Halifax Tides looking to learn from 'mental lapses' following 3-1 loss to AFC Toronto
"We're not packing up our bags and going home yet."
These were the words uttered by Halifax Tides head coach Lewis Page following his club's 3-1 loss to AFC Toronto on Saturday. If you detect a hint of defiance, you'd be right: some have counted out the Northern Super League's (NSL) only East Coast club only eight matches into their season.
But Page and Tides attacker Sydney Kennedy, who joined her coach during Saturday's post-match press conference, said their season is far from over.
"The league is very tight," Page told reporters. "Those two games we have in hand are six potential points, you know, and six points moves you up the table pretty well in this league. There's still a lot to play for."
"I can promise you guys we're not out of this. When we're at our best, we compete in this league" said Kennedy.
Josh Healey
The Tides entered Saturday's match looking to carry over momentum from their first-ever win in club history. An early goal — created by Kennedy but ultimately put into AFC Toronto's net by their own defender — gave them a lead to build off of.
But it was short-lived as AFC Toronto's teenage star Kaylee Hunter collected the ball in the 21st minute, turned and dribbled into space at the top of the box before rifling a shot past goalkeeper Erin McLeod.
Later, McLeod was forced to retire from the match due to a knock to her foot.
Anika Tóth took McLeod's place to start the second half and was immediately under pressure as the ball again found Hunter on the break. Tóth managed to get a piece of the shot but the ball rolled over her and into the net to make it 2-1.
Only a few minutes later, Hunter donned her playmaker hat and sprang striker Esther Okoronkwo, who made it 3-1.
The two quick goals — separated by only four minutes —ultimately proved the difference maker as the Tides were unable to reply. Following their season high 21 shots against Ottawa Rapid FC, Halifax managed only four shots on the night.
Kennedy said the key is staying focused for a full 90 minutes.
Josh Healey
"That's just a mental lapse," she said. "With teams as quality as they are in this league, a two minute mental lapse can be the reason you lose a game. It's making sure we're turned on all 90 minutes and not for 87 or 88."
Both Page and Kennedy agreed that AFC Toronto made them pay for their mistakes and that the Tides must learn to make a push up the table.
“We’ll treat this game like we’ve treated every game. We’ll take the good with the bad and try to refine what we do really well so that we do it more consistently and more often and try to correct the things we’re not doing so well," explained Page.
Kennedy echoed her coach.
"You always wish a couple more bounces went your way but like Lewis said, you've got to take the the learnings from it, too. When you leave players as dangerous as Kaylee Hunter at the top of the box and allow her to turn, she'll teach you a lesson," she said. "I think we learned those lessons tonight."
The Tides currently sit last in the NSL with four points; Vancouver Rise and Calgary Wild FC are tied with 11 and are the next closest on the table.
Halifax hosts the Wild at the Wanderers Grounds on July 7.
Cover Photo Credit: Halifax Tides FC
