PREVIEW: Home Opener for Undefeated Gee-Gees
The high-scoring Garnet and Grey squad gets its first chance to play at home at Gee-Gees Field since its August exhibition series.
The Gee-Gees women's soccer team took care of business during its first six games of the regular season, rolling to a 5-0-1 record entirely on the road and pulling into the no. 5 spot in the national Top Ten poll. Now the high-scoring Garnet and Grey squad gets its first chance to play at home at Gee-Gees Field since its August exhibition series.
Ottawa hosts Laurentian (1-3-2) on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Nipissing (3-2-1) on Sunday at 2 p.m. Both matches are at Gee-Gees Field at 200 Lees Avenue, and will be webcast on OUA.tv.
The game is away from the team's traditional home at Matt Anthony Field, in preparation for the 2018 U SPORTS National Championship. "We're playing there for a reason," says Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson. "We're playing to get ourselves acquainted with the field and it's a big step on the way to nationals."
The Gee-Gees ride a five-game winning streak into the weekend and are one of the most balanced sides in the OUA, scoring over three goals per game while allowing just three against total in the six games. Third-year forward Emma Lefebvre leads the country in scoring with nine goals and five assists, while newcomer Mikayla Morton has notched five goals.
"I'm really pleased with the way we're playing," notes coach Johnson. "Our veteran players have returned with a confidence in themselves and their team mates. They understood that we played really good soccer and we were working towards something really great. The team recognizes that we can continue the same path that got interrupted last year. They've all improved their game from last year, and the new players have come in and are trying to follow the example that's been set by the veterans."
Nipissing has had a surprise start to the season after posting a 4-10-2 record in 2016. The Gee-Gees drew 1-1 against the Lakers in the opening match of the season before defeating the Voyageurs 5-0.
"We'd like to be able to replicate our success against Laurentian – I would be very happy with that result. I thought our play was very good at Nipissing but we didn't finish our opportunities. Since that opening game we've been very good at scoring goals and it would be great to continue it against a team that kept us off the scoreboard for a long portion of the season opener."