November 5, 2022
Banner Season: Gee-Gees defeat York to capture 10th OUA women's soccer title
Ottawa, Ont. - It was home sweet home for the Ottawa Gee-Gees on Saturday afternoon at Matt Anthony Field, earning a 1-0 win over the York Lions to be crowned 2022 OUA champions.
The game's difference maker came on a Nibo Dlamini penalty kick goal in stoppage time of the first half. The Ottawa native was clinical in beating York keeper Ava Jones to the left make the game's only mark.
Jones was the busier of the two keepers in the game, stopping six of seven shots, while Ottawa keeper Juliann Lacasse earned the clean sheet with one save.
In intensely windy conditions throughout the game, the lack of scoring opportunities spoke to the level of defending that both squads had to do. In the second half, when York turned up the offensive pressure, they were repeatedly turned away by Ottawa's backline, making it a long day for York's strong attack.
With the win, the Gee-Gees were able to exact some revenge on the Lions that defeated them in the semifinals in 2019, before capturing gold on Ottawa's home turf. The win now marks Ottawa's 10th OUA women's soccer title - the most of any school.
"It's been a fantastic season," said Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson, who has coached the team since their inception in 1994.
"We've had a season that is unique, going down to play in Mexico, winning a championship there, then coming back, resetting our focus, and trying to win the championship here. The 10th win is special, I'm really proud of what the program has done in our existence."
Both teams will advance to the U SPORTS Women's Soccer Championship hosted at Université Laval in Quebec City from Nov. 10-13.
The game's difference maker came on a Nibo Dlamini penalty kick goal in stoppage time of the first half. The Ottawa native was clinical in beating York keeper Ava Jones to the left make the game's only mark.
Jones was the busier of the two keepers in the game, stopping six of seven shots, while Ottawa keeper Juliann Lacasse earned the clean sheet with one save.
In intensely windy conditions throughout the game, the lack of scoring opportunities spoke to the level of defending that both squads had to do. In the second half, when York turned up the offensive pressure, they were repeatedly turned away by Ottawa's backline, making it a long day for York's strong attack.
With the win, the Gee-Gees were able to exact some revenge on the Lions that defeated them in the semifinals in 2019, before capturing gold on Ottawa's home turf. The win now marks Ottawa's 10th OUA women's soccer title - the most of any school.
"It's been a fantastic season," said Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson, who has coached the team since their inception in 1994.
"We've had a season that is unique, going down to play in Mexico, winning a championship there, then coming back, resetting our focus, and trying to win the championship here. The 10th win is special, I'm really proud of what the program has done in our existence."
Both teams will advance to the U SPORTS Women's Soccer Championship hosted at Université Laval in Quebec City from Nov. 10-13.
