QUARTER-FINAL #1: 2009 CIS women’s soccer championship: Queen’s downs AUS champions in OT

By University of Toronto sports information office
Photo courtesy of Lewko Hryhorijiw

TORONTO (CIS) – Christina Senese scored in the 23rd minute of overtime to lead the OUA finalist Queen’s Gaels to a 1-0 win over the AUS champion St. Francis Xavier X-Women in the first quarter-final match of the CIS women’s soccer championship at Varsity Centre, Thursday morning.

Queen’s, which captured its lone Gladys Bean memorial trophy as national champion back in 1988, is making its first appearance at the CIS tournament since dropping a 3-1 decision to UBC in the 2006 final. The Gaels advance to Saturday’s early semifinal at 1:30 p.m. where they’ll face either defending national champion Trinity Western or 2009 AUS finalist UPEI.

The X-Women, who were also relegated to the consolation side of the draw in their lone previous CIS tourney appearance in 2005, will square off against the loser of the Trinity Western – UPEI duel Friday at 1:30 p.m.

Following 90 minutes of scoreless play in regulation, the teams moved to overtime, which at the CIS championship consists of two full periods of 15 minutes, with no golden goal.

At the 103-minute mark, Mikyla Kay sent a cross into the StFX penalty box. Senese, a native of Mississauga, Ont., headed the ball into the top right corner past a diving Anna Thompson for the game-winning play.

The first half was played with a fair bit of tentativeness early on as both sides were content to get a feel for their unfamiliar opponent. The game opened up more and more as the period continued, with Queen’s carrying a majority of the play.

The Gaels garnered five total shots throughout the opening frame, however none would force Calgary native Thompson to make a save. Her counterpart, Elena Corry of Hamilton, would only be tested once in the half and had no trouble with a weak shot on net in the 14th minute.

The Gaels continued to press from the opening whistle of the second half and won a corner kick within the first moments of play. Thompson had to be solid, coming out to catch the ball to prevent a dangerous cross.

StFX came right back, winning of a corner of their own. There were tense moments as Corry juggled the ball for before finally wrapping up the cross-kick.

StFX continued to maintain pressure mustered the first real scoring chance of the contest when Ana Balbino created some space just outside the penalty area. The Dartmouth, N.S., native sent a hard short that sailed only a few feet above the crossbar.

In the 71st minute, another dangerous cross was sent by StFX and squirted loose for a few moments. Again, Corry jumped on the ball quickly, taking away a scoring opportunity for the X-Women.

The scoring chances continued, as Angela Sullivan of Scarborough, Ont., nearly put the Gaels on top in the 74th minute. She headed a wonderful corner kick by Kelli Chamberlain of North Bay, Ont., that rang off the crossbar and was eventually cleared by the StFX defence.

The end to end play continued, as Julie Griffiths of Thunder Bay, Ont., sent a beautiful through pass to forward Amy MacKinnon. Unfortunately for the X-Women, Corry was aggressive, coming off her line to jump on the ball before MacKinnon could get her foot on the ball.

With less than five minutes to go in regulation time, Jackie Tessier of Winnipeg was left alone with the ball and a clear shot in close on net. Thompson came up big, in what would be a game-saving play, sliding and tipping the ball off the shot by Tessier then quickly cleared by the X defence.

Queen’s opened the first extra frame with a chance, as Riley Filion of Alexandria, Ont., had her shot blocked by a defender after making a great run down the right flank. Tessier than lobbed a shot from well outside the penalty area that managed to bounce off the top of the crossbar and out of play.

The Gaels hard work finally paid off for in the 103rd minute when Kay found Senese in the box for the game-winner.

SCORING SUMMARY

QUE: 0-0-1-0:1
SFX: 0-0-0-0:0

First Half
no scoring

Second Half
no scoring

Overtime (2x15 minutes: no golden goal)
1. QUE, Christina Senese (1), 103rd

Goalkeepers:
QUE: Elena Corry (W, 0 GA, 1 save, 120:00 mins)
SFX: Anna Thompson (L, 1 GA, 4 saves, 120:00 mins)

Shots: QUE 15, SFX 4
Shots on Net: QUE 4, SFX 1
Corners: QUE 10, SFX 6
Offsides: QUE 0, SFX 0
Fouls: QUE 9, SFX 4
Yellow Cards: QUE (none), SFX (Allie Anderson)
Red Cards: none

Players of the game:
QUE: Mikyla Kay
SFX: Eugenia Renderos

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS

Thursday, Nov. 12
Quarter-final 1: Queen’s 1, StFX 0 (OT)
13:30 Quarter-final 2: Trinity Western vs. UPEI (SSN Canada webcast)
15:30 Quarter-final 3: York vs. UBC (SSN Canada webcast)
18:30 Quarter-final 4: Montreal vs. Toronto (SSN Canada webcast)

Friday, Nov. 13
13:30 Consolation 1: StFX vs. Loser QF 2 (SSN Canada webcast)
15:30 Consolation 2: Loser QF 3 vs. Loser QF 4 (SSN Canada webcast)

Saturday, Nov. 14
13:30 Semifinal 1: Queen’s vs. Winner QF 2 (SSN Canada webcast)
15:30 Semifinal 2: Winner QF 3 vs. Winner QF 4 (SSN Canada webcast)
18:30 Consolation final (5th-place match) (SSN Canada webcast)

Sunday, Nov. 15
14:00 Bronze medal (SSN Canada webcast)
17:00 Championship final (SSN Canada webcast)

- CIS -