Over the October 10th and 11th weekend, the Algoma Thunderbirds men’s soccer program concluded their 2025 OUA regular season on the road with a two-game set against the Waterloo Warriors and the York Lions. Despite competitive performances, the Thunderbirds were unable to secure a victory in their final outings of the campaign.
Game One – Waterloo Warriors 4, Algoma 0
The Thunderbirds opened their weekend in Waterloo, where the host Warriors displayed strong offensive execution and clinical finishing en route to a 4–0 decision. Waterloo struck first in the 26th minute when Kyler Monterosso found the back of the net unassisted. The Warriors extended their advantage early in the second half as Matheus Mello converted on a setup from Monterosso at the 57:03 mark. Late in the match, Robson Lamond added an unassisted goal in the 86th minute before Monterosso capped the scoring with his second of the contest at the 90:00 mark.
Algoma goalkeeper Anthony Berganza faced sustained pressure throughout the match, turning aside 3 of 7 shots on target, while Waterloo netminder James Ramsay recorded a clean sheet with 5 saves on as many attempts.
Game Two – York Lions 2, Algoma 1
The Thunderbirds closed their season the following day in Toronto against the York Lions in a tightly contested 2–1 defeat. Algoma opened the scoring in the 15th minute when Elliot Swenarchuk capitalized on a precise pass from Hiroki Wada. The Lions responded quickly, equalizing less than a minute later through Anthony Morano, assisted by Luca Priolo. Priolo would later deliver the decisive blow, scoring unassisted at the stroke of halftime to secure the victory for York.
In goal, Joshua Bondoc made 5 saves on 7 shots for Algoma, while York’s Dante Carraro faced limited pressure, stopping 1 of 2 shots in the win.
The weekend results bring an end to the Thunderbirds’ 2025 OUA campaign, marking a season of growth and resilience as the program continues its efforts to build consistency and competitiveness within the conference.
Game One – Waterloo Warriors 6, Algoma 0
The Warriors struck early and often in Saturday’s match, scoring six first-half goals to secure the win over Algoma. Waterloo’s offense was led by Aya Naamani, who recorded a first-half hat trick with goals at 20:36, 35:45, and 37:05. Additional markers came from Alexandria Chuong (20:03), Ceci Meija (22:47), and Tayler Schade (29:46).
Despite the constant offensive pressure, Thunderbird goalkeeper Paisley Pennington stood tall in net, facing 20 shots and making 14 saves through the 90 minutes. Waterloo rotated goaltenders at halftime, with Delaney McLeod playing the first 45 minutes and Makayla Townes handling the second half, each preserving the combined shutout without facing significant challenges.
Game Two – York Lions 4, Algoma 0
On Sunday, the Thunderbirds faced another tough opponent in the York Lions. Algoma held strong through much of the opening half, but York broke the deadlock at the 40-minute mark when Giuliana Paolella opened the scoring. In the second half, York extended their lead with goals from Bianca Jack (61:54), Sienna Caesar (79:19, assisted by Jasmine Broderick Bobadilla), and Sofia Zebic (82:04, assisted by Eva Harrison) to claim the 4–0 victory.
Paisley Pennington once again put in a busy performance for the Thunderbirds, facing 13 shots and making 9 saves. York goalkeeper Gracie Abbink recorded the shutout, turning away the lone shot Algoma managed in the match.
Season Reflections
The weekend concluded the 2025 OUA regular season for the Algoma Thunderbird women’s soccer team. Though the results were not in their favor, the Thunderbirds showed resilience and teamwork against two strong conference programs. With several young players gaining valuable experience, the team will look to build on this foundation and return stronger for the 2026 campaign.
