November 4, 2004
QUEEN�S HOSTS OUA WOMEN�S SOCCER FINAL FOUR
First time finalists Laurentian looking for respect
Kingston, ON - Women's soccer takes centre stage in Kingston this weekend as Queen's University plays host to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Final Four on Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7. The class field includes the hometown Gaels, winners in two of the past three OUA title matches, meeting up with the talented University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the opening game (Saturday at 12:00 pm). The first semi-final followed by the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) top ranked University of Western Mustangs against the upstart Laurentian University Voyageurs (Saturday at 2:00 pm), who make their debut appearance in the Final Four.
Other teams may receive more notoriety, but the Voyageurs made their own noise last weekend when they braved a tough travel schedule and advanced to the Finals with a 3-1 victory over the Brock Badgers prior to another memorable defeat of York in penalty kicks, after a goalless draw. It's new territory for the courageous team considering Laurentian's women's soccer program only came into existence in 2000. After just five years, the team has a chance to make history.
"We just had a remarkable turnaround this year," Head Coach Rob Gallo said of his defence-oriented side that went 1-7-2 last season before improving to 3-2-5 in 2004. "Winning against York in penalties, we were probably stunned. The bottom line is we were so pumped."
Melynda Roach, Cara Smith, Sarah Little and Jen Carbone anchor the stingy back line (just five goals against in 10 regular season matches), while Gallo will look to Kristy McKenzie for offensive help up front. McKenzie notched a double with two of the Vees three goals in the win over Brock. Both Katie McNamara and Julia Boschetto will see time in net, just as they did when they shared duties in the successful weekend leading up to the Final Four.
"They're tremendous keepers," said Gallo. "It's seamless when we change them."
Gallo vows not to sit back against the Mustangs but admits the opposing squad will provide a huge obstacle. Western cruised through the OUA West without losing a match, finishing with an incredible 10-0-1 record (for 31 points, 17 more than second-place Waterloo). Their route to the Final Four continued with a quarterfinal defeat of the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Western gladly extracted some revenge with the 2-1 win over the team from the nation's capital, which had bounced the Mustangs out of the 2003 semis en route to the OUA championship. Sam Biggs and Kate Crowley, a top-10 CIS scorer with a prolific nine goals in 11 matches this season, scored for Western.
Like Laurentian, Toronto needed to go to kicks to secure their spot in Kingston for this weekend. The Blues went 6-3-1 in the OUA North during the regular season, finishing second behind York. But a clean sheet from keeper Andrea Tristno in a 2-0 win over McMaster University gave Toronto some momentum as they went on to knock off another division winner, the University of Guelph, 4-2 in penalties following a 0-0 draw. First-year head coach Beth Charles could be a calming influence for the Blues. Charles knows the Final Four drill after having served as an assistant for the 2003 champion Gee-Gees.
The host Gaels have to be salivating at the prospect of winning a third championship in four years, especially on the home pitch. Queen's booked their spot in the Final Four when Carrie Knall and Julia Wilkes each tallied in a 2-0 blanking of the Carleton Ravens. The well-balanced Gaels can score when necessary (second in the OUA with 36 goals, behind only Western's 39) and shut the door, as well. Queen's, like Western, allowed just three goals during the regular season.
The bronze medal game gets underway at 1:00 pm Sunday, with the championship game set for a 1:30 pm start.
(Source: David M. DiCenzo, Special to the OUA)
Kingston, ON - Women's soccer takes centre stage in Kingston this weekend as Queen's University plays host to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Final Four on Saturday, November 6 and Sunday, November 7. The class field includes the hometown Gaels, winners in two of the past three OUA title matches, meeting up with the talented University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the opening game (Saturday at 12:00 pm). The first semi-final followed by the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) top ranked University of Western Mustangs against the upstart Laurentian University Voyageurs (Saturday at 2:00 pm), who make their debut appearance in the Final Four.
Other teams may receive more notoriety, but the Voyageurs made their own noise last weekend when they braved a tough travel schedule and advanced to the Finals with a 3-1 victory over the Brock Badgers prior to another memorable defeat of York in penalty kicks, after a goalless draw. It's new territory for the courageous team considering Laurentian's women's soccer program only came into existence in 2000. After just five years, the team has a chance to make history.
"We just had a remarkable turnaround this year," Head Coach Rob Gallo said of his defence-oriented side that went 1-7-2 last season before improving to 3-2-5 in 2004. "Winning against York in penalties, we were probably stunned. The bottom line is we were so pumped."
Melynda Roach, Cara Smith, Sarah Little and Jen Carbone anchor the stingy back line (just five goals against in 10 regular season matches), while Gallo will look to Kristy McKenzie for offensive help up front. McKenzie notched a double with two of the Vees three goals in the win over Brock. Both Katie McNamara and Julia Boschetto will see time in net, just as they did when they shared duties in the successful weekend leading up to the Final Four.
"They're tremendous keepers," said Gallo. "It's seamless when we change them."
Gallo vows not to sit back against the Mustangs but admits the opposing squad will provide a huge obstacle. Western cruised through the OUA West without losing a match, finishing with an incredible 10-0-1 record (for 31 points, 17 more than second-place Waterloo). Their route to the Final Four continued with a quarterfinal defeat of the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Western gladly extracted some revenge with the 2-1 win over the team from the nation's capital, which had bounced the Mustangs out of the 2003 semis en route to the OUA championship. Sam Biggs and Kate Crowley, a top-10 CIS scorer with a prolific nine goals in 11 matches this season, scored for Western.
Like Laurentian, Toronto needed to go to kicks to secure their spot in Kingston for this weekend. The Blues went 6-3-1 in the OUA North during the regular season, finishing second behind York. But a clean sheet from keeper Andrea Tristno in a 2-0 win over McMaster University gave Toronto some momentum as they went on to knock off another division winner, the University of Guelph, 4-2 in penalties following a 0-0 draw. First-year head coach Beth Charles could be a calming influence for the Blues. Charles knows the Final Four drill after having served as an assistant for the 2003 champion Gee-Gees.
The host Gaels have to be salivating at the prospect of winning a third championship in four years, especially on the home pitch. Queen's booked their spot in the Final Four when Carrie Knall and Julia Wilkes each tallied in a 2-0 blanking of the Carleton Ravens. The well-balanced Gaels can score when necessary (second in the OUA with 36 goals, behind only Western's 39) and shut the door, as well. Queen's, like Western, allowed just three goals during the regular season.
The bronze medal game gets underway at 1:00 pm Sunday, with the championship game set for a 1:30 pm start.
(Source: David M. DiCenzo, Special to the OUA)
