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HT girls finally solve the IrishBy Ryan GlassmanConsidering the shortage of scoring SPECIAL TO THE BEAVERchances for either club during the after-noon, Mezgec knew one goal would likely be Only when the final whistle sounded the difference and was thrilled to deliver the could Holy Trinity Titans head coach Peter game-winner.Bonfiglio let out a huge sigh of relief.Its always been tight against Notre After his squads three previous attempts Dame, but its good to pull out with the win, at capturing the Halton senior she said.We've played girls AAAA title ended in defeat Both teams had identical at the hands of the Notre Dame each other four6-0-2 records coming into Fighting Irish, Bonfiglios Titans Thursdays championship times in the lastfinally got it right Thursday, match, but Downeys Fighting nine years (in thebeating their archrivals 1-0 at Irish simply couldnt muster Halton final), soBronte Athletic Field.anything offensively.finally we got This is the first time weve Our strength is being able been Halton champs, the elat-them.to string a lot of passes together ed head coach said after the and build on the attack and we Holy Trinity coach game. We always play Notre just couldnt get our game Peter BonfiglioDame and Ive got so much together today, he said.respect for their coaching staff After defeating Holy Trinity and players.three previous times in the Halton final, I know some of the players, Ive known Notre Dame is now in somewhat unfamiliar (Notre Dame head coach) Casey (Downey) territory as the No. 2 seed as the GHAC for years. Weve played each other four times (Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference) in the last nine years, so finally we got playoffs begin tomorrow (Thursday).them.Last year, we beat (the Titans) with a With just a few minutes remaining in the fairly late goal 1-0 and we both advanced to second half, the Titans Emma Mezgec fired OFSAA, Downey said. We were hoping to a long-range strike into the back of the do the same thing today, but we now have to Fighting Irish net and Holy Trinity never focus on next week and put today behind looked back.us.MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVER She probably has one of the best shots Holy Trinity will host the Hamilton on our team, Bonfiglio said. I just remem-Catholic finalist at 1 p.m. while Notre Dame FINALLY: Emily Mezgec (centre) celebrates with Holy Trinity Titans teammates Brianna Cuzzolino ber I saw the ball coming to her and I will play the Hamilton Catholic champion at (left) and Colleen Chong after scoring what proved to be the winning goal in a 1-0 win over Notre screamed Hit it and she did.the same time at McMaster University.Dame in Thursday's Halton senior girls' AAAA soccer final.Blakelock blanked in AAA finalBURLINGTON Corpus Christi said. I saw the keeper off-footed and he Longhorns head coach Rob Biturajac still couldnt get back to it and it went in.remembers last seasons Halton senior boys From that moment on, Biturajac knew soccer final and what it cost his club.his squad had the ability to withstand what-A 2-0 defeat at the hands of the St. ever Blakelock threw at it.Thomas Aquinas Raiders at Sherwood Forest When Nicholas scored, it was the result Park meant not only no regional title for the we wanted, he said. We know were a very orange and white but also no possibility of strong defensive team.gaining an OFSAA berth.Weve been in this position before, weve We left the field with a bad feeling, played some big games and we were confi-recalled the head coach.dent we could seal out the game.On Thursday, almost one year later, the Minutes after his first goal, Mejia nearly Longhorns found themselves in the same made it 2-0 on a breakaway, but Zamora final on the exact same field. The only differ-stopped his attempt with a right kick save. ence this time was the feeling at the end as But towards the end of the second half, Corpus Christi defeated the T.A. Blakelock the Longhorns striker helped set up the Tigers 2-0 to claim the Halton AAA champi-insurance tally, feeding forward Michael onship and finally put last seasons ending Lopes who put Corpus Christi up two. behind them for good.Tigers head coach Ken Butler said his It was our goal from the beginning of team just couldnt produce enough quality the year to come to the Halton final and chances to compete with the Longhorns.win, Biturajac said. Our guys came out We created a lot less than we normally with great heart and hustle and we really do, he said. I think their skill showed wanted it from the opening whistle. We cre-today and we might have had a little less ated numerous chances and we executed on ball possession and when we did have the those chances in the second half.ball possession, we couldnt break down Nearly 10 minutes into the last half, that last 25 or 30 yards and penetrate the Longhorns forward Nicholas Mejia headed box. the ball past Tigers goalie Andrew Zamora We couldnt break them down and we ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVERafter getting a cross from teammate Brandon ended up turning the ball over and that cost Solomon to give Corpus Christi a 1-0 lead.us in our attackTHAT'S A STRETCH: T.A. Blakelock's Tyler Green (right) tries to control the ball against because we didnt generate (Solomon) crossed it in and as the more than one opportunity todayCorpus Christi's Silent Nyamushanya during Thursday's Halton senior boys' AAA final in Burlington. .ball was coming back, I headed it, Mejia Ryan Glassman, Special to the BeaverBlakelock fell 2-0 to the Longhorns.27 Wednesday, May 25, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com