Women's soccer advances to final four
THE UNIVERSITY OF Ottawa women’s soccer team is once again off to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) soccer championships. The third-place Gee-Gees advanced to the final four of the playoffs following a 2-0 win over the Laurentian Voyageurs on Oct. 28 and a 1-0 victory over the second-seeded Toronto Varsity Blues on Oct. 31. This year’s final four will take place Nov. 7–8 in Toronto.
The post-season began for Ottawa at Matt Anthony Field against sixth-seeded Laurentian in a hard fought and aggressive game. The first goal of the contest was scored in the seventh minute when fourth-year Gees defender Dominique Falardeau headed in a free kick from fifth-year midfielder Catherine Scott past the Voyageurs goalkeeper.
The Laurentian netminder opted to play far out of her goal throughout the game, resulting in close chances for Ottawa as balls floated above the head of the keeper: one shot bounced off the crossbar while another rebounded perilously near the goal line. The Gees’ pressure finally paid off as Ottawa beat the Voyageur keeper again in the 79th minute when first-year striker Sarah De Carufel burst by defenders and fired the game-securing goal.
With the win, the Gees advanced to an OUA semifinal contest against the Varsity Blues in Toronto. The game, which was played in windy conditions, featured tight defensive play from both sides as the only goal came in the second half. Second-year Ottawa midfielder Tara Condos put one past the Toronto keeper in the 54th minute.
“We had perfect execution of our game plan in the first half,” Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson told Sports Serivces following the match. “[The girls] out-worked a very talented Toronto team.”
The nationally sixth-ranked Gee-Gees begin their quest for the OUA Championship on Nov. 7 with a matchup against the nationally ninth-ranked York Lions (11-2-1). The other OUA final four showdown will feature the nationally tenth-ranked Laurier Golden Hawks (9-3-2) taking on the Queen’s Gaels (13-1-2), who are the second-ranked team in Canada. The two victorious teams will face off for the OUA title on Nov. 8. If the Gee-Gees finish third or better they will earn a berth in the Canadian Interuniversity Sport National Championships Nov. 12–15 in Toronto.
