Ridgebacks advance to OUA final for first time in program history

LONDON, Ont. – The UOIT women's soccer team are guaranteed to have their best finish at an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship in school history after defeating the Windsor Lancers 3-1 on Friday in London. 

Prior to this season UOIT's best finish at the women's soccer championship was a bronze medal in 2014, which was also the school's first OUA medal in a team sport. 

Nicole Zajac (Mississauga, Ont.) scored twice in the Ridgebacks' victory, including the opening goal of the match in the fourth minute. Leading into the Final Four, Zajac also scored the game-winning goal in Saturday's OUA quarter-final victory over Laurentian. 

"Nicole is fantastic - she is a true footballer," said UOIT head coach Peyvand Mossavat, who was named OUA East Division Coach of the Year. "We unfortunately did not have her early on because of a knee injury, but she's back and she was force finding the back of the net today." 

Zajac's opening goal came off a cross-crease pass by Katherine Koehler-Grassau (Greely, Ont.), with Cassandra Sribny (Pickering, Ont.) letting the ball go through her legs to an open Zajac who beat an outstretched Krystin Lawrence (Tecumseh, Ont.). This was the lone goal of the opening 45 minutes as UOIT went into the break leading 4-2 in shots. 

In the second half UOIT doubled their lead on a penalty kick after Taijah Henderson (Ajax, Ont.) was taken down in the box. Sribny put the ball in the right side of the net, with Lawrence going in the opposite direction. 

Sribny continued to get involved in the Ridgebacks offence as she gave the ball to Zajac at the top of the box. After a single touch she put it in the top-right corner to put UOIT ahead 3-0 in the 57^th minute. 

Trailing by three, the Lancers would push pressure on the UOIT defenders who stood strong until the 79^th minute when Windsor was fouled in the box. 

Becca Fuerth (Woodslee, Ont.) put the ball in the bottom-left corner of the net to score on the penalty kick – with Ridgeback keeper Helen Frampton (Toronto, Ont.) guessing wrong and diving to the right side of the goal. 

Unfortunately the late push came up short for the Lancers – who are making their first appearance at the OUA Final Four – as the Ridgebacks punched their ticket to the OUA final and guaranteed that they will be one of the two Ontario schools going to the CIS women's soccer championship next week in Wolfville, N.S. 

"I'm excited for the girls, I'm excited for the school and everyone involved with our soccer program," said Mossavat. "It's a little bit tough right now because I really wasn't excited about our performance. The result was great, but we have to fix some things if we want to bring the banner home." 

Frampton made two saves in the victory, while Lawrence made three for the Lancers.

The Ridgebacks will now play the winner of the second semifinal, which features the Western Mustangs and Queen's Gaels. Kick-off is 7 p.m. in London at Mustang Field.