OUA Women's Soccer Roundup (Oct. 30)
October 25, 2017
Ryerson 1 Laurentian 2
A cold Wednesday afternoon in late October looked promising to deliver a new chapter in Ryerson Rams women’s soccer history. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed when a last-minute goal in extra time lifted the Laurentian Voyageurs over the Rams by a 2-1 final.
The fifth seed in the OUA east division, the Rams – making just their fourth playoff appearance – were looking for their first ever postseason victory on Wednesday. Expectations were at an all-time high entering the playoff matchup against Laurentian, a team the Rams beat twice in the regular season.
After a back-and-forth start to the first half, the Rams likelihood of securing that first win grew stronger when freshman phenom Victoria Watson opened the scoring just before halftime.
Watson came streaking towards the goal, forcing Voyageurs keeper Caitlin McNamara to come out and challenge but the crafty striker was able to get around her and deposit the ball into the back of the net. That gave the Rams a 1-0 halftime lead.
The goal in itself had historic implications; it was the first postseason goal scored in Rams history. In Ryerson’s previous three playoff contests they were left off the scoreboard.
Now preserving a one-goal lead in the second half, the Rams defence stood tall until the 64th minute when a long throw-in was flicked on into the box. Initially stopped by Rams keeper Elisa Lapadula, her positioning in the net didn’t allow her to be able to punch the ball away from danger and Laurentian’s Sam Selkirk cleaned up the mess to equalize the score at 1-1.
Neither team could find a go-ahead goal late in regulation and the teams headed to extra time. The first fifteen minutes of extra time saw hesitation from both sides to risk giving up a counter strike and so the teams remained tied at 1-1 after 105 minutes.
Ryerson had a chance in the 114th minute to put themselves back on top but a diving defensive effort from Laurentian’s Allison Pilon negated the chance.
On the final play of extra time, Laurentian delivered a free kick into the Rams 18-yard box. Sarah Sanford was left unmarked and capitalized, heading home the game-winning goal just before the final whistle blew.
In what can only be described as a heartbreaking finish, the 2017 season was still an extremely successful one for the young Rams squad. The experience gained this year will go a long way for the future of the program.
Source: Ryerson Rams
McMaster 0 Laurier 2
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks women's soccer team opened their bid for a fourth OUA Championship in the past decade in successful fashion Wednesday night at University Stadium. For the majority of their first-round match against the sixth-seeded McMaster Marauders, the third-seeded Hawks controlled proceedings, dominating possession number and creating chances aplenty on route to a 2-0 victory to send them through to Sunday’s quarter-final in Guelph against the Gryphons.
Head Coach Barry MacLean gave his starters some extra rest during Sunday’s season finale against Brock, and that choice looked to be paying early dividends as the purple and gold looked sharp, moving the ball around with great precision while not allowing the Marauder so much as a sniff of offence.
Despite a few chances being sent over the top bar, the Hawks were still looking to break the deadlock near halftime when Nicole Lyon (Kitchener, Ont.) was awarded a free kick from about 35 yards out. Not about to let the opportunity pass in her final game at University Stadium, Lyon sent a picture-perfect ball right into the middle of the box where it was headed home by Hawks' leading scorer Maxine Murchie (Kitchener, Ont.).
Facing elimination, the Marauders noticeably upped their efforts to begin the second half, forcing Hawks keeper Ashley Almeida (Burlington, Ont.) to bail out her team on a few occasions. The pace really intensified for about a ten-minute stretch early in the half, with an astounding number of chances for both sides, most notably a clear break for McMaster that Almeida stoned in potentially a game-changing moment.
With McMaster becoming more desperate by the second, the Hawks needed another goal to ease the pressure of closing out the game, and Murchie was happy to oblige once again, shuffling to her right around the stranded Mac keeper to safely put it home into the empty net to complete her brace in the 70th minute. She nearly made it a hat-trick moments later, cracking a strike from distance going off the top bar and over the net.
The purple and gold managed to slow down the hectic pace in the final minutes, closing out the Marauders in relatively stress-free fashion with the two-goal cushion intact. Almeida finished with the seven save shutout.
Source: Laurier Golden Hawks
York 0 Waterloo 1 (PKs)
The York University Lions women's soccer team lost a heartbreaking penalty kicks decision to the Waterloo Warriors in their OUA first-round match at Warrior Field on Wednesday night.
York goalkeeper Taylor Grant made two remarkable saves in the penalty kicks, but her Waterloo counterpart, Madison McDonald, was equal to the task and also stopped a pair. Kendra Saxton's shot rolled wide, and then Hannah Rempel stepped up to the spot and hammered home the winner to send the Warriors through to the OUA quarter-finals.
The result marks the fourth straight year the Lions have been eliminated from the post-season in penalty kicks.
The Lions had the first good chance of the match in the 14th minute when Saxton was sent into the box but her shot was saved.
It looked like the Warriors were going to get on the scoreboard in the 75th minute but Grant made two big saves, the first on a point-blank shot and the second on the ensuing scramble in front of the net from the rebound.
The last few minutes of regulation time produced some great chances on both sides. At one end, Christina Morelli fired a free kick from just outside the box that McDonald saved on the goal line. Minutes later, the Warriors were awarded three straight corner kicks and each produced a strong cross into the box but none were converted into goals.
With the game scoreless after 90 minutes, the two teams headed into overtime and the pace picked up. Ashley Nater had a great chance in the 94th minute when she went in on a breakaway but McDonald again made the save. Just before the end of the extra time she had perhaps the best chance of the game on a gorgeous free kick that rang off the crossbar and stayed out.
Both goalies were tremendous throughout the match, with Grant making six saves and McDonald seven.
Source: York Lions
Toronto 0 Ottawa 1
After several solid scoring opportunities in the first half of play, Ottawa’s Sophie Curtis made good on a choppy chance in front of the Toronto Varsity Blues net and scored what stood as the game-winning goal in the 43rd minute of the opening game of the OUA playoffs for the Gee-Gees women’s soccer team.
The 1-0 win echoes the 2016 result of the same matchup between Ottawa and Toronto, although the Gee-Gees needed overtime to solve that match. The Gee-Gees will continue their mirrored journey from 2016 and travel to Queen’s on Sunday for a second round matchup but hope to alter the result this time.
On Wednesday night Ottawa fired 33 shots at the Toronto defence, with many being blocked before ever reaching Vanna Staggolis in net. Staggolis stood her ground and was called upon to make 17 saves including several at point blank range.
“We’re feeling very prepared for playoffs,” said Curtis, a fourth-year striker who scored two goals in the regular season and has shone in past playoffs. “We have a lot of options and different things that we’re going to look for and we have a bit more liberty with how we can play. We did a good job of getting around them and in so we were focusing on getting the crosses through.”
It was less busy at the Ottawa end as Margot Shore made eight saves for the shutout win. The Garnet and Grey defence was focused and efficient, shutting down Toronto’s top offensive threats. “I was very happy today with our defence and our midfield,” said Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson. “We were good in the air and we defended well on the ground. Our backs were very good at making sure we had players in the right positions.”
The game featured a high tempo throughout, providing a playoff atmosphere from the get go which only grew in the second half with Toronto pressing hard for an equalizer. “I think we made it very difficult for Toronto in the first half because we moved the ball so quickly,” noted Johnson.
“You have to give everything you’ve got. During playoffs I get just a nervous energy that gives me an extra drive and an extra push,” added Curtis.
Source: Ottawa Gee-Gees
October 29, 2017
Waterloo 0 Western 4
First-year midfielder Giulia Geracinetted two goals to lead the Western Mustangs women's soccer team to a 4-0 shutout victory over the Waterloo Warriors in an OUA Quarter-final on Sunday afternoon at Mustang Field.
"Waterloo is a great team and they've been tough to score on all year. Getting the early goal made a big difference for us and getting the second before halftime allowed us to play with a more comfortable lead," said Mustangs head coach Martin Painter. "You have to give credit to Waterloo; they created some good chances and made us fight for it. I think the score is a little misleading, Waterloo played well and they never made it easy on us."
With the win, the Mustangs will move on to the OUA Final Four where they'll meet a team from the OUA East Division in the semifinals. The Warriors loss will end their year after a 6-4-6 regular season finish.
Geraci, continued her stellar rookie season as she has been a consistent presence for the purple and white throughout the year, tying for the team lead in goals at the end of the regular season.
"It's been an amazing season so far. I never expected to come in and be able to make this much of an impact, but the confidence that the team has given me and the encouragement from the coaching staff has made all the difference," said Geraci.
The Western offence had no trouble catching fire to start the match, as the Mustangs controlled the time of possession throughout the opening minutes. Western would quickly be rewarded for applying the pressure to the Waterloo defence, as Geraci netted the first goal of the day for the purple and white within the first ten minutes of action. The Mustangs offence would continue to attack throughout the half, as fourth-year striker Julia Crnjacextended her goal-scoring streak to nine games to give the Mustangs the 2-0 advantage heading into the second half.
The Mustangs found similar success in the second half, as the defence shut down the opposing offence, as they have all season long. Western continued to extend their lead early in the frame as defender Rachel Drouillardfound the back of the net for her first goal of the year. Geraci would put in her second of the day not long after to ultimately give the Mustangs the 4-0 victory.
"It felt excellent to be able to finish off hour last home game of the year with a win. Both of our fifth-year players, Sabrina De Nard and Jenna White, have had unbelievable careers. This will be their fourth time in five years that they'll be going to an OUA Final Four, so it's only right that they end their last home games with a win," said Painter. "We know the teams that we're about to face will be strong, but that's what you expect at this point in the playoffs. We just need to be prepared to play our best going forward."
"Towards the end of the regular season, we got used to the way each one of us plays. That the chemistry on this team and our ability to be so interchangeable throughout games is what's helped us succeed. We're playing for each other; there's no selfishness," said Geraci. "It's something we need to continue to do if we want to keep winning."
Source: Western Mustangs
Ottawa 1 Queen’s 2
At a rain-soaked Richardson Stadium in Kingston, the Gee-Gees were unable to defeat the Queen’s Gaels in a thriller that ended in a shootout.
With solid back and forth play throughout, the Gee-Gees controlled the game for most of the first half. A blast from Katherine Bearne gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead.
Shortly after, the Gee-Gees had what seemed to be their second goal of the day, until it was called back by the referees, keeping their lead at a single score.
Queen’s tied the game before the half and came out to close the game with increased pressure and aggression. In the second half, they had a goal called back due to an offside player.
No team could find the back of the net again through the rest of regulation and two 15-minute periods of overtime, so the game was to be settled by a shootout. The teams traded goals back-and-forth before a Gee-Gee miss gave the Gaels the victory, advancing them to the OUA semifinal next weekend.
“It’s a tough way to end the season,” said Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson. “There were goals from both teams that were called back and I thought we created some excellent chances. We should’ve had enough chances to win this one, but Queen’s is a great opponent.”
Looking ahead, the Gee-Gees will miss out on a trip to the U SPORTS national championship for a third straight season, but will enter next season knowing their path is already paved as the hosts of the tournament.
“What’s unfortunate is that I think we had the quality to be there this year with this team,” said Johnson. “Even though it wasn’t a positive experience in the end, we’ve shown through training camp, the regular season, and playoffs that we’re a quality team and there’s a lot to look forward to.”
Source: Ottawa Gee-Gees
Laurier 0 Guelph 5
For the first time in 16 years, the Gryphons women's soccer team is heading to the OUA Final Four. Sunday afternoon at the Gryphon Soccer Complex, the Gryphons earned a decisive 5-0 win over the Laurier Golden Hawks in an OUA Quarter-final matchup. Victoria Hinchliffe and Venessa Mazur each scored twice with Hayley Howes capping the scoring in what was the Gryphons' highest-scoring performance of the season. The Gryphons now sit two wins away from claiming what would be the first OUA title in program history. The Gryphs will play on Saturday (November 4) in Oshawa against the defending OUA champion UOIT Ridgebacks, who will serve as hosts of the 2017 OUA Final Four.
"It's a big moment for our program," said Gryphons first year head coach Shayne Campbell. "I'm incredibly fortunate to have inherited such a great team and can't say enough about the job Randy Ragan did building the foundation of this program. The girls on this team have a lot of character and all of the players and staff are committed. It's fun to be a part of."
Prior to Sunday's win, the Gryphons had been eliminated at the OUA Quarter-final stage in five consecutive seasons. Now, the team will play in a conference semi-final game for the first time since the 2000-2001 season.
After finishing 2nd in the OUA West standings during the regular season, the Gryphons earned a bye through the first round of playoffs. Despite the layoff, the Gryphs showed no signs of rust in their post-season opener, with second year forward Victoria Hinchliffe opening the scoring just seven minutes into the match. Hinchliffe, a Guelph native and the reigning OUA West Division Rookie of the Year, showed great composure, chipping the ball past Laurier keeper Ashley Almeida to get the Gryphons off and running.
U of G rookie forward Vanessa Mazur (Mississauga, ON) would score a pair of goals just six minutes apart early in the 2nd half, with the second goal being set up by Hinchliffe, as the Gryphons suddenly found themselves in the driver's seat up 3-0 on the Golden Hawks.
The Gryphons would add two more goals in the 88' and 90' minutes with Hinchliffe scoring off a set piece followed by third year forward Hayley Howes finishing off a rebound opportunity.
Gryphons' fourth year keeper Libby Brenneman recorded the shutout, making six saves along the way, including an important tip over the crossbar at the 30' minute mark of the first half.
Source: Guelph Gryphons
Laurentian 0 UOIT 2
The No. 2 ranked UOIT women's soccer team is heading back to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) final four – but this time it will be on home turf.
UOIT advanced to the championship for the third time in program history with a 2-0 win over the Laurentian Voyageurs at the Oshawa Civic on Sunday evening.
The Ridgebacks earned the right to host the championship for the first time in program history after finishing in first place in the OUA eastern conference with a 14-0-2 record.
"I am extremely proud of the girls for getting back to the final four," said UOIT head coach Peyvand Mossavat. "I am looking forward to hosting the final four at home. I talked about hosting a championship game at home in my interview and now that it is a possibility, it is really exciting."
Up against Laurentian in the quarter-finals, UOIT knew they would be in tough as the Voyageurs handed the Ridgebacks one of their two draws on the year. The first half was even with the teams heading into the locker rooms in a goal-less deadlock, with UOIT holding a 4-2 advantage in shots.
To open the second half, Nicole Zajac (Mississauga, Ont.) connected with Rachel Matthews (Ajax, Ont.) off a corner kick, as the fourth-year veteran got her right foot on the ball and buried it in the top right corner of the net to get the Ridgebacks on the board.
With Laurentian pressing for the equalizer with their goalkeeper playing up in injury time, Lauren Rea (Burnaby, B.C.) cleared the ball off the line and sent it up-field to Taijah Henderson (Ajax, Ont.) who ran in from half and scored on the empty net for the insurance marker.
"Laurentian is so well coached, they are a hard-working team and difficult to play against," said Mossavat. "Credit to Rob (Gallo) and his team for a really exciting game."
UOIT outshot Laurentian 9-1 in the second half and 13-3 overall in the match. Victoria Savage(Woodbridge, Ont.) stopped both of Laurentian's shots on target for the clean sheet.
This will be the third time in program history that UOIT has advanced to the OUA final four. They have reached the podium each time, earning a bronze medal in 2014 and winning their first championship title in 2016.
The Ridgebacks will match up against the Guelph Gryphons in the semifinal, who shutout Laurier 5-0 on Sunday afternoon. Guelph finished in second place in the western conference with a 10-4-2 record. This will be the first time UOIT has played Guelph in postseason play.
Western (14-1-1), who finished in first place in the western conference, beat Waterloo 4-0 in quarter-final action. They will play Queen's (12-3-1) in the other semifinal after the Gaels defeated Ottawa in penalty kicks.
The championship will take place from November 4-5 at the Oshawa Civic. Game times will be announced later this week.
Source: UOIT Ridgebacks
