SARNIA – A heartbreaking finish to a stellar match.

The Lambton Women’s Soccer Team dropped a heartbreaking 1-0 decision to the visiting Sheridan Bruins on Saturday afternoon at the Lambton College Soccer Field in the 2023 regular season opener for both programs.

Sheridan’s Celia Palombella found the back of the net in injury time to give the visitors the win.

The starting eleven for the Lions featured nine first-year student-athletes alongside veterans Jenelle Labadie and Mckenna Gardner. Against a formidable opponent in the Bruins, the newcomers had little time to get accustomed to the rigors of OCAA soccer.

As the game wore on, the young Lions started to find their legs and their confidence grew. None of that was more evident than with the play of goalkeeper Lauren Goldsack, who was on point from the opening whistle and ended the day with 20 saves to her credit.

Goldsack made several key saves to keep the score at nil-nil, including a one-legged save early in the second half that drew applause from the Lambton fans in attendance and groans from the Sheridan bench.

While Goldsack held things down in the Lambton net, the Lions couldn’t break through the back line for the Bruins and muster any sort of consistency on offense.

As the second half ticked away, the Bruins started to ramp up their offensive pressure. Then, in injury time, the Bruins got their break. Off a throw-in, the ball found its way to the back post and Palombella had a wide-open net to break the deadlock and ultimately give Sheridan the 1-0 win.

Now, the Lions shift their focus to the week ahead. The Lions have a pair of road contests this week, with the first coming on Wednesday night against the Conestoga Condors.

Kick-off is set for 6:00 p.m. in Kitchener.