2014 OUA Women's Soccer Champions

The 2014 Gee-Gees women's soccer team won the OUA championship by a score of 1-0 against the Western Mustangs on November 2 at McMaster's Ron Joyce Stadium. Pilar Khoury scored the game-winning goal in the 58th minute of play, while goalkeeper Cynthia Leblanc secured the shutout. Maris Barnabe assisted the goal by Khoury. The 2014 banner was Ottawa's eighth OUA Championship, all under head coach Steve Johnson, which was the league record at the time. The last championship win prior to 2014 was 2012.

Ottawa led the OUA East with a 15-1-0 regular season record. The team set a program record with 67 goals for in the 16 regular season games, and allowed nine. The Gee-Gees lost the first game of the season and then won 19 in a row, including three OUA playoff games and the national quarterfinal. The Gee-Gees defeated Queen's 1-0 in the conference quarterfinal and Laurier 1-0 in overtime in the semifinal, again on a goal by Khoury.

The team won bronze at the CIS National Championship at Laval and featured All-Canadians Pilar Khoury and Cynthia Leblanc, as well as OUA All-Stars Julia Francki, Morgan McNeil, and Chiara Quadri. Khoury was the OUA East Player of the Year with 14 goals.

RECAP : Gee-Gees capture record eighth OUA Championship

A goal by Pilar Khoury at the 57 minute mark stood as the game-winner in Sunday's 2014 OUA women's soccer championship. The University of Ottawa raised the conference banner for the eighth time in program history, setting a record as the winningest team in the OUA.

Khoury was named Player of the Match for the second consecutive game, following her goal on a beautifully-placed header to start the second half. From 30 yards out, fifth-year defender Maris Barnabe delivered a curving boot into the box that Khoury was able to strike into the right side of the net past Mustangs goalkeeper Tori Edgar.

"I think we showed a lot of character yesterday when we were down a player. We came together and worked hard and it came together for us," said an ecstatic Barnabe. "We're so excited to go to nationals and show everyone in the country what we're made of."

Ottawa goalkeeper Cynthia Leblanc did not have much work to do in the game, but came up with an excellent save in the low corner during the final ten minutes. Leblanc weathered the storm of Western pressure to close out the match - the only real pressure felt from the Mustangs.

The Gee-Gees had the majority of chances in the first half, although Western earned numerous opportunities from corner kick. A Maris Barnabe header hit the right post and stayed out while a Chiara Quadri free kick nearly toppled over the goal line while in the arms of the Western keeper. Just before halftime, Khoury broke through on her own in a near repeat of Saturday's game-winning goal, but was unable to reach ball before keeper.

"It truly was a team effort," said Ottawa head coach Steve Johnson "We are more of a team this year than perhaps other years. Other years we may have had more individual talent, but collectively this team has really performed well all season."

"It's pretty stressful to hold a 1-0 lead, but I thought we held it together and kept our shape and our defensive responsibilities held," said rookie midfielder Katherine Bearne. "It feels amazing, to get a chance to play with a great group of girls is such an awesome opportunity."