OUA playoff roundup: Gee-Gees, Ravens, Marauders and Badgers advance

OTTAWA - The Ottawa Gee-Gees advanced to the next round of the OUA playoffs with a convincing 2-0 win over the Laurentian Voyageurs on Wednesday evening. The Gee-Gees opened the scoring early in the first half on a header by Dominique Falardeau (Gatineau, Que.) at the seven-minute mark. A late goal by Sarah De Carufel (Laval, Que.) with only 11 minutes remaining in the game secured the win for the Gee-Gees.

Goalkeeper Mélissa Pesant (Gatineau, Que.) recorded the shut-out for the Gee-Gees, their 11th of the season.

"It was great playoff soccer. The Gee-Gees and the Voyageurs both put forth strong, physical, passionate efforts," said Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson. "Our back line played well, our midfielders were creative and our strikers had some good scoring opportunities."

The Gee-Gees had a number of starters not in the line-up this evening including defenders Gillian Baggot (Ottawa), Leslie Martin (Oakville, Ont.) and Nikki Moreau (Almonte, Ont.).

"We are looking to put forth the same kind of effort against Toronto (on Saturday). We just need to finish better because we won't get as many scoring opportunities as we did tonight" said Johnson. "I'm very proud of the players for not backing down from Laurentian's aggressive play."

With Wednesday's victory, the Gee-Gees advance to the OUA quarter-finals Saturday at 1 p.m. when they take on the University of Toronto Varsity Blues (11-1-4).

The University of Toronto finished in second place in the OUA East, one point ahead of the Gee-Gees.

In their two match-ups this season, the Gee-Gees defeated the Varsity Blues 2-0 on Oct. 10, the Blues only loss of the regular season, and tied them 1-1 in their final regular season game last weekend.

The winner of Saturday's game will go on to the OUA Final Four tournament which will be hosted by the winner of the OUA West division Nov. 7-8, 2009.

The OUA quarter-final match-up between the Gee-Gees and the Varsity Blues will be webcast live on www.ssncanada.ca.

CARLETON 2, NIPISSING 1

At Nipissing, the Lady Lakers soccer season has come to a disappointing end after the visiting Carleton Ravens scored twice in three minutes late in the game to notch the 2-1 come-from-behind victory.

The Lakers got off to a terrific start generating numerous chances early in the match. Kim Tait put the Lakers up 1-0 when she placed a beautiful strike from a corner kick to the top left corner of the net eluding Carleton keeper Rachel Bedek.

The Lady Lakers continued to press and created some quality scoring opportunities collecting four additional corner kicks in the half, however, none would find the back of the mesh.

Carleton's best chance came when they penetrated the Lakers zone and rang a shot off the post that was tapped in, however, the play was called back on an offside violation.

During injury time Stephanie Stubbert made a great run down the left flank as she carried the ball and fired a shot that deflected off a Raven defender. The Lakers were awarded a corner, however, the referee blew her whistle indicating half time before the Lakers could take the kick.

In the second half it was Carleton who came out with renewed intensity and generated several opportunities one of which included a partial breakaway by Amanda Ngwafusi that was denied by a diving Sam Behm.

Behm came to the rescue again minutes later when she made a spectacular diving save taking away a sure goal from Natalie Griffith who blasted a ball that landed at her feet inside the 18 yard from the resulting corner kick.

Ngwafusi would exact her revenge as a ball skipped passed a Lakers defender and she was sent in all alone and this time made no mistake chipping the ball over an outstretched Behm.

The Lady Lakers responded quickly by sending in Leesa Church on a through ball but she could not beat Bedek who caught the ball.

Lakers midfielder Alex Instance had a chance to put the Lakers up, however, her strike drifted past the right cross bar.

Carleton's Shayla Lavecchia who entered the game minutes before scoring found herself in the right place at the right time. The Lakers defence attempted to clear the ball and it bounced off a Carleton player right to Lavecchia who chipped it high past Behm giving the Ravens the 2-1 lead.

The Lakers pressed hard for the equalizer creating three quality chances however one shot sailed wide and Bedek made two key saves down the stretch to preserve the victory for Carleton. The Ravens now move on to the second round of the playoffs.

BROCK 5, WINDSOR 0

At Brock, the host Badgers blanked the Windsor Lancers by the score of 5-0 in the OUA West quarter-finals Wednesday afternoon. With the victory the Badgers now take on the second place Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in the OUA West semifinal this Saturday

Brock opened the scoring just 13 minutes in when senior Lisa D'Aguanno (Richmond Hill, Ont.) buried a loose ball in front of the goal. D'Aguanno would make it 2-0 at 22 minutes when she connected on a header off a free ball from Cassandra Van Bakel (Aurora, Ont.). Freshman Lindsay McDonald (Burlington, Ont.) gave the Badgers a 3-0 lead in the 35th minute lead when shy walked through the Lancers defence and beat Danielle St. Germaine.

Three minutes into the second half, Jordanna Phillips (Markham, Ont.) put the Badgers up 4-0 as she recorded her first of the post-season. Just two minutes later, Van Bakel would beat the Lancers defence down the left hand side and in full stride buried a bullet past St. Germaine for her team leading sixth goal this season.

MCMASTER 4, WESTERN 1

At McMaster, the host Marauders defeated the Western Mustangs 4-1.

The Marauders built a 4-0 lead before Stephanie Pizzitelli scored in the 81st minute for Western's only goal at Ron Joyce Stadium in Hamilton.

McMaster jumped out to a 2-0 lead at the half with Haley Marler (Ancaster, Ont.) and Maria Cusimano (North York, Ont) scoring goals for the Marauders.

In the second half, McMaster would extend their lead to 4-0 with Tara Dawdy (Burlington, Ont) and Melanie Van der Hoop (Oakville, Ont) netting goals for the home squad.

The McMaster shutout was broken in extra time, when Pizzitelli (Aurora, Ont) from the Western Mustangs directed a ball passed McMaster goalkeeper, Michelle Spadafora (Dundas, Ont).

McMaster will now face the OUA West leader York Lions on Saturday in a division semifinal game.

OTTAWA 2, LAURENTIAN 1

Source:

Nipissing Lakers, Brock Badgers, Western Mustangs with files from OUA communications