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| Margo Legault tries to break the tackle with Tara in support |
After an impressive road victory on debut, the Swans new women's team was about to enter a new era joining forces with the Montreal Angels. The Angel-Swans prepared to host the early season title favourite High Park Demons in what would be a historic moment for women's football in Ottawa.
Ottawa/Montreal Angel-Swans 0.1 1.4 1.5 5.6 (36)
High Park Lady Demons 2.1 3.2 7.5 7.6 (48)
Six Angels would slip into the red and white for the first ever women’s game in the nation’s capital, the 14-a-side match a marquee match-up for the OAFL’s shiny new women’s competition. With a three to four goal breeze at their backs the Demons hit the ground running and showed why they would be the team to beat in 2012. They dominated the centre clearances and sent the ball inside their attacking zone in merciless fashion, the Angel/Swans defence trying relentlessly to keep the ferocious Demons at bay. Tara Cools-Lartigue’s stock was rising fast across half-back as the rookie played a key role in some big plays, but the Demons would win the quarter, kicking away to a two goal break. With the prospect of the breeze in the Angel/Swans favour for the second term, the game was still evenly poised.
As the second term got underway it was apparent the Demons had done their homework and cleverly chipped the ball short into the breeze. The Angel/Swans although getting their hands on plenty of ball through some outstanding work from Margo and Aimee Legault were lacking a focal point up front. Opportunities would be wasted for the home side and the Demons came out on top, splitting the quarter at a goal apiece and heading in to the main break with a 10 point lead and a chance to put the game beyond reach of the Angel/Swans in the third.
The premiership quarter would turn out to be a disaster for the Montreal/Ottawa combine side. With a host of Team Canada players in their squad the Demons put their foot down and slammed home four goals to none. The Angel/Swans were simply unable to work the ball past their own half-forward line. Angels Emily Leagult and Pamela Tannouri worked hard to keep their team in touch but with only a quarter to play the deficit had blown out to 36 points.
With the sting long gone from the game Aimee Legault would do her best to drag her team back from the dead. A quick long range goal to the midfielder sparked a revival and was quickly paired with another from Belzie that had the home team sniffing a come from behind victory. Time was the enemy now as the margin went from 36 to 30, to 24 then to 18. The red and white army playing like a team possessed. Aimee Legault would add her third and the Angel/Swans would draw to within 12 points before the Demons began to plug the holes and start to work the clock. The all-out-assault would eventually fall short, four goals to nil in the final term not enough to beat a well oiled Demons outfit who took the four hard-earned premiership points in a well orchestrated victory. Aimee Legault would claim best on ground honours while Margo Legault and Lindsay Belzie were named amongst the team’s best. 