A memorable run by the IT Sligo women’s soccer team in this year’s Women’s Soccer Colleges Association of Ireland (WSCAI) Intervarsities competition fell agonisingly short in Athlone on Saturday when they were narrowly beaten 2-1 by IT Carlow in the final.
The tournament is the most prestigious event in the WSCAI calendar and the Sligo girls enjoyed two impressive victories en route to this year’s decider, beating UCD 3-0 in Thursday’s quarter-final, and then following that up with a dramatic 3-2 success over Maynooth University in the semi-final.
In Saturday’s final, IT Sligo took the lead in the opening half through a header from Northern Ireland International and current Sports Scholarship student Catherine Hyndman.
However, they were pegged back by a talented IT Carlow side in the second half, who included IT Sligo graduate Emma Hansberry in their starting eleven.
The IT Sligo girls were bidding to regain the Intervarsities title they had won on three previous occasions, most recently in 2014.
There was some consolation for two of the Institute’s players – goalkeeper Rachel King and Catherine Hyndman. They were both named on the WSCAI Intervarsities Team of the Tournament.
Photo caption:
The IT Sligo women’s soccer team, WSCAI finalists 2016.
Back row (L-R): Lauren Boles, Catherine Hyndman, Rachel King, Kathy McLaughlin, Michelle Kelly, Rachel Barrett, Anna Grant. Front row: Aoife Brennan, Denise McGrath, Rachel Kearns, Stacey Muldowney. (Photograph courtesy of Third Level Football)