’s always nice to win. A key was some great teamwork and winning this was very important,” said Greenspoon, who was the only person to score in a 3 – 0 win over Monarch Park on April 21. “We were passing well, and everything just came together.”

Despite being kept of the scoreboard in first half, the Forest Hill team, which was playing solid defence, had to feel pretty good about their chances. Using accurate passing and great ball control, they created lots of scoring opportunities. Several nice passing plays by Beth Caplan-Matlow, Sarah Peltz, Hailey Goldstein and Greenspoon came close to scoring.

With the game still scoreless, it was Forest Hill’s Goldstein who just missed scoring late in the opening half when she missed by a few inches as her penalty kick sailed over the net.

Meanwhile, Moosa was excellent as she made her best save from point blank in the dying moments to keep it scoreless after one.

“She just came at me, and it was an important stop,” said Moosa, a grade 11 veteran net-minder. “We would like to make the playoffs and importantly have some fun,”

Monarch Park got some chances early in the second, but it was Forest Hill who capitalized, as Annie Shore sprang the speedy Greenspoon, who scored on a high shot just beyond the reach of the outstretched Monarch goaltender.

With Forest Hill’s goaltending continuing to frustrate the Monarch Park offense, Greenspoon was in the zone as she continued to get numerous chances and finally put home an insurance marker, making it 2-0 with lots of time still remaining.

Seconds later, the speedy grade 11 athlete completed the hat trick to put things out of reach at 3-0.

“Scoring three is always nice, but winning is more important. Hopefully we can build from this,” said Greenspoon.