No. 1 ranked Gee-Gees move on to the OUA Final Four

(Photo: Richard Whittaker)

The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees women's soccer team punched its ticket to the OUA Final Four with a 1-0 win over the Queen's Gaels on Sunday afternoon in Ottawa. Julia Francki headed in the lone goal of the game midway through the first half, and Cynthia Leblanc stood tall in the Gee-Gee net to preserve the win for Ottawa. 

The rivals clashed in post-season play for the fourth straight season, and tensions were high from the opening kickoff. The teams traded chances in the early going, with Rachel Radu leading the Gaels attack while Francki and Pilar Khoury each narrowly missed with high strong shots.   

Ottawa's luck turned when Maris Barnabe and Francki went up in the middle of the pack on a free kick from just over the midfield line by Chiara Quadri. Queen's keeper Madison Tyrell came off her line to try punching the ball, but out of the pack of players the ball bounced over her reach and into the back of the net.

Ottawa gained energy following goal and dominated possession to close out first half. A Khoury shot from a free kick just outside the box hit the crossbar and came down just outside the goal line. 

The second half opened with a great chance on the Queen's goal line as Morgan McNeil, Francki, and Khoury worked together to centre the ball for Delaney Rickert-Hall. Somehow the Gaels keeper and a defender on the goal line kept the ball out of the net. 

Then came the push from Queen's and the tension ratcheted up steadily as the second half wore on. Queen's pushed forward with speed, earning two corner kicks which were well-defended by Ottawa. Queen's ruled the opening 15 minutes before Ottawa regrouped and began to show patience on possessions. 

The game ended with a dramatic scramble in front of Ottawa net in final minute, with the ball bouncing around and Leblanc not able to grab it out of feet, resulting in corner for Queen's. However, the fourth-year keeper came out to punch the ball away and record the last of her eight saves on the day.

"I never thought we were going to lose that game," said Leblanc. "I was very confident that my team was going to show up and deliver."

"We were well organized in the box, and have players who will challenge in difficult situations and I was pleased with what we were able to do against a team that is very good on set pieces," noted Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson.

Source: Ottawa Gee-Gees