CIS women's soccer championship preview: Ottawa, Laurier & Queen's representing OUA
OTTAWA (CIS) – The Queen’s University Gaels are looking for a historic three-peat this week in Victoria as they hope to become the first team to claim three straight national titles in women’s soccer since the inaugural CIS championship was held in 1987.
The eight-team, single-elimination CIS tournament gets underway on Thursday at the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium and culminates on Sunday with the gold-medal final scheduled for 2 p.m. Pacific Time. All 11 games from the competition will be webcast live on CIS-SIC.tv.
The CIS individual awards and all-Canadians will be announced on Wednesday night.
Also competing for the Gladys Bean Memorial Trophy this week will be the tourney host Victoria Vikes (Canada West finalists), Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West champions), Sherbrooke Vert & Or (RSEQ champs), Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA champs), Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA finalists), Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champs) and Cape Breton Capers (AUS finalists).
The Gaels, who advanced to the championship as OUA bronze medallists, kick off their title defence against Dalhousie in Thursday’s second quarter-final at 1:30 p.m. PT. Other opening day matchups include Ottawa vs. Cape Breton at 11 a.m., Trinity Western vs. Laurier at 4:30 p.m., and Sherbrooke vs. Victoria at 7 p.m.
Seven of the eight teams in the field have claimed at least one CIS banner over the years, including Queen’s (3), Trinity Western (3), Dalhousie (3), Laurier (2), Victoria (1), Ottawa (1) and Cape Breton (1).
Reigning two-time champion Queen’s enjoyed another solid season under 25-year head coach Dave McDowell, going 11-2-3 in conference play and scoring a CIS-best 55 goals en route to a second-place finish in the OUA East division and a tie for second overall in Ontario. The Gaels, however, were inches away from not making the trip to Victoria to defend the Gladys Bean Trophy as they edged McMaster 2-1 in the eighth round of penalty kicks in the OUA bronze-medal game to earn the conference’s third and final berth for the CIS tourney.
Of course, the powerhouse from Kingston is no stranger to overtime success. In 2010, the Gaels beat Laurier 1-0 in extra time in the national final to capture the second CIS banner in school history. Their championship run was even more dramatic a year ago as they needed PKs to defeat both Ottawa in the CIS semis and Montreal in the title match.
“We’re excited to be returning with the opportunity to defend our title,” says McDowell, whose program will compete at the national level for the fourth straight campaign and for the 10th time in the last 13 years. “We look forward to testing ourselves against the best teams in the country.”
And the best is precisely what the Gaels are up against on their side of the draw.
Their first-round opponents on Thursday, the Dalhousie Tigers, claimed their second straight AUS banner over the weekend with a 3-1 upset win over previously undefeated Cape Breton in the Atlantic final. The Tigers were the highest-scoring team in the AUS in league play with 31 goals in 13 contests.
Should they advance to Friday’s semifinals, the Gaels would then face either Cape Breton or Ottawa, the only teams in the country to keep undefeated records in the regular season.
While the Capers were impressive in conference play, posting a remarkable 10-0-3 mark, the Gee-Gees were simply dominant as they outscored their Ontario rivals by a mindboggling 54-1 margin en route to 14-0-2 record. Ottawa then added three more shutouts in as many playoff contests, all 1-0 wins, including an OT decision over Laurier in the league final for its first OUA title since 2006.
“At nationals we are looking to continue to play well like we have all season and use the experience gained through our playoff games to understand the pressures of playing in high profile and difficult matches,” says 19-year Ottawa sideline boss Steve Johnson, whose team has been ranked number one in the nation since the end of September. “Last year was a good opportunity to get experience at nationals after being away for a couple of years. We came very close, taking bronze, and I think the team wants the chance to play in the gold-medal game and to win it.”
The other side of the bracket promises to be equally as competitive.
The Vikes, of course, will have the advantage of playing in front of their home fans and hope to recreate the magic from a year ago when UVic’s men’s squad captured the CIS title at Centennial Stadium. Victoria was the highest-scoring team in the always competitive Canada West conference this fall with 47 goals – versus only six goals against – in 12 league matches.
“We are really excited to play at home and host the championship,” says head coach Tracy David, whose side hopes to become only the third team in the 26-year history of the tournament to hoist the Gladys Bean Trophy on home turf. “We just want to perform and play well in front of our family and friends but I do believe in this group and I know what they are capable of when they do perform.”
The Vikes’ quarter-final opponents, the Sherbrooke Vert & Or, hope to complete a Cinderella-like season on Sunday.
The Vert & Or, who flew under the radar all season despite a solid 10-3-1 league record, travelled to Montreal for the RSEQ final and stunned the four-time defending Quebec champion Carabins 2-0 to win their first conference title since 1987 and advance to the CIS tournament for the first time since 1993. Montreal had been ranked in the top four nationally all year.
“We played with a lot of emotion. We really wanted it,” said RSEQ rookie of the year Marie-Ève Jacques, who scored the game-winner against Montreal. “I’m really proud of our team. Now we’re going to Victoria. We couldn’t have asked for anything more.”
Whoever comes out of the Victoria-Sherbrooke duel will have its hands full in the semifinals.
Trinity Western has been one of the top teams in CIS women’s soccer for the last decade, claiming the Gladys Been Trophy in 2004, 2008 and 2009. The Spartans enjoyed another stellar season finishing atop the Canada West standings with a sparkling 11-1 mark before edging Victoria 2-1 in the conference final for their second straight league title and their fourth CIS championship appearance in five years.
“Winning Canada West is a great honour. There are some great teams with winning traditions from our conference, and the top of the league table this season showed that,” said TWU head coach Graham Roxburgh. “It has been a very good season so far but we know that there are some exceptional teams from across the country that will now compete for the national championship, so it will be an even greater hill to climb. In the end, it will come down to which team is able to finish their chances and opportunities in what should be some very competitive and tight games. It is a wide open field this year, and we are privileged to be a part of it.”
Wilfrid Laurier gave top-ranked Ottawa all it could handle for 120 minutes in the OUA final and will now compete at the CIS tournament for the third consecutive year. The Hawks, who took first place in the OUA West with an 11-2-3 record, hope to rebound from a disappointing seventh-place finish at the 2011 national championship, a year after they had taken Queen’s to PKs in the title game.
GLADYS BEAN MEMORIAL TROPHY CHAMPIONS
2011 Queen’s (at McGill)
2010 Queen’s (at UPEI)
2009 Trinity Western (at Toronto)
2008 Trinity Western (at Trinity Western)
2007 Cape Breton (at Cape Breton)
2006 UBC (at Victoria)
2005 Victoria (at Alberta)
2004 Trinity Western (at Montreal / McGill)
2003 UBC (at Montreal / McGill)
2002 UBC (at Alberta)
2001 Alberta (at Carleton)
2000 Dalhousie (at Acadia)
1999 Dalhousie (at Laurier)
1998 Calgary (at Victoria)
1997 Alberta (at Laval)
1996 Ottawa (at Dalhousie)
1995 Laurier (at Carleton)
1994 Dalhousie (at Alberta)
1993 UBC (at McGill)
1992 Laurier (at McMaster)
1991 McMaster (at Guelph)
1990 Acadia (at UBC)
1989 Alberta (at Acadia)
1988 Queen’s (at UBC)
1987 UBC (at McGill)
PARTICIPATING TEAM PROFILES
Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champions)
Media Guide (PDF - 648 KB)
Head Coach: Jack Hutchison (6th season)
Regular season record: 10-2-1
Regular season standing: 2nd AUS
Playoff record: 2-0
Playoff finish: AUS champions
Top 10 final ranking (Oct. 30): Unranked
Top 10 best ranking: No. 9 (first poll)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (9 polls): 2
Conference award winners: Rieka Santilli (MVP)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Rieka Santilli (D), Emma Landry (M)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Kristy McGregor-Bales (D), Taryn McKenna (G)
CIS championship appearances (including 2012): 13
CIS championship all-time record: 11-12-8 (.484)
CIS championship all-time medals: 6 (3 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
CIS championship best result: 3-time champions (1994, 1999, 2000)
CIS championship last appearance: 2011 (tied 7th)
CIS championship sequence: 2nd straight appearance
Sherbrooke Vert & Or (RSEQ champions)
Media Guide (PDF 1.15 MB)
Head Coach: Guy Smith (2nd season)
Regular season record: 10-3-1
Regular season standing: 2nd RSEQ
Playoff record: 2-0
Playoff finish: RSEQ champions
Top 10 final ranking (Oct. 30): No. 9
Top 10 best ranking: No. 9 (last 2 polls)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (9 polls): 2
Conference award winners: Marie-Ève Jacques (rookie), Émilie Duquette (student-athlete & community service)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Élyse Turcotte (D), Andréanne Gagné (M), Camille Vandenberghe (M), Marie-Ève Jacques (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Laurence D. Paré (M)
CIS championship appearances (including 2012): 3
CIS championship all-time record: 0-3-0 (.000)
CIS championship all-time medals: 0
CIS championship best result: 4th place (1987)
CIS championship last appearance: 1993 (tied 5th place)
CIS championship sequence: First appearance since 1993
Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA champions)
Media Guide (PDF 1.84 MB)
Head Coach: Steve Johnson (19th season)
Regular season record: 14-0-2
Regular season standing: 1st OUA East (1st overall OUA)
Playoff record: 3-0
Playoff finish: OUA champions
Top 10 final ranking (Oct. 30): No. 1
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (last 6 polls)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (9 polls): 9
Conference award winners (OUA East): Gillian Baggott (MVP), Steve Johnson (coach), Christine Hardie (student-athlete & community service)
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA East): Cynthia Leblanc (G), Gillian Baggott (D), Christine Hardie (M), Julia Francki (M), Pilar Khoury (S)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA East): Corina Jarrett (M)
CIS championship appearances (including 2012): 12
CIS championship all-time record: 15-12-4 (.548)
CIS championship all-time medals: 8 (1 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze)
CIS championship best result: 1-time champions (1996)
CIS championship last appearance: 2011 (bronze)
CIS championship sequence: 2nd straight appearance (6th in 8 years)
Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West champions)
Media Guide (PDF 9.11 MB)
Head Coach: Graham Roxburgh (14th season)
Regular season record: 11-1-0
Regular season standing: 1st Canada West
Playoff record: 3-0
Playoff finish: Canada West champions
Top 10 final ranking (Oct. 30): No. 2
Top 10 best ranking: No. 2 (4 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (9 polls): 9
Conference award winners: Krista Gommeringer (rookie), Kristen Funk (student-athlete & community service)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Kristen Funk (G), Jennifer Castillo (D), Colleen Webber (D), Natalie Boyd (M), Krista Gommeringer (S)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Nikki Byrne (D)
CIS championship appearances (including 2012): 6
CIS championship all-time record: 11-3-1 (.767)
CIS championship all-time medals: 3 (3 gold)
CIS championship best result: 3-time champions (2004, 2008, 2009)
CIS championship last appearance: 2011 (6th place)
CIS championship sequence: 2nd straight appearance (4th in 5 years)
Cape Breton Capers (AUS finalists)
Media Guide (--)
Head Coach: Stephen Timmons (17th season)
Regular season record: 10-0-3
Regular season standing: 1st AUS
Playoff record: 1-1
Playoff finish: AUS finalists
Top 10 final ranking (Oct. 30): No. 5
Top 10 best ranking: No. 4 (2 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (9 polls): 7
Conference award winners: Chelsea Currie (rookie), Stephen Timmons (coach)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Allison Bell-Davies (D), Robbyn McNeill (D), Chelsea Currie (S)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Shanice Maxwell (S)
CIS championship appearances (including 2012): 7
CIS championship all-time record: 3-10-0 (.231)
CIS championship all-time medals: 1 (1 gold)
CIS championship best result: 1-time champions (2007)
CIS championship last appearance: 2010 (tied 7th place)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 1-year absence (6th appearance in 8 years)
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA finalists)
Medi Guide (PDF 1.25 MB)
Head Coach: Barry MacLean (17th season)
Regular season record: 11-2-3
Regular season standing: 1st OUA West (tied 2nd overall OUA)
Playoff record: 2-1
Playoff finish: OUA finalists
Top 10 final ranking (Oct. 30): No. 6
Top 10 best ranking: No. 3 (5th poll)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (9 polls): 9
Conference award winners (OUA West): Emily Brown (MVP)
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA West): Kelsey Tikka (D), Katie Bishop (M), Emily Brown (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA West): Krista Cellucci (F)
CIS championship appearances (including 2012): 11
CIS championship all-time record: 14-11-0 (.560)
CIS championship all-time medals: 5 (2 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze)
CIS championship best result: 2-time champions (1992, 1995)
CIS championship last appearance: 2011 (tied 7th place)
CIS championship sequence: 3rd straight appearance
Victoria Vikes (Canada West finalists)
Media Guide (PDF 7.33 MB)
Head Coach: Tracy David (11th season)
Regular season record: 9-2-1
Regular season standing: 2nd Canada West
Playoff record: 2-1
Playoff finish: Canada West finalists
Top 10 final ranking (Oct. 30): No. 4
Top 10 best ranking: No. 4 (final poll)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (9 polls): 6
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1st team all-stars: Brigitte Greig (D), Jaclyn Sawicki (M)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Stephanie Parker (G), Jackie Harrison (M), Emma Greig (F)
CIS championship appearances (including 2012): 7
CIS championship all-time record: 9-8-0 (.529)
CIS championship all-time medals: 3 (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
CIS championship best result: 1-time champions (2005)
CIS championship last appearance: 2008 (4th place)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 3-year absence
Queen’s Gaels (OUA bronze medallists)
Media Guide (--)
Head Coach: Dave McDowell (25th season)
Regular season record: 11-2-3
Regular season standing: 2nd OUA East (tied 2nd overall OUA)
Playoff record: 2-1
Playoff finish: OUA bronze medallists
Top 10 final ranking (Oct. 30): No. 7
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (first poll)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (9 polls): 9
Conference award winners (OUA East): None
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA East): Jessie DeBoer (D), Riley Filion (M), Jackie Tessier (S)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA East): Mikyla Kay (D), Alexis McKinty (M)
CIS championship appearances (including 2012): 13
CIS championship all-time record: 14-12-4 (.533)
CIS championship all-time medals: 5 (3 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
CIS championship best result: 3-time champions (1988, 2010, 2011)
CIS championship last appearance: 2011 (champions)
CIS championship sequence: 4th straight appearance (10th in 13 years)
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (all times PACIFIC TIME)
Official championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wsoc/index
Wednesday, Nov. 7
18:00 All-Canadian Awards Banquet (Harbour Towers Hotel)
Thursday, Nov. 8
11:00 Quarter-final 1: Ottawa vs. Cape Breton (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
13:30 Quarter-final 2: Dalhousie vs. Queen’s (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
16:30 Quarter-final 3: Trinity Western vs. Wilfrid Laurier (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
19:00 Quarter-final 4: Sherbrooke vs. Victoria (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
Friday, Nov. 9
11:00 Consolation 1: Loser QF 1 vs. Loser QF 2 (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
13:30 Consolation 2: Loser QF 3 vs. Loser QF 4 (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
16:30 Semifinal 1: Winner QF 1 vs. Winner QF 2 (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
19:00 Semifinal 2: Winner QF 3 vs. Winner QF 4 (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
Saturday, Nov. 10
14:30 5th-place game (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
Sunday, Nov. 11
11:30 Bronze medal (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
14:00 Championship final (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)
