9 August 2025
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FC London win on penalties to keep Women’s Premier spot
Samantha St. Croix and Gabby Kohut shone for FC London as they beat Hamilton United for a place in the 2026 Women’s Premier Division.
Samantha St. Croix’s incredible game between the posts for FC London helped her side beat Hamilton United to retain their Women’s Premier Division spot for 2026.
The goalkeeper, who had been outstanding in the game as Hamilton pushed for promotion, stepped up to save three penalties in the shootout after teammate Gabby Kohut had scored an injury-time equalizer at the end of regulation.
London secured their first in the 2025 Women’s Premier on April 24, but had to wait until the end of July for their next one, beating Woodbridge Strikers and NDC Ontario in back-to-back games to avoid automatic relegation.
Their opponents Hamilton tasted defeat their first three games in the Women’s Championship, but lost just two more all season as they became strong title contenders. A tie, a loss, and a win in their last three games meant they had to settle for the Pro/Rel Playoff.
The first half was entertaining and saw opportunities for both sides, but ultimately no goals. The eventual opener came 77 minutes into the match, when Jaya Lecky scored a penalty for Hamilton.
As last minutes of the match ticked by, Hamilton would be heading to the 2026 Women’s Premier, but London had other ideas. Their captain Kohut scored in the fifth minute of added time, and virtually with the last kick of the 90, to send the game to extra time.
The match couldn’t be settled in the following 30 minutes, so penalties were required to decide the winner. Lecky, who scored her regulation time penalty, saw her shot saved by St. Croix, before Gabriella Machado and Ashley Kraemer were also thwarted by the London goalkeeper. Giuliana Marra and Kohut scored for the Premier side and Neeka Oweissi’s effort was saved by Madeleine Boucher, but the nail in the coffin for Hamilton was Cassandra Campanella’s miss.
Scrosoppi were in Hamilton’s position last year and lost to the Premier side North Mississauga, before winning the following Championship season. Perhaps this is just the start for Hamilton’s rise?