November 2, 2008
LAURIER WINS OUA WOMEN'S SOCCER TITLE
OTTAWA, Ont. - The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks are the champions of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women's soccer for the first time since 1995 after a 1-0 shootout victory over the host Ottawa Gee-Gees at the OUA Women's Final Four Soccer Championship.
Second-year defender Sadie Anderson (Mississauga, Ont.) stood teary-eyed in the arms of teammates moments after scoring on the fourth penalty shot to secure a 1-0 win.
"It wasn't a game-winning shot, it was just another shot," said Anderson. "Nationals here we come."
The Gee-Gees outshot the Golden Hawks a combined 17-5 over 90 minutes of regulation play and 30 minutes of scoreless overtime on the frozen University of Ottawa Sports Complex turf.
"The first 45 minutes was the best any Gee-Gees team has ever played in any playoff game," said Ottawa head coach Steve Johnson, who founded the women's soccer program in 1994. "Clearly we were the better team … but when it came down to penalties they were just that little bit sharper."
Second-year midfielder Becca Isaacs (London, Ont.), second-year forward Jennifer Fewster-Yan (Scarborough, Ont.) and second-year midfielder Heather Malizia (Burlington, Ont.) also scored in penalties as the Golden Hawks avenged a 1-0 penalty-shot loss to the Gee-Gees in the 2007 OUA semi-final.
Gee-Gees penalty goals were scored by fourth-year midfielder Elise Desjardins (Cumberland, Ont.), rookie defender Nikki Moreau (Almonte, Ont.) and third-year defender Laurel Fougere (Halifax, N.S.).
The Golden Hawks advance to the CIS national tournament at Trinity Western University Nov. 6 to Nov. 9 as Ontario champion, the Gee-Gees advance as Ontario finalist and OUA bronze medalist Brock advances as a wild-card.
"Very unfortunate," said Gee-Gees fourth-year midfielder and OUA All-Star Rachael Swetnam (Halifax, N.S.). "We have to forget about the loss and think about the game that was played."
The Gee-Gees earn a seventh berth to the CIS tournament in eight years, seeking a second national championship.
"It's goals that win titles and Ottawa just couldn't put it in the net," said Gordon Smith, who covered the OUA Final Four for SSN Canada. "They just weren't able to finish today."
Third-year midfielder Deanna Fidler (Scarborough, Ont.) scored in the second overtime Sunday afternoon to lift the Brock Badgers a 1-0 win over the Carleton Ravens to secure the OUA bronze medal and more importantly earn a first-ever berth to the CIS tournament.
"Brock, our small school, is getting up there," said Fidler, who capitalized on a defensive breakdown in the 119th minute to send the sun-soaked Badgers bench to its feet."
"We have never broken through before."
The teams traded shots (14-8 Brock), corners (5-4 Brock) and hits (one yellow card each) through the first 90 minutes of regulation.
"I feel the whole season achieved its completion with this shot," said Charles Ivanov, the four-season Badgers head coach originally from Bulgaria. "History was made. Brock is coming to the stage. I am very happy."
The Ravens were glum.
"We had a couple of chances and we didn't finish," said Ravens interim head coach Fred Juett. "The game is about finish."
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
Second-year defender Sadie Anderson (Mississauga, Ont.) stood teary-eyed in the arms of teammates moments after scoring on the fourth penalty shot to secure a 1-0 win.
"It wasn't a game-winning shot, it was just another shot," said Anderson. "Nationals here we come."
The Gee-Gees outshot the Golden Hawks a combined 17-5 over 90 minutes of regulation play and 30 minutes of scoreless overtime on the frozen University of Ottawa Sports Complex turf.
"The first 45 minutes was the best any Gee-Gees team has ever played in any playoff game," said Ottawa head coach Steve Johnson, who founded the women's soccer program in 1994. "Clearly we were the better team … but when it came down to penalties they were just that little bit sharper."
Second-year midfielder Becca Isaacs (London, Ont.), second-year forward Jennifer Fewster-Yan (Scarborough, Ont.) and second-year midfielder Heather Malizia (Burlington, Ont.) also scored in penalties as the Golden Hawks avenged a 1-0 penalty-shot loss to the Gee-Gees in the 2007 OUA semi-final.
Gee-Gees penalty goals were scored by fourth-year midfielder Elise Desjardins (Cumberland, Ont.), rookie defender Nikki Moreau (Almonte, Ont.) and third-year defender Laurel Fougere (Halifax, N.S.).
The Golden Hawks advance to the CIS national tournament at Trinity Western University Nov. 6 to Nov. 9 as Ontario champion, the Gee-Gees advance as Ontario finalist and OUA bronze medalist Brock advances as a wild-card.
"Very unfortunate," said Gee-Gees fourth-year midfielder and OUA All-Star Rachael Swetnam (Halifax, N.S.). "We have to forget about the loss and think about the game that was played."
The Gee-Gees earn a seventh berth to the CIS tournament in eight years, seeking a second national championship.
"It's goals that win titles and Ottawa just couldn't put it in the net," said Gordon Smith, who covered the OUA Final Four for SSN Canada. "They just weren't able to finish today."
Third-year midfielder Deanna Fidler (Scarborough, Ont.) scored in the second overtime Sunday afternoon to lift the Brock Badgers a 1-0 win over the Carleton Ravens to secure the OUA bronze medal and more importantly earn a first-ever berth to the CIS tournament.
"Brock, our small school, is getting up there," said Fidler, who capitalized on a defensive breakdown in the 119th minute to send the sun-soaked Badgers bench to its feet."
"We have never broken through before."
The teams traded shots (14-8 Brock), corners (5-4 Brock) and hits (one yellow card each) through the first 90 minutes of regulation.
"I feel the whole season achieved its completion with this shot," said Charles Ivanov, the four-season Badgers head coach originally from Bulgaria. "History was made. Brock is coming to the stage. I am very happy."
The Ravens were glum.
"We had a couple of chances and we didn't finish," said Ravens interim head coach Fred Juett. "The game is about finish."
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
