1997 OUA Women's Soccer Champions

RECAP: Gee-Gees win OUAA women's soccer title

WATERLOO, Ont. - For a team renowned for its break-neck speed, the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees were left spinning their wheels on a snowy and slick field at University Stadium yesterday.

The best the defending national soccer champion could hope for - during a snow storn at the Ontario University Athletics final - would be to hold the McMaster University Marauders to a scoreless tie through regulation time and 30 minutes of overtime, then to take their chances during penalty kicks.

And that's exactly how the undefeated Gee-Gees racked up their second-straight provincial title.

Ottawa scored a 4-2 advantage in a penalty kick shootout, and the Gee-Gees' victory over Hamilton's Marauders goes into the books as a 1-0 verdict. 

Despite yesterday's outcome, Ottawa and McMaster will participate at the national university soccer championships set to begin Nov. 6 in Laval, Que.

Note: this article was originally published by the Ottawa Citizen on October 27, 1997. It was written by Christine Rivet of the Kitchener-Waterloo Record.

NATIONALS RECAP: Gee-Gees close in on national soccer title

SAINTE-FOY, Que. - The University of Ottawa Gee-Gees gave up their first goal of the post-season yesterday at the Canadian university women's soccer championship, but still beat their rival, the Dalhousie University Tigers, 3-1.

The Tigers' goal stopped the Gee-Gees' consecutive shutouts at 14. The only other goal the Gee-Gees allowed this season was during their first regular season game in September.

The Gee-Gees' victory also pushed their perfect record so far this season to 16-0. The team has not been defeated in 34 games over the last two seasons (31-0-3).

If they can win their final round-robin game today agaist Laval Rouge et Or, the Gee-Gees will advance to Sunday's gold medal final, where they will likely meet the University of Alberta Pandas for the second straight year. Ottawa is trying to become the first women's soccer team in the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union to win back-to-back championships in the event's 11-year history.

A tie or a loss today would leave the Gee-Gees waiting until the round-robin ends tomorrow to see if they play for a medal.

The Gee-Gees ruled the first half of their game with Dalhousie as they scored two goals four minutes apart halfway through the perdion. Natasha Stobert ripped a shot off the crossbar, and, after a few seconds delay, the linesman signalled a goal to the referee. A smart three-way passing play led to Julie Madore scoring a sliding goal into the near corner for a 2-0 halftime lead.

Dalhousie controlled the ball for the opening 20 minutes of the second half and looked determied to catch up. Mary-Beth Bowie drilled the ball past surprised goalkeeper Tania Singfield, who had all 14 shutouts for the Gee-Gees this season.

"They scored because of a miscommunication (between the defence and goalie)," Stobert said. "It was unsettling. The team got nervous. We're definitely not used to being scored on. There was a chance it could have gotten away from us."

"But we're a solid team and everyone settled down and composed themselves."

Leading 2-1, the Gee-Gees solidified the victory with a goal by Julie Gareau. But they also missed chances to score a few more goals, which could be critical if it comes to breaking ties after the round-robin.

"We came out flat in the second half," said Gee-Gees' head coach Steve Johnson. "They;re a good team and had chances, but we have to be on top every game. We can't afford lapses."

Note: this article was originally published by the Ottawa Citizen on November 7, 1997. It was written by Martin Cleary.

NATIONALS RECAP: Destiny eludes Gee-Gees

SAINTE-FOY, Que. - These are the framed images the chilled and wet players and a few dozen diehard fans, who sat or stood everywhere but in the stands, will remember from the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union women's soccer final here yesterday.

Early in the second 15-minute overtime period, the Alberta Pandas were awarded a penalty kick.

On a corner kick, Heather Murray, the diminutive striker only seconds away from destiny, punched the ball into the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees' goalkeeping crease.

A wild scramble ensued as the out-of-control ball ricochets off Panda feet and Gee-Gee legs, but somehow stays out of the net.

Then, referee Sonia Denoncourt of Montreal, the only remale ever to offficiate at the Olympics, blew the whistle on the Gee-Gees. She called an unnamed Gee-Gees player for handling the ball in the crease, which was an automatic penalty shot.

Gee-Gees' goalkeeper Tania Singfield, who has had seven years experience with the national team, knew the game was over, although the score had read 0-0 for the past 109 minutes.

"It (penalty shot) is to the advantage of the shooter. It's a sure goal," said Singfield, who met dozens of challenges until Murray worked her championship magic again by scoring from 11 yards out.

Murray, the smallest player on the field at five-foot-three who had scored the only goal in a win over Calgary at the Canada West final, would see her goal at the 109th minute survive the final 11 minutes and bring Ottawa its first reality check in two years. She also was named the MVP, top scorer, and an all-star in the tournament.

The goal was scored before four weather-hearty plastic-wrapped fans in the stands and a few dozen people hiding inside 21 cars and vans parked on the track.

The victory brought a sense of balance for the Pandas, who after totally dominating last year's final against Ottawa, lost by a similar 1-0 score in double overtime.

Attempting to become the first team to win back-to-back titles in the 11-year history of the CIAU women's soccer championship, Ottawa lost its first game in two years and saw its undefeated streak stopped at 35 games (32 wins, four ties). Conversely, the Pandas finished their season with an unblemished 10 wins and three ties.

Soaked and saddened, Singfield felt the Gee-Gees were robbed of an opportunity to win the title, most likely in post-overtime penalty kicks. The weather prevented both teams from displaying their true offensive skills and the game was a defensive battle throughout, although Alberta had a decided edge in the play.

"I was bumped going for the ball (corner kick)," Singfield, 27, said. "She (Denoncourt) didn't call it. Everyone is trying to frame (cover) the goal. Alberta had two hand balls, but she didn't see that. She saw one by us. It's unlucky, but scrambles go like that."

Ottawa head coach Steve Johnson couldn't see from the sidelintes if Denoncourt had made the right call. "The ball was ping-ponging for quite a while," he said. "We had bodies and they had bodies all over the ground. Once the call is made, you either like it or not. All I could do was watch and wait. Sometimes you see results that please you. Sometimes you see results that turn around the game."

When Denoncourt sounded the final whistle to end 120 minutes of exhausting effort, the Pandas celebrated with tears, hugs and dancing, while the Gee-Gees showed their undefeated string had taught them to accept defeat with grace.

"It's always tough to lose, especially when you don't have much practice," Johnson said. "But the players dealt with it well. They dealt with being No. 1 (all year) well, too."

Murray, who is a guitarist with The Greener Side band, allowed the evergreen and gold Pandas to experience what life is like on the other side of the hill after a year's wait. "The whole game felt like I was in a dream. I couldn't feel anything," said a chilled Murray, who was asked by teammate Sarah Prather to take the penalty shot.

After the final, three Ottawa players - Noël Trepanier, Natasha Stobert, and Julie Gareau - were named to the all-tournament team.

Note: this article was originally published by the Ottawa Citizen on November 10, 1997. It was written by Martin Cleary.