The U15 Girls final at the 2024 OPDL Gary Miller Charity Shield kicked off with intensity on a crisp Saturday morning at the Zanchin Automotive Soccer Centre. Vaughan and Markham City went head-to-head, delivering an exciting match full of skill, speed, and relentless effort.

Vaughan came out firing, dominating the early moments of the game. Their persistence was rewarded when they earned a penalty kick in the 8th minute. Stephanie Moynihan calmly converted the spot-kick, placing a low shot into the corner of the net to give Vaughan the lead.

With Vaughan maintaining their momentum, Daniella Minatel doubled the advantage in the 29th minute. After receiving a well-placed pass, she unleashed a high shot that soared over Markham goalkeeper Sophia Correale. The ball ricocheted off the crossbar, bouncing down into the goal — giving Vaughan a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Markham, however, responded just before halftime. In added time, Khalina Pineda-Ebuta threaded a brilliant through ball to Drew Keane, who charged toward the net, facing Vaughan keeper Isabelle Goldberg. With calm precision, Keane slotted the ball into the low corner, cutting Vaughan’s lead to 2-1 going into the break.

Keane almost struck again in the 47th minute, creating a tense moment for Vaughan. However, Goldberg stepped up and made a crucial save, securing the lead. Vaughan responded immediately with an offensive push of their own. In the 48th minute, Nahlia Tesafaya weaved past a defender and fired a close-range shot. Markham’s Sophia Papaioannou and defender Vienna Malinos scrambled to keep the ball out, working together to block the attempt. Moynihan followed up with a second shot, but Papaioannou reacted quickly, making a clutch save just before the ball crossed the goal line.

In the 58th minute, Vaughan sealed the victory with a third goal. Moynihan drove down the right flank, dancing past defenders before spotting Alixandria Casullo making a run into the box. With perfect timing, Moynihan fed Casullo, who chipped a left-footed shot into the back of the net, extending Vaughan’s lead to 3-1.

Despite Markham’s efforts to claw back into the game, Vaughan’s defense held firm until the final whistle. Their early dominance and clinical finishing secured them the 2024 OPDL Gary Miller Charity Shield U15 Girls title, capping off an impressive performance.

Watch the full game on the Ontario Soccer YouTube channel.

Visit the Ontario Soccer Facebook page to see the full photo album.