September 5, 2006
KNOX HELPS CARLETON TOP THE OUA AFTER OPENING WEEKEND OF MATCHES
After a middle-of-the-pack finish in the OUA East last season, the Carleton Ravens are quickly establishing themselves as a contender in 2006. The Ravens were the only OUA team to take a full six points from two road wins over the Nipissing Lakers and the Laurentian Lady Vees. Carleton veteran Melissa Knox, a fourth-year forward from Kitchener, Ont., played a key role in both victories as she scored the opening goal in a 3-1 decision over the Lakers Saturday and then netted the only goal of the match in a 1-0 win over Laurentian.
Knox struck in the 17th minute against Nipissing to give the Ravens a 1-0 lead heading into half-time. In the second, third-year striker Amber Prosia took over, providing two goals to build a 3-0 lead that the Lakers failed to overcome. Prosia scored in the 50th minute to extend the lead and then finished off the Carleton scoring with another goal four minutes later. Didiane Chollet got one back for Nipissing when she found the back of the net in the 63rd minute. Against Laurentian on Sunday, Knox scored in the 33rd minute, providing all of the offence the Ravens would need, while also vaulting the team to the top of the OUA table.
Fellow East Division combatants the Toronto Varsity Blues and the Ottawa Gee-Gees stayed close to the Ravens, managing a win and a draw each in their first two games to sit two points behind Carleton. Toronto posted clean sheets in each of their two games, defeating the rival Ryerson Rams 2-0 Saturday and the drawing 0-0 with the Trent Excalibur the following day. The Rams had held the Blues off the sheet for three quarters of the game but Toronto got late goals from Linda Lashley and Melanie Seabra to steal the three points. Alexis Vaughn had the shut-out in the Blues net. Vaughn gave way to keeper Maryanne Barnes in the match against Trent and she produced a sparkling performance, making 12 saves for the Blues' second straight clean sheet. Sarah Asbreuk had the shut-out for the Excalibur.
Ottawa began the 2006 campaign with a scoreless draw in a match with the Lady Vees Saturday. The Gee-Gees offence, led by Katie Lugg, had better success in their second match, a 3-1 win over the Lakers. The second-year forward from Ottawa scored less than two minutes into the first half and than added a second in the 26th minute. The Gee-Gees took a commanding 3-0 lead on a strike from Courtney Luscombe in the 33rd minute. Nipissing's Diane Landry had the lone goal for the home team after she netted in the 60th minute.
In the West, the Laurier Golden Hawks, McMaster Marauders and Western Mustangs all earned four points from their opening two matches for a three-way tie atop the division standings. Laurier began their season with a solid 2-1 road win over the Brock Badgers. Lana Nisbett and Sara Hopper scored the two goals for the Hawks, while Kristin McDonald replied for the Badgers. Laurier earned another point after pulling out a 1-1 draw at home facing the Marauders. McMaster opened the scoring in the first half with a goal by Emily Sidsworth but the Hawks drew level following a strike from Natalie Mancini in the second half. McMaster, buoyed by a three-goal explosion in the second half, defeated the Waterloo Warriors 3-0 in their opener Saturday in Waterloo. With the score tied at 0-0 to start the second half, McMaster got goals from Leah Henderson, Claire Godkin and Samantha Batten to notch the win and three points.
Western opened up with a 0-0 draw facing the York Lions Saturday. Lindsey Colwell earned the clean sheet for the Mustangs, while keeper Aurelea Gumiela also produced a shut-out for the Lions. The Mustangs fared better in their next match, with Colwell posting her second straight shut-out in a 2-0 win over the Guelph Gryphons. Sarah Regan and Jessica Tasios netted first-half goals to lead the home side to its first victory.
Elsewhere in the West, Guelph received goals from Kate Buddo, Emma Al-Haydari and Natalie Ackerman as they defeated the Windsor Lancers 3-2 in their opener Saturday. Windsor took a 2-1 lead on a pair of goals from third-year striker Megan Casey but Al-Haydari and Buddo netted their goals five minutes apart midway through the second half to rally the Gryphons. Brock rebounded from their 2-1 opening loss to defeat the Warriors 1-0 Sunday. Tracy Wilson scored the only goal of the match, while Tiffany Scriver posted the shut-out.
In East action, the Queen's Golden Gaels looked sharp in a decisive 3-0 win over the Excalibur. Laura Johnstone, Renee MacLellan and Brynessa Gradley all scored for the Gaels.
The RMC Paladins kick off their season Tuesday against Ottawa.
(Photo: melissa Knox was deadly for the Carleton Ravens in the opening weekend of OUA action, netting two big goals in a pair of victories.)
Knox struck in the 17th minute against Nipissing to give the Ravens a 1-0 lead heading into half-time. In the second, third-year striker Amber Prosia took over, providing two goals to build a 3-0 lead that the Lakers failed to overcome. Prosia scored in the 50th minute to extend the lead and then finished off the Carleton scoring with another goal four minutes later. Didiane Chollet got one back for Nipissing when she found the back of the net in the 63rd minute. Against Laurentian on Sunday, Knox scored in the 33rd minute, providing all of the offence the Ravens would need, while also vaulting the team to the top of the OUA table.
Fellow East Division combatants the Toronto Varsity Blues and the Ottawa Gee-Gees stayed close to the Ravens, managing a win and a draw each in their first two games to sit two points behind Carleton. Toronto posted clean sheets in each of their two games, defeating the rival Ryerson Rams 2-0 Saturday and the drawing 0-0 with the Trent Excalibur the following day. The Rams had held the Blues off the sheet for three quarters of the game but Toronto got late goals from Linda Lashley and Melanie Seabra to steal the three points. Alexis Vaughn had the shut-out in the Blues net. Vaughn gave way to keeper Maryanne Barnes in the match against Trent and she produced a sparkling performance, making 12 saves for the Blues' second straight clean sheet. Sarah Asbreuk had the shut-out for the Excalibur.
Ottawa began the 2006 campaign with a scoreless draw in a match with the Lady Vees Saturday. The Gee-Gees offence, led by Katie Lugg, had better success in their second match, a 3-1 win over the Lakers. The second-year forward from Ottawa scored less than two minutes into the first half and than added a second in the 26th minute. The Gee-Gees took a commanding 3-0 lead on a strike from Courtney Luscombe in the 33rd minute. Nipissing's Diane Landry had the lone goal for the home team after she netted in the 60th minute.
In the West, the Laurier Golden Hawks, McMaster Marauders and Western Mustangs all earned four points from their opening two matches for a three-way tie atop the division standings. Laurier began their season with a solid 2-1 road win over the Brock Badgers. Lana Nisbett and Sara Hopper scored the two goals for the Hawks, while Kristin McDonald replied for the Badgers. Laurier earned another point after pulling out a 1-1 draw at home facing the Marauders. McMaster opened the scoring in the first half with a goal by Emily Sidsworth but the Hawks drew level following a strike from Natalie Mancini in the second half. McMaster, buoyed by a three-goal explosion in the second half, defeated the Waterloo Warriors 3-0 in their opener Saturday in Waterloo. With the score tied at 0-0 to start the second half, McMaster got goals from Leah Henderson, Claire Godkin and Samantha Batten to notch the win and three points.
Western opened up with a 0-0 draw facing the York Lions Saturday. Lindsey Colwell earned the clean sheet for the Mustangs, while keeper Aurelea Gumiela also produced a shut-out for the Lions. The Mustangs fared better in their next match, with Colwell posting her second straight shut-out in a 2-0 win over the Guelph Gryphons. Sarah Regan and Jessica Tasios netted first-half goals to lead the home side to its first victory.
Elsewhere in the West, Guelph received goals from Kate Buddo, Emma Al-Haydari and Natalie Ackerman as they defeated the Windsor Lancers 3-2 in their opener Saturday. Windsor took a 2-1 lead on a pair of goals from third-year striker Megan Casey but Al-Haydari and Buddo netted their goals five minutes apart midway through the second half to rally the Gryphons. Brock rebounded from their 2-1 opening loss to defeat the Warriors 1-0 Sunday. Tracy Wilson scored the only goal of the match, while Tiffany Scriver posted the shut-out.
In East action, the Queen's Golden Gaels looked sharp in a decisive 3-0 win over the Excalibur. Laura Johnstone, Renee MacLellan and Brynessa Gradley all scored for the Gaels.
The RMC Paladins kick off their season Tuesday against Ottawa.
(Photo: melissa Knox was deadly for the Carleton Ravens in the opening weekend of OUA action, netting two big goals in a pair of victories.)
