Expectations were in the air as the team gathered at MacDonald Stadium for their eleventh game of the season against the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School Knights; Junior Jeslyn San was en route to her 100th career goal with 98 for the Golden Tornados and the team had preemptively bought balloons in the shape of a 100 to celebrate.
After a quick warm-up, the game was off. In the first few minutes, the two teams traded possession with limited scoring opportunities until San broke the standstill with her 99th career goal just three minutes into the first quarter. However, the Knights quickly fired back with a goal of their own. Once again, the two teams found themselves level. After a lull in the action, Senior Julia Rodrigues scored for the Golden Tornados to take back the lead with a little over a minute left in the quarter. Then, as the buzzer drew near, Jesslyn San rocketed in her 100th goal of her career with just one second left in the quarter. The team quickly rushed the field to celebrate and take photos to commemorate the event.
Exhilarated off the back of such a momentous accomplishment, the Golden Tornados came into the second quarter on fire. After winning the draw and sprinting past defenders, Junior Makenzie Jenkins found herself with a strong scoring opportunity just six seconds into the second quarter. A strong save from the Knight’s goaltender would stop the drive in its tracks, but Jenkins would remain undeterred scoring just a minute later. Deeper in the second quarter, following a whole team play and a beautiful assist from San, Jenkins faked a defender to slot the ball in the bottom left corner and bring the game to a 5-1 lead for Malden. Then, after a great assist from San left Jenkins in a 1 on 1 with the goaltender, destiny felt like it was repeating itself, but an amazing stop from the Knight’s goaltender would break the deja vu. The Knights would end the quarter with a goal of their own to bring the score to 5-2.
Following half-time, the Knights came in with a renewed passion and pressured early in the third quarter. However, their two shots during this period would bounce off the posts. Then, the Golden Tornados regained their footing, and San completed her hattrick to bring the game to a 5-point lead for Malden. Junior Maia Saeed would add her goal to the tally less than a minute later. To further the Knight’s misfortune, a goal after a whistle would be disallowed late into the third quarter and the ensuing penalty shot would be missed.
In the fourth quarter, a hectic back-and-forth ensued in which a total of seven goals from both teams were scored. Of the seven were three from Freshman Nyla Pierre including a last-second penalty goal. Jenkins would also complete a hattrick this game scoring late into the last quarter. The Knights would put up a valiant effort with three goals of their own but it would ultimately be in vain as the Golden Toradnos stormed their way to victory with a final score of 11-5.
To stay up to date with future Golden Tornados sports, check out the Malden sports schedule.
