Fury Too Much For Hamilton

Ottawa Fury News Release - www.ottawafury.com

Saturday, June 30, 2012

OTTAWA, ON - It took only five minutes for the Fury (8-1-0) to open the scoring and they never looked back cruising to their seventh consecutive victory and extending their home unbeaten run to a remarkable 29 games (27-0-2).

First half goals from Courtney Wetzel and Lisa-Marie Woods gave Ottawa a comfortable lead through 45 minutes. Kaitlin Ryan added a late score to give Ottawa the 3-0 victory against a Hamilton side that handed Ottawa its only loss of the season on May 27. Jasmine Phillips recorded her fifth shutout of the season in goal for the Fury.

Coming off a weekend that saw them score 11 goals, the Fury returned home playing in front of plenty of family and friends who were in town for the Canada Day celebrations. Ottawa would threaten early and often against Hamilton as they looked to avenge their only loss of the season. 

In the fifth minute Leni Kaurin, making her Fury debut, saw her corner met by Gillian Baggott whose header was redirected by an unmarked Courtney Wetzel inside the six yard box to send Ottawa into the early lead. The goal was Wetzel's first of the season. The midfield combination of Woods, Gorry, Wetzel and Kaurin proved dominant all game long and forced countless turnovers with their tireless work ethic.

In the 21st minute Mallory Outerbridge's pass found Courtney Weztel who slotted a perfectly weighted pass through to the reigning W-League Player of the Week and Woods blasted home her fifth of the season to put the Fury up 2-0. Moments later Woods would settle behind a free-kick from 35 yards out only to be denied by the crossbar. Ottawa would take the 2-0 lead into the dressing room at halftime.

The second half would prove much of the same for the Fury as the midfield dictated. Pushing forward on the flanks defenders Ashley Seal and Casey Ramirez only added to the Fury's offensive threats. Lisa-Marie Woods would twice be denied goals in the second half once being flagged for offsides after volleying home a ball from Courtney Wetzel and again hitting the crossbar.

With the two-goal lead head coach Dom Oliveri called in his substitutes who kept the pressure on. As full-time grew near, Kailtin Ryan and Emily Dowd put together and impressive give-and-go passing movement that was finished by Ryan slotting home her fourth of the season past Richard in the Hamilton goal to send Ottawa to a 3-0 victory.

After losing 2-0 to Hamilton on May 27, the Fury have since reeled off seven consecutive wins and now sit atop the Central Division seven points clear of second place Laval. Ottawa will travel to face the Comets on Wednesday night and with a win will all but lock up their ninth straight division title.