November 2, 2012
Gee-Gees host OUA Final Four this weekend
HAMILTON, Ont. – It’s a now a four team race for the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women’s soccer title, as the Ottawa Gee-Gees, Laurier Golden Hawks, Queen’s Gaels and McMaster Marauders converge on Matt Anthony Field in Ottawa, Ont. on Saturday, November 3 – Sunday, November 4 to determine the 2012 league champion.
The No. 1 nationally-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees (14-0-2) will face off against the McMaster Marauders (10-4-2) who went unranked in the final CIS top ten poll, in hopes of earning their first OUA title since 2006.
The Gee-Gees will look to continue their stellar defensive play, only allowing one goal up until this point of the season and, for the most part, not allowing opposing teams to establish a threatening attack. The Gee-Gees are led by OUA east division MVP Gillian Baggott (Ottawa). The fifth-year central defender anchors a stingy Ottawa defence that is backed by first team all-star goalkeeper Cynthia Leblanc (Granby, Que.).
The Gee-Gees racked up 54 goals against OUA competition, 13 of which came off the boot of second-year striker Pilar Khoury (Ottawa). Khoury is joined by Baggott, Christine Hardie (Lyons Brook, N.S.) and Julia Francki (Orleans, Ont.) on the OUA east division first team.
The McMaster Marauders finished third in OUA west standings (10-4-2), but clawed their way into the Final Four with narrow playoff victories over the UOIT Ridgebacks and the Western Mustangs.
Second team all-star striker Tara Dawdy (Burlington, Ont.) scored eight goals in 16 regular season games and leads a well balanced McMaster attack. The threats don’t end there as midfielders and Oakville natives Melanie Van Der Hoop and Emma Mangialardi posses the ability to both set up scoring opportunities and put the ball in the net.
Veteran defender Cristina Leonardelli (Woodbridge, Ont.) is a first team all-star and will look to keep speedy Ottawa forwards in check on Saturday. Third-year goalkeeper Brittany Duffey (Markham, Ont.) started all but three games for the Marauders and is a west division second team all-star. She will have to be in top form on Saturday if the Marauders want to shut down the OUA’s second most productive offensive unit and advance to the OUA final.
The No. 6 nationally-ranked Golden Hawks (11-2-3) meet the No. 7 Queen’s Gaels (11-2-3) in a rematch of the 2011 OUA championship final on Saturday. Three of the last four OUA banners have been won by one of these teams and it promises to be a thrilling ninety minutes of soccer.
Laurier’s Emily Brown (Waterloo, Ont.) led the OUA scoring race and will be an offensive force for the Golden Hawks this weekend. She is joined by crafty forward Krista Cellucci (Mississauga, Ont.) up front.
Third-year defender Kelsey Tikka (Thunder Bay, Ont.) will look to cut down on Queen’s scoring chances. Tikka is supported by rookie midfielder and first team all-star Katie Bishop (Surrey, B.C.). Laurier’s defence will have their work cut out for them, the Gaels tallied 55 goals in the regular season, tops in the league.
There is no shortage of firepower in Queen’s attack. Fourth-year striker Jackie Tessier (Winnipeg, Man.) racked up 14 goals in 12 games played. Brittany Almeida (Elginburg, Ont.) and Breanna Burton (Ottawa) were also point producers this year – the pair combined for 20 goals in the regular season. 2011 east division player of the year Riley Filion (Alexandria, Ont.) provides steady support, feeding crosses in from the wing.
The Gaels defensive squad allowed just nine goals past them during the regular season, the third fewest of all teams in OUA. Between defenders Jessie de Boer (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Mikyla Kay (West Vancouver, B.C.) and goalkeepers Sabrina Carew (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Rachel Burton (Toronto), Queen’s has a solid backline.
The two semifinal winners on Saturday will not only compete for an OUA title on Sunday, but earn a berth to the CIS women's soccer championship, Nov. 8-11, at the University of Victoria.
The semifinal losing teams will play in the OUA bronze-medal game on Sunday at 11:30 a.m., with the winner also advancing to the CIS championship. The OUA final kicks off at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
All OUA Final Four matches will be aired live on SSN Canada. Sunday’s medal matches will be aired on tape delay by Rogers Cable 22 in Ottawa. Ticket information is available here.
The No. 1 nationally-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees (14-0-2) will face off against the McMaster Marauders (10-4-2) who went unranked in the final CIS top ten poll, in hopes of earning their first OUA title since 2006.
The Gee-Gees will look to continue their stellar defensive play, only allowing one goal up until this point of the season and, for the most part, not allowing opposing teams to establish a threatening attack. The Gee-Gees are led by OUA east division MVP Gillian Baggott (Ottawa). The fifth-year central defender anchors a stingy Ottawa defence that is backed by first team all-star goalkeeper Cynthia Leblanc (Granby, Que.).
The Gee-Gees racked up 54 goals against OUA competition, 13 of which came off the boot of second-year striker Pilar Khoury (Ottawa). Khoury is joined by Baggott, Christine Hardie (Lyons Brook, N.S.) and Julia Francki (Orleans, Ont.) on the OUA east division first team.
The McMaster Marauders finished third in OUA west standings (10-4-2), but clawed their way into the Final Four with narrow playoff victories over the UOIT Ridgebacks and the Western Mustangs.
Second team all-star striker Tara Dawdy (Burlington, Ont.) scored eight goals in 16 regular season games and leads a well balanced McMaster attack. The threats don’t end there as midfielders and Oakville natives Melanie Van Der Hoop and Emma Mangialardi posses the ability to both set up scoring opportunities and put the ball in the net.
Veteran defender Cristina Leonardelli (Woodbridge, Ont.) is a first team all-star and will look to keep speedy Ottawa forwards in check on Saturday. Third-year goalkeeper Brittany Duffey (Markham, Ont.) started all but three games for the Marauders and is a west division second team all-star. She will have to be in top form on Saturday if the Marauders want to shut down the OUA’s second most productive offensive unit and advance to the OUA final.
The No. 6 nationally-ranked Golden Hawks (11-2-3) meet the No. 7 Queen’s Gaels (11-2-3) in a rematch of the 2011 OUA championship final on Saturday. Three of the last four OUA banners have been won by one of these teams and it promises to be a thrilling ninety minutes of soccer.
Laurier’s Emily Brown (Waterloo, Ont.) led the OUA scoring race and will be an offensive force for the Golden Hawks this weekend. She is joined by crafty forward Krista Cellucci (Mississauga, Ont.) up front.
Third-year defender Kelsey Tikka (Thunder Bay, Ont.) will look to cut down on Queen’s scoring chances. Tikka is supported by rookie midfielder and first team all-star Katie Bishop (Surrey, B.C.). Laurier’s defence will have their work cut out for them, the Gaels tallied 55 goals in the regular season, tops in the league.
There is no shortage of firepower in Queen’s attack. Fourth-year striker Jackie Tessier (Winnipeg, Man.) racked up 14 goals in 12 games played. Brittany Almeida (Elginburg, Ont.) and Breanna Burton (Ottawa) were also point producers this year – the pair combined for 20 goals in the regular season. 2011 east division player of the year Riley Filion (Alexandria, Ont.) provides steady support, feeding crosses in from the wing.
The Gaels defensive squad allowed just nine goals past them during the regular season, the third fewest of all teams in OUA. Between defenders Jessie de Boer (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Mikyla Kay (West Vancouver, B.C.) and goalkeepers Sabrina Carew (Thunder Bay, Ont.) and Rachel Burton (Toronto), Queen’s has a solid backline.
The two semifinal winners on Saturday will not only compete for an OUA title on Sunday, but earn a berth to the CIS women's soccer championship, Nov. 8-11, at the University of Victoria.
The semifinal losing teams will play in the OUA bronze-medal game on Sunday at 11:30 a.m., with the winner also advancing to the CIS championship. The OUA final kicks off at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
All OUA Final Four matches will be aired live on SSN Canada. Sunday’s medal matches will be aired on tape delay by Rogers Cable 22 in Ottawa. Ticket information is available here.
