Team BC claimed top spot in Pool A of the women's soccer competition at the 2009 Canada Games after a 1-0 victory over Nova Scotia on Wednesday afternoon.
A well-placed free kick just before halftime by Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Women's team midfielder Natalie Boyd gave British Columbia their second win of the tournament in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Team BC defeated New Brunswick 4-1 in their first Pool A match on Monday.
"The goalie was a little off her line, so I just took advantage of it," said Boyd, who was Wednesday's Player of the Match. "I just tried to get it right over the goalie’s hands. She was just a little far out, so I hit it off the crossbar and it went in."
Team BC were an improved side from Monday's match, as they succeeded in cancelling out Nova Scotia’s Nkemji Ezurke throughout the course of Wednesday's game. Whitecaps goalkeepers Ariel Anderson and Gurveen Clair posted clean sheets, while defenders Nikki Ambrose, Carolyn Bell, Melissa Bowen, and Erin Uchacz held firm in Team BC's backline.
"Defensively, the girls were very strong for the whole 90 minutes," Symons said after the match.
With Wednesday's result, both Team BC and Nova Scotia qualified for the quarterfinals, with British Columbia facing Manitoba, while Nova Scotia takes on Quebec. Both matches take place on Thursday.
