The uOttawa women's soccer team defeated the Laurier Golden Hawks in stunning fashion Sunday, scoring in the 114th minute to win the OUA Championship title on home turf.
The win marks the first time since 2006-07 that the Gee-Gees have won the provincial championship, as was evident in their celebration at the final whistle. Sunday's win concludes a nearly flawless OUA season for the uOttawa women.
"We didn't want to go to penalty kicks," said Gee-Gee head coach Steve Johnson. "We thought we created enough chances during the game to win it. I'm just really happy that we got that goal and didn't have to go to penalty kicks."
Stand out striker Pilar Khoury played the role of hero once again for the Gee-Gees, sacrificing her body in a big way on the game winning goal. Veteran striker Krista Draycott put her precision passing to the test and fired a high, soaring pass into the Golden Hawks' 18-yard box, which Khoury and Laurier goaltender Katrina Ward were then in a head-to-head race for. Ultimately, Khoury came out on top, waiting for one bounce of the ball to head it in just over Ward's reach.
"I knew that the goalie was going to have to come out, and that usually causes a big scrum,"said Khoury. "I just went for it. Some of the players on our team, this is their last year, so I wasn't going to let the goaltender get in the way of it."
The Golden Hawks proved their high level of skill and compete against the Gee-Gees, standing up to their physical play and generating a solid attack at times. "Both of our teams play a similar style and it made for a better, more entertaining game to watch," said coach Johnson.
But the garnet and grey's meticulous playmaking and passing was too much for the Golden Hawks to handle in the end. In total, the Gee-Gees managed to fire 18 shots on the Laurier net, nine of which came in the extra time frame alone.
"We had to just keep fighting for it," said Khoury. "We knew it was going to come, we just couldn't let the thought of not scoring get into our heads."
The Gee-Gees continue to live up to their number one ranking in the CIS Top Ten, still having not lost a game this season and allowing only one goal against in 19 games.
While the defensive unit of the garnet and grey allowed an uncharacteristically high number of shots against, OUA first team all star goaltender Cynthia Leblanc was there to stop anything and everything convincingly. In total, Leblanc shut the door seven times for the Gee-Gees and controlled many threatening corner kicks.
The Gee-Gees will have a few days to revel in their OUA success before taking flight to Victoria, B.C., for their next challenge at the CIS National Championship Nov. 8-11.
As the garnet and grey's team mantra goes, "it's a great day for soccer."
Over 800 people took in the action over the course of the weekend.
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Half
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Final
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Gee-Gees
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0
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1
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Laurier
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0
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0
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Gee-Gees goal scorer- Pilar Khoury (114')
BRONZE MEDAL GAME:
Just when it looked like the McMaster Marauders had pulled off a big upset against the defending OUA Champion Queen's University, the Gaels managed to stage a late game comeback and penalty kick victory to take home the bronze medal.
In doing so, the Gaels ensure their spot at the CIS National Championship tournament next weekend in Victoria, B.C., a tournament and title they won just a year ago.
Despite having only registered one shot on net in the first half, the Marauders were the team that got the early jump. At the 37 minute mark, Stephanie Davis found herself unmarked at the left side of the Queen's net, burying the ball that found its way to her from a well-placed cross.
The game appeared to be all wrapped up with final minutes set to expire, but with less than three minutes remaining the Gaels conjured up a desperation attack, eventually potting a scrambling play as a result of a corner kick. With almost every Gael in front of the Marauder net, the ball redirected multiple times and somehow found it's way to the back of the mesh. After some deliberation, OUA first team all-star Riley Fillion was credited with the goal.
The 30 minute overtime period would see countless opportunities for the Gaels to complete the comeback, but came up short on all chances. So, for the second time in as many days for the Gaels, the game was to be decided in penalty kicks.
Both goaltenders shone in the sudden-death scenario. Marauder goaltender Brittany Duffey stopped four penalty kicks, while Gael net-minder Madison Tyrell matched that performance.
Finally, in the eighth round of shooters, the Marauder player slightly misread her attempt, firing the ball just over the cross bar and handing the Gaels the bronze medal victory.
