W-SOCCER ROUNDUP: Gaels, Lions, Varsity Blues and Gryphons advance to quarter-finals
Wednesday, October 23
Queen's 0 @ Carleton 0 (4-2 Queen's penalty kicks)
Kingston, Ont. (October 22, 2014) - After going 0-0 through regulation and extra time, the women's soccer team earned a thrilling playoff victory by defeating the Carleton Ravens 4-2 in penalty kicks on Wednesday evening on Miklas-McCarney Field.
The Gaels are no strangers when it comes to PKs, with Wednesday's match as their fifth consecutive playoff game that has been decided from the penalty spot. Dating back to 2011-12, Queen's has gone to PKs in 10 out of 15 playoff games, winning on seven of those occasions.
So the game against Carleton was well within the Gaels comfort zone, as the game remained scoreless through regulation and extra time, with goaltenders Madison Tyrell (White Rock, B.C.) of Queen's and Elizabeth MacDougall of the Ravens turning aside all shots that came their way. Tyrell made a game-saving stop in the final minute of the second overtime period as she got her fingertips on a Carleton strike, deflecting it over the net and out of play.
The Gaels secured the victory in penalty kicks, converting on all four attempts. Laura Callender (Nepean, Ont.), Melissa Jung (Mississauga, Ont.), Brittany Almeida (Kingston, Ont.) and Tara Bartram (Vancouver, Ont.) were the goal-scorers for Queen's, in that order. After one Carleton player had sent the ball over the bar, Tyrell came up with a brilliant diving stop in the fourth round to set up Bartram for the decisive tally.
Final shots for the match totalled 18-10 in favour of Carleton. Tyrell finished the evening with seven saves, while Macdougall collected four.
With today's victory, the Gaels are set to battle the No.1 Ottawa Gee-Gees in the East Quarter-Final on Sunday in Ottawa.
Source: Queen's Gaels
McMaster 0 @ York 3
Toronto, Ont. - The No. 8 nationally-ranked York University Lions women's soccer team recorded its first playoff win of the season with a 3-0 victory over the McMaster Marauders in their OUA first-round match on Wednesday (Oct. 22) at York Stadium.
Nour Ghoneim (Aurora, Ont.) scored two goals to boost the Lions to the next round. Ghoneim's first goal came from a team effort in the attacking third. The Lions kept the play in the offensive, and the pressure paid off when Ghoneim converted a Colleen Beesley (Richmond Hill, Ont.) pass to give the Lions the lead in the 18th minute.
One minute later, the Marauders had a miscommunication on defence as goalkeeper Brittany Duffey held on to a back-pass by her teammate inside the penalty box.
Ghoneim took the spot-kick but her shot deflected off the wall. However, Charlene D'Mello (Mississauga, Ont.) picked up the ball on the rebound and fired it into the net.
The Marauders committed several fouls that kept the team from keeping possession.
Both teams battled for attempts on the goal for the rest of the half. Ghoneim came close to a second when a pass from the centre released her inside the box. The striker made the shot but Duffey was able to safely handle the ball.
A defensive error in the 41st minute resulted in an interception by Marauders midfielder Kelsey Orlando. Orlando shot from distance, but it went wide.
The Lions carried their 2-0 advantage into halftime.
After the interval, the Lions kept up the pressure on the Marauders' defence. Aisha Lewis (Mississauga, Ont.) darted down the left flank and released a cross into the box. The pass failed to find any teammate as McMaster went on the counter attack.
Rookie goalkeeper Courtney Davis (Cambridge, Ont.) remained solid in front of the goal as the stopper halted attempts by the Marauders' forwards. A Marauders cross from the right found midfielder Sarah Fettah in the 69th minute, who headed it towards the goal but Davis valiantly caught the ball.
Later, D'Mello laid a through ball to Christina Morelli (Markham, Ont.), who dribbled past two defenders and fired a powerful shot on target, but Duffey stood her ground and collected the ball.
Ghoneim finally added to the Lions' total later in the half when she netted her second of the game with 72 minutes played. Lewis crossed the ball from the wing towards the box. The pass found Ghoneim, who chipped the ball over the incoming goalie and into the net.
Soon after, a free kick was awarded to the Marauders, which midfielder Noor Sakran took. Sakran's shot was directed at the goal but once again Davis showed safe hands to record a clean sheet.
The Marauders exerted a last-minute pressure on the attack. However, it proved too late as the whistle was blown for the end of the game.
Goalkeepers from both teams were outstanding in defending their posts. Davis made five crucial saves while Duffey managed seven.
With the win, the Lions have advanced to the OUA quarter-finals for the first time since 2011 and will face the Laurier Golden Hawks on Sunday (Oct. 26) in Waterloo at 1pm.
Source: York Lions
Laurentian 0 @ Toronto 2
Toronto, ONT. - The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women's soccer team defeated the Laurentian Voyageurs 2-0 in OUA playoff action on Wednesday night (Oct. 22) at Varsity Centre.
With the win, the Blues advance to the OUA quarter-finals and travel to Oshawa, Ont., this Sunday, October 26 to take on the second-place UOIT Ridgebacks at 4 p.m. The winner of that match will advance to the OUA Final Four, Nov. 1-2, at Tim Horton's Field in Hamilton, Ont.
The Blues had the first chance to score in the seventh minute, but Claudia Piazza (Brampton, Ont.) sent a free kick off a Voyageur in front of the net.
The majority of the opening 20 minutes were spent in Laurentian territory, but the Voyageurs strong back line kept things at bay.
Toronto did convert and opened the scoring in the 27th minute as third-year midfielder Kristian Kletke (Etobicoke, Ont.) headed in a Piazza corner kick.
Piazza almost put the Blues up by two in the 33rd minute after receiving a centering pass from Alyssa Golin, but Laurentian goalkeeper Richele Greenwood came up with the save.
Toronto was up 1-0 at the half.
Laurentian had an opportunity to get the equalizer in the 58th minute off a corner kick, but the ball sailed through traffic to the other side of the pitch. The Blues were awarded four straight corner kicks in the 66th minute but were unable to find the back of the net.
Toronto did however add an insurance marker in the 84th minute as Parkes redirected a Piazza free kick passed a scramble and into the net.
Blues goalkeeper Sara Petrucci made three saves in the shut out victory.
Source: Toronto Varsity Blues
Guelph 1 @ Windsor 1 (Guelph 5-4 penalty kicks)
Windsor, Ont. – The Gryphon women's soccer team opened up the OUA playoffs Wednesday (Oct. 22) night in Windsor versus the Lancers with a shootout win.
It was a re-match of their regular season finale in which the Gryphons were able to head into the playoffs on a high note, winning 3-1 over the Lancers just three days ago at the Gryphon Soccer Complex. This time around, goals were harder to come by.
After a scoreless 90 minutes, the Lancers were able to finally breakthrough in the 102nd minute when Giulia Barile (Tecumseh, Ont.) was able to score on a free kick. After being held scoreless for nearly 120 minutes, the Gryphons would manage to find the equalizer with around 60 seconds remaining. In the 119th minute, third year striker Breanna Hall (Kanata, Ont.) would tie things up at 1-1 and send the match off to penalty kicks.
The Gryphons would find themselves trailing after failing to convert on the first attempt of the penalty shootout. After that however, the Gryphons were clinical from the spot. Five consecutive converted penalties would help the Gryphons put the pressure right back on the Lancers, who were unable to extend things in the sixth round thanks to a big save from Elizabeth Brenneman (Baden, Ont.). Any soccer coach would tell you that a penalty shootout is a harsh way to settle things, but in this case it almost seemed appropriate. Both teams had nearly identical regular season records, both teams were evenly matched for all 120 minutes, and the shootout was predictably evenly matched as well. In the end, it was the Gryphons who would come out on top.
Source: Guelph Gryphons
