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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, August 16, 2013 | 20 Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Oakville players earn bronze at Canada Games by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff Sports "Connected to your Community" On paper, it looked like a mismatch. Tiny Nova Scotia with less than a million inhabitants up against Ontario, population 13.5 million But the Maritime province with only slightly more registered soccer players than Ontario has coaches, was putting up a fight in the bronze-medal match at the Canada Games. With the minutes getting ever-more precious, the teams were still deadlocked with neither team able to capitalize on its scoring chances. Finally, in the 76th minute, Ontario was awarded a free kick near the sideline. Oakville's Veronica Bosco took her position in front of the net. "It had been back and forth all game. We had a couple of opportunities and so did they," the 16-year-old said. "They came out strong, like they had nothing to lose. We expected them to be tough. They had numbers in the box all game and we couldn't break their defence all day." The ball sailed toward the box and after a bit of a scramble in front of the Nova Scotia net, the ball came free to Bosco. She quickly picked her spot and delivered the strike that would decide the game. As the ball found the mesh at the back of the net, Bosco turned and ran toward midfield where she was eventually caught in a celebratory mob by her teammates. Ontario's 1-0 victory, its fourth win in five tournament games, assured it would return home from Sherbrooke, Que. with a medal. "It was a great finish by the team and a great celebration," said Veronica Johnson, Oakville's second member of the bronze medal-winning team. Bosco had scored big goals before -- she won the Golden Boot in leading Ontario to back-to-back national titles in 2009 and 2010 -- but this one meant a lot to her. "At nationals, it's just soccer," the Loyola student said. "This whole experience was a lot better. There were other sports, there were more people, bigger crowds, more hype. It's the best overall tournament I've played in." It was also rewarding having come back two years ago from an ACL tear that sidelined her for eight months. The only thing that could Veronica Bosco (above) unleashes a shot that accounted for the game's only goal as Ontario edged Nova Scotia 1-0 to win the have made it better would have bronze medal at the Canada Summer Games in Sherbrooke, been a win against British CoQue. Oakville's Veronica Johnson (right), battling for the ball with lumbia in the semifinals. Bosco a Nova Scotia player, was also a member of the Ontario team. did her part, scoring in the | Jon Sims -- Special to the Oakville Beaver sixth minute to give Ontario an early lead, but British Columbia said that time together made Ontario a scored twice before the half and held on to stronger team. the lead for a 2-1 win. "Honestly, that helped a lot," said the Ontario had won its first three games, Oakville Trafalgar student. "Just knowing outscoring its opponents 7-0 with Bosco how the other players play and being able to and Johnson each contributing a goal in a anticipate where they are going to be. Even 3-0 victory over Newfoundland. just knowing each other, instead of trying Ontario sent a young team to the Canada to bond right before the tournament." Games, with its university-bound players Though they still have a year of high having already left for school, but the group school remaining, both players have already that went to Quebec had been training to- caught the eye of NCAA schools. Bosco has gether for four years at the Ontario Soccer a scholarship from the University of MemAssociation's player development program phis while Johnson has committed to the in Vaughan. University of Miami. Johnson made the weekly commute from Ottawa for more than a year before her fam--Follow regional sports reporter ily moved to Oakville two years ago. She Herb Garbutt on Twitter, @herbgarbutt White captures six golds to lead Oakville Aquatic Club medal haul at Canada Games Evan White won seven medals, six of them gold, at the Canada Games in Sherbrooke, Que. He didn't have much time to celebrate, though. Immediately after the Games, White was on his way to Dubai for the World Junior Swimming Championships. He'll be joined there by Oakville Aquatic Club (OAK) teammates Bryce Kwiecien-Delaney and Gamal Assaad, who also earned medals at the Canada Games. Also representing OAK in Sherbrooke was Sharalynn Mussiuna, who contributed to a pair of relay golds for Ontario. Overall OAK swimmers combined to win 13 medals, including 11 golds. The local swimmers started the meet with a bang as White and Assaad finished one-two in the 200-metre butterfly. Forty minutes later, White was back in the pool and earned a bronze in the 400m individual medley. The following day, White added a gold in the 200m breaststroke and teamed up with Kwiecien-Delaney on the 4x100m freestyle relay to record another victory. White picked up another gold on the fourth day of the meet, winning the 100m butterfly and adding his fourth individual gold in the 200m IM a day later. That same day, he and Kwiecien-Delaney again swam to gold on the 4x100m medley relay team. Kwiecien-Delaney also won gold as a member of the 4x50m freestyle relay team. All three relay wins were in Canada Games record times. Missiuna, who is headed into her sophomore year at the University of Michigan, also helped Ontario achieve success in the relays. She was a member of Ontario's gold medalwinning relays in the 4x50 and 4x100m freestyle relays. Both teams established new Canada Games records on the way to victory. Missiuna also set a personal best in the 4x50m freestyle. The World Junior Swimming Championship will begin Aug. 26.