Queen's and Laurier hope to upset defending champs Laval at 2015 CIS women’s soccer championship

OTTAWA (CIS) – The Laval Rouge et Or triumphed on home turf a year ago to become the first team from the RSEQ conference to capture the CIS women's soccer title, and this week they travel 4,000 kilometres from Quebec City to Vancouver hoping to successfully defend the Gladys Bean Memorial Trophy.

The eight-team tournament, hosted by the University of British Columbia for the first time since 1990 and the third time overall, runs from Thursday to Sunday at Thunderbird Stadium with the gold-medal final set for 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time. All 11 games from the competition will be webcast live on CIS-SIC.tv.

In addition to top-seeded and repeat RSEQ champion Laval,, the 2015 draw includes the second-ranked and host UBC Thunderbirds (Canada West champs), No. 3 Queen's Gaels (OUA champs), No. 4 Cape Breton Capers (AUS champs), No. 5 Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West finalists), No. 6 Sherbrooke Vert & Or (RSEQ finalists), No. 7 Calgary Dinos (Canada West bronze medallists) and No. 8 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA finalists).

Thursday's quarter-finals feature Laurier vs. Laval at 11 a.m. Pacific Time, Trinity Western vs. Cape Breton at 1:30 p.m., Sherbrooke vs. Queen's at 4:30 p.m., and Calgary vs. UBC at 7 p.m.

All but one contender have hoisted the Gladys Bean Trophy in the past, including UBC and Trinity Western, who share the record with five national titles apiece, as well as Queen's (3), Laurier (2), Cape Breton (1), Calgary (1) and Laval (1). Sherbrooke's best result remains a fourth-place finish at the inaugural CIS tournament back in 1987.

After claiming their first-ever CIS banner, Laval didn't miss a beat this season outscoring their RSEQ rivals 46-6 in league play en route to a 12-0-2 record, before dominating Sherbrooke 5-1 in the conference final. That result was reminiscent of their 5-0 dismantling of perennial powerhouse Trinity Western in last year's CIS championship match in Quebec City.

The Rouge et Or, who topped all 10 national weekly coaches' polls this fall, are undefeated in their last 33 games overall (31-0-2) dating back to a 3-1 loss to Montreal in their second outing of the 2014 campaign (Sept. 7).

"We expect to have a target on our backs, not only because we're the defending champions but also because the other teams saw how we performed this season," said RSEQ coach of the year Helder Duarte, in his 21st campaign at the helm. "Our opponents won't play us the same way they did last year, when we came in as a team that historically hadn't had very impressive results at the nationals. This time around, we come in riding a 33-game unbeaten streak and with a totally different mindset. The experience from 2014 gives us confidence going into this week's competition."

The host Thunderbirds have a new head coach this year in Marisa Kovacs and so far the results have been conclusive as UBC returns to the CIS tournament for the first time since 2010. Looking for their first Gladys Bean Trophy in a decade (2006), the T-Birds are always in the hunt once they reach the big dance, as proven by their all-time record of 26-8 (.765) at the national championship.

"The opportunity to host nationals as a team is extremely exciting and not something we are taking for granted. We have been preparing for November 12th all year and hope to show well at home. The UBC community has been supporting us all season and we want nothing more than to have the stands filled with blue and gold for our match Thursday night," said Kovacs, whose troops hope to become only the fourth team in history to triumph on home turf after Laval, Trinity Western (2008) and Cape Breton (2007). "It's the national championship so there are no favourites. It's anyone's tournament and we know our season has prepared us for a moment like this."

After settling for fifth place in the OUA East with an intriguing 7-2-7 mark, Queen's caught fire in the conference playoffs with four straight wins, including a thrilling PK victory over previously undefeated York in the semifinals and a 1-0 shutout against Laurier in the final.

"Couldn't be prouder of our team. To emerge as champions from a Final Four with the quality that was on display is tremendous. I thought our team defending throughout the playoffs was fantastic and proved to be difference for us," said 28-year bench boss Dave McDowell, whose program had missed the last two CIS tournaments after reaching three straight national finals from 2010 to 2012, winning the first two. "We are really excited to be back after a couple of years off and all with a relatively young and exciting team."

The fourth conference champion, Cape Breton, was in a three-team race all season in the AUS with Acadia and Memorial and ended up sandwiched between its opponents in the standings, one point behind the Axewomen and one point ahead of the Sea-Hawks. The Capers had the last laugh in the playoffs however with back-to-back 1-0 wins over their two main rivals, Memorial in the semis and Acadia in the title game.

"It's always exciting to have a chance to play on the national stage and this will be the first trip to the CIS championship for more than half our team," said Stephen 'Ness' Timmons, who celebrates his 20th season at the helm this year. "It was a terrific season for us and an even better playoffs. We're playing our best soccer of the year right now and are looking forward to the challenge of competing against the best in the Canada."

While they come in as conference runners-up following a 1-0 loss to UBC in the Canada West final, underestimating the TWU Spartans would be a big mistake by their opponents. Trinity Western's winning percentage at the national tourney is even better than UBC's (.813 vs. .765) and the Spartans, who joined CIS in 2001, have reached the championship match six times in eight appearances at the nationals, winning the first five.

"I am extremely proud of the players for battling through a tough road to the CIS championship," said 17-year coach Graham Roxburgh. "The way our conference is set up, we had to battle through some excellent teams to extend the season. As we know from past experiences there are excellent teams at the national championship. Laval would obviously be the favourite heading in, and there are other great teams representing their conferences."

Despite a lopsided loss to Laval in the RSEQ final, sixth-seeded Sherbrooke is a talented team that topped the Quebec league in scoring during the regular season with 47 goals in 14 games, one more than the Rouge et Or. Leading the charge are midfielder Audrey Lagarde, this year's RSEQ MVP, and striker Marie-Ève Jacques, the CIS player of the year in 2013.

"From the first day of the season, our goal was to qualify for the CIS championship. But now that we're here, we don't want to simply participate," said rookie head coach Alfred Picariello, whose team booked its ticket to Vancouver with a narrow 1-0 win over Montreal in the RSEQ semis. "We left a lot on the field during our semifinal, but we still should have competed better in the final. That's part of the learning process."

In a field of usual suspects, Calgary is the new kid on the block at the national tournament, making its first appearance since 2005 and only its third in program history. The Dinos are battle ready thanks to three straight one-goal affairs at the Canada West Final Six, including a 2-1 quarter-final win over Victoria, a respectable 1-0 semifinal loss to UBC and a 1-0 bronze-medal victory against Saskatchewan.

"I'm excited for the team on what has been an inspired journey," said third-year mentor Troye Flannery. "It was our goal from Day 1 at training camp and though there were struggles it feels good to emerge from what is always a tough Canada West. We are looking forward to representing the Prairie Division with pride."

Last but not least, eighth-ranked Laurier missed last year's tournament after reaching the competition for four straight years from 2010 to 2013. The Hawks qualified for the nationals with a dramatic 2-1 semifinal victory over OUA Final Four host Ottawa, tying the game in the 83rd minute and winning it on a goal by Nicole Lyon in injury time.

"There are eight teams and every one of them is going to be quality, at least six of them have a very realistic chance to win the thing," said Barry MacLean, in his 20th season patrolling the Laurier sidelines. "We hope we're one of them and we hope we have a little bit of luck and some good performances and see what happens. We're going in there trying to win it."

GLADYS BEAN MEMORIAL TROPHY CHAMPIONS:

2014 Laval (at Laval)
2013 Trinity Western (at Toronto)
2012 Trinity Western (at Victoria)
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 TEAMS

NO. 1 LAVAL ROUGE ET OR (RSEQ champions)

Head Coach: Helder Duarte (21st season)
Regular season record: 12-0-2
Regular season standing: 1st RSEQ
Playoff record: 2-0
Playoff finish: RSEQ champions
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 3): No. 1
Top 10 best ranking: No. 1 (10 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 10
Conference award winners: Helder Duarte (coach)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Marie-Joëlle Vandal (G), Mélissa Roy (D), Marie-Christine Gauthier (D), Gabrielle Lapointe (M), Arielle Roy-Petitclerc (M), Joëlle Gosselin (S)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Joanie L'Abbé (D), Cynthia Turcotte (M), Léa Chastenay-Joseph (S)
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 9th
CIS championship all-time record: 11-9-3 (.543)
CIS championship all-time medals: 2 (1-0-1)
CIS championship best result: 1-time champions (2014)
CIS championship last appearance: 2014 (champions)
CIS championship sequence: 3rd straight appearance

NO. 2 UBC THUNDERBIRDS (Canada West champions)

Head Coach: Marisa Kovacs (1st season)
Regular season record: 11-1-2
Regular season standing: 1st Canada West West Division
Playoff record: 3-0
Playoff finish: Canada West champions
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 3): No. 4
Top 10 best ranking: No. 4 (4 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 9
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1st team all-stars: Jasmin Dhanda (F)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Aman Shergill (D), Krista Whittaker (D), Madison Guy (D), Taylor Shannik (M)
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 13th
CIS championship all-time record: 26-8-0 (.765)
CIS championship all-time medals: 11 (5-2-4)
CIS championship best result: 5-time champions (2006, 2003, 2002, 1993, 1987)
CIS championship last appearance: 2010 (6th place)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 4-year absence

NO. 3 QUEEN'S GAELS (OUA champions)

Head Coach: Dave McDowell (28th season)
Regular season record: 7-2-7
Regular season standing: 5th OUA East Division
Playoff record: 4-0
Playoff finish: OUA Champions
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 3): Unranked
Top 10 best ranking: Unranked all season
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 0
Conference award winners (OUA East): None
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA East): Jessie de Boer (M)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA East): Micah Vermeer (D), Lidia Bradau (M), Jenny Wolever (S)
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 14th
CIS championship all-time record: 16-13-4 (.545)
CIS championship all-time medals: 6 (3-2-1)
CIS championship best result: 3-time champions (2011, 2010, 1988)
CIS championship last appearance: 2012 (finalists)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 2-year absence

NO. 4 CAPE BRETON CAPERS (AUS champions)

Head Coach: Stephen 'Ness' Timmons (20th season)
Regular season record: 10-2-1
Regular season standing: 2nd AUS
Playoff record: 2-0
Playoff finish: AUS champions
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 3): Unranked
Top 10 best ranking: No. 10 (2 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 2
Conference award winners: Ciera Disipio (rookie)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Robyn Novorolsky (D), Tamara Brown (M), Keona Simmonds (S)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Alyssa Armstrong (M), Karolyne Blain (S)
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 9th
CIS championship all-time record: 4-14-0 (.222)
CIS championship all-time medals: 1 (1-0-0)
CIS championship best result: 1-time champions (2007)
CIS championship last appearance: 2013 (4th place)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 1-year absence (3rd appearance in 4 years)

NO. 5 TRINITY WESTERN SPARTANS (Canada West finalists)

Head Coach: Graham Roxburgh (17th season)
Regular season record: 10-1-3
Regular season standing: 2nd Canada West West Division
Playoff record: 3-1
Playoff finish: Canada West finalists
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 3): No. 5
Top 10 best ranking: No. 2 (2 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 9
Conference award winners: Rachel Hutchinson (rookie)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Ally Williamson (G), Vanessa Kovacs (M), Ali Oliverio (M), Krista Gommeringer (S)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Seina Kashima (S)
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 9th
CIS championship all-time record: 19-4-1 (.813)
CIS championship all-time medals: 6 (5-1-0)
CIS championship best result: 5-time champions (2013, 2012, 2009, 2008, 2004)
CIS championship last appearance: 2014 (finalists)
CIS championship sequence: 5th straight appearance

NO. 6 SHERBROOKE VERT & OR (RSEQ finalists)

Head Coach: Alfred Picariello (1st season)
Regular season record: 10-2-2
Regular season standing: 2nd RSEQ
Playoff record: 1-1
Playoff finish: RSEQ finalists
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 3): No. 7
Top 10 best ranking: No. 7 (3 weeks)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 5
Conference award winners: Audrey Lagarde (MVP)
Conference 1st team all-stars: Amélie Tremblay (D), Audrey Lagarde (M), Marie-Ève Jacques (S)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: None
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 4th
CIS championship all-time record: 1-5-0 (.167)
CIS championship all-time medals: 0
CIS championship best result: 4th place (1987)
CIS championship last appearance: 2012 (6th place)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 2-year absence

NO. 7 CALGARY DINOS (Canada West bronze medallists)

Head Coach: Troye Flannery (3rd season)
Regular season record: 9-3-3
Regular season standing: 2nd Canada West East Division
Playoff record: 3-1
Playoff finish: Canada West bronze medallists
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 3): Unranked
Top 10 best ranking: No. 10 (1 week)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 1
Conference award winners: None
Conference 1st team all-stars: Lauren Vernon (M)
Conference 2nd team all-stars: Jordan Smith (S)
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 3rd
CIS championship all-time record: 3-2-1 (.583)
CIS championship all-time medals: 1 (1-0-0)
CIS championship best result: 1-time champions (1998)
CIS championship last appearance: 2005 (4th place)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 9-year absence

NO. 8 WILFRID LAURIER GOLDEN HAWKS (OUA finalists)

Head Coach: Barry MacLean (20th Season)
Regular season record: 12-2-2
Regular season standing: 2nd OUA West Division
Playoff record: 2-1
Playoff finish: OUA finalists
Top 10 final ranking (Nov. 3): No. 6
Top 10 best ranking: No. 3 (1 week)
Top 10 number of weeks ranked (10 polls): 10
Conference award winners (OUA West): Gagan Parhar (rookie)
Conference 1st team all-stars (OUA West): Nicole Lyon (M), Emily Brown (S)
Conference 2nd team all-stars (OUA West): Jacky Normandeau (D), Julie Karn (D), Katie Bishop (M)
CIS championship appearances (including 2015): 13th
CIS championship all-time record: 14-15-0 (.483)
CIS championship all-time medals: 5 (2-1-2)
CIS championship best result: 2-time champions (1995, 1992)
CIS championship last appearance: 2013 (tied 7th place)
CIS championship sequence: Return after 1-year absence (5th appearance in 6 years)

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (all times PACIFIC TIME)

Wednesday, Nov. 11
18:30 All-Canadian Awards Banquet (Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites)

Thursday, Nov. 12
11:00 Quarter-final 1: No. 8 Laurier vs. No. 1 Laval (CIS-SIC.tv)
13:30 Quarter-final 2: No. 5 Trinity Western vs. No. 4 Cape Breton (CIS-SIC.tv)
16:30 Quarter-final 3: No. 6 Sherbrooke vs. No. 3 Queen's (CIS-SIC.tv)
19:00 Quarter-final 4: No. 7 Calgary vs. No. 2 UBC (CIS-SIC.tv)

Friday, Nov. 13
11:00 Consolation 1: Loser QF 1 vs. Loser QF 2 (CIS-SIC.tv)
13:30 Consolation 2: Loser QF 3 vs. Loser QF 4 (CIS-SIC.tv)

Saturday, Nov. 14
11:00 5th-place game (CIS-SIC.tv)
13:30 Semifinal 1: Winner QF 1 vs. Winner QF 2 (CIS-SIC.tv)
16:30 Semifinal 2: Winner QF 3 vs. Winner QF 4 (CIS-SIC.tv)

Sunday, Nov. 15
13:30 Bronze medal (CIS-SIC.tv)
16:30 Championship final (CIS-SIC.tv)

Source: CIS