October 8, 2009
OUA W-SOCCER ROUNDUP: NO. 6 VARSITY BLUES UNDEFEATED IN 10 STRAIGHT
TORONTO - The No. 6 nationally-ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's soccer team shutout their in-town rival Ryerson Rams by a score of 3-0 on Wednesday at Varsity Centre.
The Varsity Blues controlled much of the first half with a well-disciplined possession game and strong passing through midfield, which left Ryerson defenders under pressure early on and it didn't take long before Toronto would find the net.
In the 16th minute, Arin King received a corner kick just inside the 18-yard box. The Pickering, Ont. native placed a low hard shot past the outstretched arm of Ryerson keeper Michelle Smiciklas (Oakville, Ont.) to give the Blues a 1-0 lead. Toronto continued the attack, forcing two more corner kicks that were narrowly missed before the 20-minute mark of the opening half. Blues rookie Jessica Fantozzi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) nearly put U of T up by a pair, nailing the ball just wide of the right post after a Ryerson turnover.
The Rams could not muster any consistent attack as their only threatening opportunity came off a Blues' defensive error. A flat-footed defender got caught too high and Ryerson forward Calaigh Copland (Peterborough, Ont.) got a clear shot on net from 10 yards outside the penalty area. Blues' goalkeeper Mary Anne Barnes (Scarborough, Ont.) made a fantastic save, leaping and catching a well paced kick to keep Ryerson off the score sheet.
The score would remain 1-0 Toronto heading into half time.
The second half began with more of the same. King City, Ont. native Erica Basso continued her strong play on the forward line, keeping the Rams' defence on their toes throughout the first few minutes of the second frame.
Melanie Seabra (Brampton, Ont.) made an excellent run down the right sideline in the 62nd minute, sending a low cross towards the net that was deflected away from Basso at the last moment on a good read by Smiciklas.
The play opened up for both sides as the second half continued. Ryerson won a corner in the 71st minute, which the Blues defended well. Moments later, following a scramble play in front of the Ryerson net, U of T's Mel Bowen had an open shot and fired it low, forcing the Rams keeper to make another solid save to keep the squad in the game.
Toronto finally got to Smiciklas in the 79th minute when King struck again. A penetrating through ball forced the visiting goalie into a clearing kick, taking her off her goal line. King took full advantage and sent a high shot over the scrambling keeper, extending the lead to 2-0.
As time wound down, Bowen received a beautiful through ball from King down the left flank and with only the goalkeeper to beat, Bowen sent a rocket of a shot into the back of the net, giving the Blues a 3-0 victory.
The Varsity Blues extend their undefeated streak to 10 games, sitting with a record of 8-0-2 thus far in the 2009 campaign. You can catch the Blues again at Varsity Centre on Friday, Oct. 16, when they host the Laurentian Lady Vees. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m. Ryerson (3-5-4) is off until Friday, Oct. 16 when it hosts Nipissing in a 1 p.m. start.
WESTERN 4, WINDSOR 0
At Western, the Mustangs scored four times in the second half to blank the Windsor Lancers 4-0 at TD Waterhouse Stadium on Wednesday.
Emily Maganja (Oakville, Ont.) scored a hat trick on four shots while Erin Grand (Toronto) scored once.
Nicole Lee (Ailsa Craig, Ont.) earned the shutout in the Western net making seven saves.
Bridget Jeffray had three shots on net for the Lancers in the loss.
Western (5-4-0) travels to play at Windsor (2-3-4) on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. Western is just four points behind first-place Laurier.
MCMASTER 2, BROCK 2
At Brock, the Badgers (5-2-2) scored a goal in the 85th minute to escape with a 2-2 tie against the McMaster Marauders (2-4-3) at home Wednesday afternoon.
McMaster opened the scoring 14 minutes into the first half as Samantha McLaren (Oakville, Ont.) beat Brock netminder Syreeta Rhoden (Niagara Falls, Ont.) for her second goal of the season.
McMaster's Chantal Malysa (Calgary) added her team leading third goal of the season in the 39th minute burying a shot into the bottom left hand corner past Rhoden to put McMaster up 2-0.
Less than two minutes later, the Badgers made it a one goal game as freshman Lindsay McDonald (Burlington, Ont.) beat former Badger Michelle Spadafora for her second goal of the season.
In the second half Brock would control the majority of the play in the final 20 minutes. In the 85th minute sophomore Jordanna Phillips (Markham, Ont.) would tie the game 2-2 driving a shot from 30 yards out over the head of Spadafora.
Both teams do it again on Friday at 1 p.m. at McMaster.
Source: Toronto Varsity Blues, Western Mustangs and Brock Badgers
The Varsity Blues controlled much of the first half with a well-disciplined possession game and strong passing through midfield, which left Ryerson defenders under pressure early on and it didn't take long before Toronto would find the net.
In the 16th minute, Arin King received a corner kick just inside the 18-yard box. The Pickering, Ont. native placed a low hard shot past the outstretched arm of Ryerson keeper Michelle Smiciklas (Oakville, Ont.) to give the Blues a 1-0 lead. Toronto continued the attack, forcing two more corner kicks that were narrowly missed before the 20-minute mark of the opening half. Blues rookie Jessica Fantozzi (Richmond Hill, Ont.) nearly put U of T up by a pair, nailing the ball just wide of the right post after a Ryerson turnover.
The Rams could not muster any consistent attack as their only threatening opportunity came off a Blues' defensive error. A flat-footed defender got caught too high and Ryerson forward Calaigh Copland (Peterborough, Ont.) got a clear shot on net from 10 yards outside the penalty area. Blues' goalkeeper Mary Anne Barnes (Scarborough, Ont.) made a fantastic save, leaping and catching a well paced kick to keep Ryerson off the score sheet.
The score would remain 1-0 Toronto heading into half time.
The second half began with more of the same. King City, Ont. native Erica Basso continued her strong play on the forward line, keeping the Rams' defence on their toes throughout the first few minutes of the second frame.
Melanie Seabra (Brampton, Ont.) made an excellent run down the right sideline in the 62nd minute, sending a low cross towards the net that was deflected away from Basso at the last moment on a good read by Smiciklas.
The play opened up for both sides as the second half continued. Ryerson won a corner in the 71st minute, which the Blues defended well. Moments later, following a scramble play in front of the Ryerson net, U of T's Mel Bowen had an open shot and fired it low, forcing the Rams keeper to make another solid save to keep the squad in the game.
Toronto finally got to Smiciklas in the 79th minute when King struck again. A penetrating through ball forced the visiting goalie into a clearing kick, taking her off her goal line. King took full advantage and sent a high shot over the scrambling keeper, extending the lead to 2-0.
As time wound down, Bowen received a beautiful through ball from King down the left flank and with only the goalkeeper to beat, Bowen sent a rocket of a shot into the back of the net, giving the Blues a 3-0 victory.
The Varsity Blues extend their undefeated streak to 10 games, sitting with a record of 8-0-2 thus far in the 2009 campaign. You can catch the Blues again at Varsity Centre on Friday, Oct. 16, when they host the Laurentian Lady Vees. Game time is scheduled for 12 p.m. Ryerson (3-5-4) is off until Friday, Oct. 16 when it hosts Nipissing in a 1 p.m. start.
WESTERN 4, WINDSOR 0
At Western, the Mustangs scored four times in the second half to blank the Windsor Lancers 4-0 at TD Waterhouse Stadium on Wednesday.
Emily Maganja (Oakville, Ont.) scored a hat trick on four shots while Erin Grand (Toronto) scored once.
Nicole Lee (Ailsa Craig, Ont.) earned the shutout in the Western net making seven saves.
Bridget Jeffray had three shots on net for the Lancers in the loss.
Western (5-4-0) travels to play at Windsor (2-3-4) on Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. Western is just four points behind first-place Laurier.
MCMASTER 2, BROCK 2
At Brock, the Badgers (5-2-2) scored a goal in the 85th minute to escape with a 2-2 tie against the McMaster Marauders (2-4-3) at home Wednesday afternoon.
McMaster opened the scoring 14 minutes into the first half as Samantha McLaren (Oakville, Ont.) beat Brock netminder Syreeta Rhoden (Niagara Falls, Ont.) for her second goal of the season.
McMaster's Chantal Malysa (Calgary) added her team leading third goal of the season in the 39th minute burying a shot into the bottom left hand corner past Rhoden to put McMaster up 2-0.
Less than two minutes later, the Badgers made it a one goal game as freshman Lindsay McDonald (Burlington, Ont.) beat former Badger Michelle Spadafora for her second goal of the season.
In the second half Brock would control the majority of the play in the final 20 minutes. In the 85th minute sophomore Jordanna Phillips (Markham, Ont.) would tie the game 2-2 driving a shot from 30 yards out over the head of Spadafora.
Both teams do it again on Friday at 1 p.m. at McMaster.
Source: Toronto Varsity Blues, Western Mustangs and Brock Badgers
