November 2, 2006
OUA WOMEN'S SOCCER FINAL FOUR KICKS OFF AT QUEEN'S THIS WEEKEND
KINGSTON - Geography divides the East and West divisions in Ontario University Athletics women's soccer. And so does style. While the East has showcased an up-tempo, offensive brand of soccer, producing the top five scoring teams in the conference, Eastern sides have been dominant on the defensive end, creating their own type of drama in tight, tactical matches. The last two standing teams from each division meet this weekend in Kingston at the OUA Final Four. The top-seeded host Queen's Golden Gaels, led by CIS scoring leader Eilish McConville, take on the Western Mustangs in the first semi-final at 12:00 pm Saturday, while the defending OUA champion York Lions, the highest West seed remaining, face the Ottawa Gee-Gees in the second semi at 2:00 pm. The Final Four is sponsored by Wilson Sports Equipment of Canada, maker of the Wilson Optima, the official ball of OUA soccer.
Queen's enters their match-up with Western on the heels of a 2-0 win over the Toronto Varsity Blues in the quarter-finals. Midfielder Carrie Knoll notched the winner in the first half to send the Gaels through and McConville added a late goal for her first strike in the post-season following an incredible campaign. The fourth-year forward from Ottawa had her way with defenders this season, bagging a CIS-best 22 goals in 16 matches, 10 more than Nipissing's Nicole O'Brien, who finished second in the OUA scoring race. McConville's presence will be a major concern for the stingy Mustangs back end, which allowed just seven goals throughout the regular season.
"We can hide her gear so she can't put it on," jokes Western coach David Peak when explaining how to handle the prolific Queen's striker. "Credit to her, she's been outstanding this season. Our objective is to stop them from scoring but we can't just focus on McConville."
Peak believes that a lack of pure striking talent impacted the West this year, creating many tight matches and on many occasions, draws. His side actually led the division with 18 goals for, compared to 44 for the Gaels. But Western has been peaking at just the right time, aided by the clutch performances of midfielder Jenna Byrne. The fourth-year midfielder tallied just twice in the regular season but the reigning OUA female athlete of the week rescued the Mustangs in both playoff wins so far. Byrne got the crucial equalizer right before the half and then added the winner in the 118th minute of extra time to seal a 2-1 win over the Laurier Golden Hawks in the opening round. She also slotted home a spot kick in the 80th minute of Western's emotional 1-0 road win against the Brock Badgers last week in the quarter-final.
"Jenna's played exceptionally well all season," says Peak, adding that her heroic playoff performances have been inspirational to the side. "Some of those goals she scored were in close. Her leadership and understanding of the game is why she scored."
Last season, the Gaels eliminated the Mustangs in London with a 2-1 road win on penalties in extra time. Peak considers it an intriguing match-up and is looking forward to the challenge presented by the East power.
"Queen's will be well prepared," he says. "These are the kind of games that you love to play and coach in."
The second semi-final is a mirror image of the first - the irresistible force meeting the immovable object. Ottawa's high-octane offence is powered by the dangerous trio of veteran Val May, Katie Lugg and Courtney Liscombe. May, a fourth-year Ottawa native, led the team with nine goals, while Lugg and Liscombe had seven each. Overall, the Gee-Gees scored 37 times on the season, second only to the Gaels. After a torrid start to the campaign, Ottawa's offence did cool down a bit at points but they awoke in the second half of a 3-0 playoff meeting with the Ryerson Rams last weekend. Luscombe bagged the winner in the 68th minute, Alex Persichino added an insurance goal five minutes later and May rounded out the scoring with a goal in the 90th.
The task facing the Gee-Gees is breaching the Lions' goal, which hasn't been done often this season. York led the OUA with just five goals conceded in 14 matches, three of which came in a 3-3 draw with the Windsor Lancers back on September 3. A disciplined back line has been aided by the sensational play of York keeper Aurelea Gumiela. The fourth-year stopper from Oshawa has posted an astounding 10 clean sheets this season and was sharp in the Lions' 1-0 shootout win over the McMaster Marauders in the quarters. Gumiela made five saves in regular time and then added a crucial stop during the spot kicks help send York to the 1-0 (3-1 in the shootout) victory.
The top three teams of the Final Four will advance to the Canadian Interuniversity Sports Championship, November 9-12 in Victoria, B.C.
Wilson is the official sponsor of the Men's and Women's OUA Final Four Championships.
OUA Final Four
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Semi-Final #1
Western vs Queen's - 12:00 pm
Semi-Final #2
Ottawa vs York - 2:00 pm
Sunday, November 5, 2006
OUA Bronze Medal Match
Semi-Final losers - 11:30 am
OUA Final
Semi-Final winners - 2:00 pm @ Richardson Stadium
- OUA -
(Photo by: Don Empey, Images in Motion)
Queen's enters their match-up with Western on the heels of a 2-0 win over the Toronto Varsity Blues in the quarter-finals. Midfielder Carrie Knoll notched the winner in the first half to send the Gaels through and McConville added a late goal for her first strike in the post-season following an incredible campaign. The fourth-year forward from Ottawa had her way with defenders this season, bagging a CIS-best 22 goals in 16 matches, 10 more than Nipissing's Nicole O'Brien, who finished second in the OUA scoring race. McConville's presence will be a major concern for the stingy Mustangs back end, which allowed just seven goals throughout the regular season.
"We can hide her gear so she can't put it on," jokes Western coach David Peak when explaining how to handle the prolific Queen's striker. "Credit to her, she's been outstanding this season. Our objective is to stop them from scoring but we can't just focus on McConville."
Peak believes that a lack of pure striking talent impacted the West this year, creating many tight matches and on many occasions, draws. His side actually led the division with 18 goals for, compared to 44 for the Gaels. But Western has been peaking at just the right time, aided by the clutch performances of midfielder Jenna Byrne. The fourth-year midfielder tallied just twice in the regular season but the reigning OUA female athlete of the week rescued the Mustangs in both playoff wins so far. Byrne got the crucial equalizer right before the half and then added the winner in the 118th minute of extra time to seal a 2-1 win over the Laurier Golden Hawks in the opening round. She also slotted home a spot kick in the 80th minute of Western's emotional 1-0 road win against the Brock Badgers last week in the quarter-final.
"Jenna's played exceptionally well all season," says Peak, adding that her heroic playoff performances have been inspirational to the side. "Some of those goals she scored were in close. Her leadership and understanding of the game is why she scored."
Last season, the Gaels eliminated the Mustangs in London with a 2-1 road win on penalties in extra time. Peak considers it an intriguing match-up and is looking forward to the challenge presented by the East power.
"Queen's will be well prepared," he says. "These are the kind of games that you love to play and coach in."
The second semi-final is a mirror image of the first - the irresistible force meeting the immovable object. Ottawa's high-octane offence is powered by the dangerous trio of veteran Val May, Katie Lugg and Courtney Liscombe. May, a fourth-year Ottawa native, led the team with nine goals, while Lugg and Liscombe had seven each. Overall, the Gee-Gees scored 37 times on the season, second only to the Gaels. After a torrid start to the campaign, Ottawa's offence did cool down a bit at points but they awoke in the second half of a 3-0 playoff meeting with the Ryerson Rams last weekend. Luscombe bagged the winner in the 68th minute, Alex Persichino added an insurance goal five minutes later and May rounded out the scoring with a goal in the 90th.
The task facing the Gee-Gees is breaching the Lions' goal, which hasn't been done often this season. York led the OUA with just five goals conceded in 14 matches, three of which came in a 3-3 draw with the Windsor Lancers back on September 3. A disciplined back line has been aided by the sensational play of York keeper Aurelea Gumiela. The fourth-year stopper from Oshawa has posted an astounding 10 clean sheets this season and was sharp in the Lions' 1-0 shootout win over the McMaster Marauders in the quarters. Gumiela made five saves in regular time and then added a crucial stop during the spot kicks help send York to the 1-0 (3-1 in the shootout) victory.
The top three teams of the Final Four will advance to the Canadian Interuniversity Sports Championship, November 9-12 in Victoria, B.C.
Wilson is the official sponsor of the Men's and Women's OUA Final Four Championships.
OUA Final Four
Saturday, November 4, 2006
Semi-Final #1
Western vs Queen's - 12:00 pm
Semi-Final #2
Ottawa vs York - 2:00 pm
Sunday, November 5, 2006
OUA Bronze Medal Match
Semi-Final losers - 11:30 am
OUA Final
Semi-Final winners - 2:00 pm @ Richardson Stadium
- OUA -
(Photo by: Don Empey, Images in Motion)
