SEASON PREVIEW: Women’s soccer set for another title run

Coming off a U SPORTS bronze medal and OUA Championship last season, the Gee-Gees women's soccer team will be looking to top their impressive run in the 2022 season, starting things off by welcoming the Trent Excalibur to Matt Anthony Field on Sept. 2.

Noteworthy matches on the 12-game regular season schedule include a Sept. 24 matchup at home against the Queen's Gaels that comes after an early bye week. Their last meeting resulted in a grueling 1-1 tie on Ottawa turf. On Oct. 7 the Gee-Gees receive their crosstown rivals on Oct. 7, the only meeting between Ottawa and Carleton during the regular season. The Gee-Gees will close out the regular season circuit on the road, travelling to Nipissing and Laurentian on Oct. 21-22. The full schedule can be found here.

The spotlight is sure to be on Cassandra Provost, who was recognized as the U SPORTS women's soccer Player of the Year after a dominant, record-breaking regular season, scoring 18 goals and 21 points in 11 games. At nationals, Provost scored the lone goal against Trinity Western to earn the Gee-Gees a place in the U SPORTS semi-finals. In the bronze medal game, Provost was first on the board.

"[Provost] was really pleased with her performance last year, but I also think there's a desire in her to try to break her own record," Gee-Gees head coach, Steve Johnson said. "This team is going to be able to continue to produce goals and she will be a big part of that." 

Alongside Provost, notable returners include Soumaya Bouak, Nibo Dlamini, and Katie Brzozowski, who will organize the Gee-Gees attack while Adriane Delvin and Maya Smith handle the defence. 

The addition of another OUA All-Star, Jenna Matsukubo, helps round out the Gee-Gees front lines. Trading in gold for garnet and grey, Matsukubo joins the Gee-Gees after three seasons with Queen's where she proved herself as a playmaker, leading the conference with 10 assists during the 2022 season. 

Both Cassidy Joslin and Juliann Lacasse will be back in net for the Gee-Gees. Lacasse was impressive, only allowing one goal against, earning her the lowest goals-against average in U SPORTS (0.15). Both goalkeepers played in meaningful games, Joslin earning semi-final win over Montreal to send Ottawa to the U SPORTS bronze medal match where Lacasse picked up the win.  

"We're going to have the ability to go as far as we did last year, or even take it a step further," said Johnson. 

While the Gee-Gees have plenty of firepower and playmaking ability in the lineup, they will be without three-time OUA All-Star and team captain, Katerine Delev, who's outstanding U SPORTS career has ended after five years as a Gee-Gee.  

Additionally, the Gee-Gees graduated Trinity Esprit and Angelina Gendreau. After transferring to Ottawa last season to play out their final years of eligibility, Kayla Kyle and Cierra Dunne also saw their U SPORTS careers come to a close in 2022. 

Tickets for all Gee-Gees home games, including the home opener on Saturday, Sept. 2, are available for purchase at teams.geegees.ca/tickets. All women's soccer home games will be streamed on OUA.tv.