QUARTER-FINAL #2: 2009 CIS women’s soccer championship: Reigning champion Spartans off to good start

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

TORONTO (CIS) – Reigning CIS rookie of the year Alicia Tesan scored in the 22nd minute and the reigning national champion Trinity Western Spartans held on for a 1-0 victory over the UPEI Panthers in the second quarter-final duel at the CIS women’s soccer championship at Varsity Centre, Thursday afternoon.

The 2009 Canada West champion Spartans, who captured the second Gladys Bean memorial trophy in program history on home turf a year ago, advance to Saturday’s early semifinal at 1:30 p.m. where they face OUA finalist Queen’s, which upset AUS champion StFX 1-0 in overtime in the tournament opener.

UPEI moves to the consolation side of the draw and will battle StFX Friday at 1:30 p.m. in a rematch of last Sunday’s Atlantic final, which StFX won 2-1 in penalty kicks.

Trinity Western held the play for the majority of the first half, moving the ball well to keep the Panthers trapped in their own end.

The Spartans opened the scoring when Melissa Mobilio of Coquitlam, B.C., deked through a UPEI defender and sent a beautiful cross to Tesan, who headed the ball into the top corner of the net.

Tesan, a Vancouver native, was named the nation’s top freshman on Wednesday night following a seven-goal season in the Canada West.

UPEI’s defenders kicked it up a notch to withstand the continuing Trinity Western pressure as the Spartans held a 1-0 lead at the half.

Back from the break, the Panthers nearly got on the board when fourth-year all-Canadian striker Tessa Roche of Charlottetown sent a free kick from 30 yards out just wide of the net.

In TWU’s continuing pressure, Tesan sent a shot through that rang off the crossbar in the 67th minute. Just minutes later, Surrey, B.C., native Tessa Meyer shot a hard ball towards the Panthers’ net, however, goalkeeper Chanelle Roy of Bathurst N.B., stood tall to keep the game within reach.

UPEI managed to get another free kick within scoring range in the 81st minute but Roche would fire the ball over the net for what would be the Panthers’ last good scoring opportunity of the game.

Despite a UPEI offensive rush in the last two minutes, the Spartans held on to book a spot in the semifinal round

Roy was named the Panthers’ player of the match for her four-save performance, while Meyer earned player-of-the-game status for Trinity Western for her dominant control of the midfield throughout the game.

SCORING SUMMARY

TWU: 1-0:1
UPEI: 0-0:0

First Half
1. TWU, Alicia Tesan (1), 26th

Second Half
No scoring

Goalkeepers:
TWU: Kristen Funk (W, 0 GA, 1 save, 90:00 mins)
UPEI: Chanelle Roy (L, 1 GA, 4 saves, 90:00 mins)

Shots: TWU 8, UPEI 4
Shots on Net: TWU 5, UPEI 1
Corners: TWU 6, UPEI 2
Offsides: TWU 0, UPEI 0
Fouls: TWU 4, UPEI 6
Yellow Cards: none
Red Cards: none

Players of the game:
TWU: Tessa Meyer
UPEI: Chanelle Roy

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS

Thursday, Nov. 12
Quarter-final 1: Queen’s 1, StFX 0 (OT)
Quarter-final 2: Trinity Western 1, UPEI 0
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. UPEI (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. Trinity Western (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 -