CIS women's soccer Sunday roundp

TORONTO - Laura Machado’s goal off the opening kick would prove to be the game-winner as the Varsity Blues women’s soccer team shut out the Carleton Ravens 2-0 on Sunday, September 4 at Varsity Centre.
 
With the win, the Blues improve to 1-1 in regular season action.
 
Second-year striker Hattie Daumann (Vancouver) tallied Toronto’s other goal, in the 18th minute of the contest.
 
Second-year goalkeeper Monica Maher of Oakville, Ont., earned the shut out.
 
The Varsity Blues return to the field next Saturday, September 10 as they host the Nipissing Lakers at Varsity Centre. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

Source: Toronto Sports Info

TORONTO- The Ryerson Rams women's soccer team earned its first point of the season on Sunday afternoon, playing to a scoreless draw with the Ottawa Gee-Gees at Lamport Stadium.

Making her first start in net for the Rams, Barrie Ont. native Lauren LaSalle made three saves to earn the shutout while Ryerson's defense held strong amidst continued offensive pressure from the Gee-Gees throughout the contest.

The Gee-Gees controlled the play in the opening 25 minutes, as their forwards forced the Ryerson backs into committing several fouls that resulted in free kicks from dangerous spots within the Rams' half. 

Although Ottawa dictated the pace of the match throughout most of the first half, they could not capitalize as the backline of Ryerson held strong, limiting their scoring opportunities.

The Gee-Gees best chance came when a strong run by their high striker forced rookie Sarah Slattery (St. Catharines, Ont.) to commit a hard foul, thwarting a sure breakaway but also resulting in a yellow card for the rookie.  Kaitlind Smith's ensuing free kick soared just over the cross bar, keeping the game level at 0-0.

Andrea Raso (Etobicoke, Ont.) had the best chance of the contest for the Rams after finding some space at the top of the box, but her shot flew over the net as well.

Ryerson's defenders held strong in the second half with last year's OUA bronze medalists continuing to apply pressure, but unable to create genuine scoring chances.

The Rams couldn't muster up an attack in response, but three substitutions late in the match allowed them to stay fresh and maintain their defensive structure. 

Ottawa did earn a couple of corner kicks in the latter stages, but never could get the ball headed toward the target from the respective crosses. 

Associate Coach Ramin Mohammadi felt the women were much better defensively, improving on their performance from yesterday's loss to Carleton against a very strong Gee-Gees squad.

"Sarah and Elyse (Hanec) did a great job in the centre," Mohammadi said.  "We were more compact and didn't let them break us down."

The Rams continue their home stand next weekend at Lamport Stadium, where they will take on Laurentian and Nipissing on Saturday and Sunday respectively.  The Lady Vees and Lakers both finished just ahead of the Rams one season ago, knocking the women out of the post-season picture. 

Although it is only the second weekend of the season, it will be critical for Ryerson to take points in each of those matches to give them a head up on the OUA playoff race, and Mohammadi explained that while he was happy with the progression of their defense, the women will need to focus on their finishing in order to continue in the right direction.

"We will focus on attacking and creating more options (for our forwards)," he said. "We have to get in offensive shape and we will be successful."

Source: Ryerson Sports Info

HAMILTON, Ont. -  The McMaster women's soccer team won their second match of the 2011 season over division rivals the Western Mustangs by a score of 2-1. Marauder Stephanie Davis (Mississauga, Ont.) would score both goals for McMaster in the win.
 
The opening half of the match saw Western take control early on, keeping possession in the middle of the field. As the Marauders began to push back, McMaster earned a penalty shot in the 17th minute, thanks to a foul in the 18-yard box from a Mustangs defender. Tara Dawdy (Burlington, Ont.) took the shot for the Marauders but was stopped by Western goal keeper Melanie Oberholzer (Kitchener, Ont.).
 
The first half would end scoreless for both teams.
 
In the second half of the match. Both teams would come out fighting with chances on both ends of the field. The first goal of the match would come from McMaster's Davis. The rookie would come off the bench to score the first goal of the match off a breakaway pass, beating Oberholzer in the 57th minute.
 
Within two minutes, Western would respond with a goal of their own to tie up the match. Mustang midfielder Christina Marchionda (Welland, Ont.) would earn Western's first and only goal of the game off a corner kick in the 59th minute.
 
With the score all tied up once again, both teams would fight for mid-field possession. It wouldn't be until the 79th minute that the game would be decided. Forward Davis would score her second goal of the match for the Marauders off a header from a free kick.
 
McMaster's Kirsten Lowe (Acton, Ont.) and Kristina Mlakar (Mississauga, Ont.) would continue to be solid for the Marauders throughout the match to help the Marauders earn the win.
 
The McMaster women's soccer team finishes the opening weekend of the soccer season undefeated and will head to York University to take on the Lions on Wednesday afternoon.  

Source: McMaster Sports Info