CIS women's soccer Saturday roundup

The X-Women soccer team opened up and scored 8 goals over two days en route to consecutive wins this past weekend. Friday evening, StFX topped the Cape Breton Capers 4-1, and followed that up with a 4-0 shutout over the UNB Varsity Reds Saturday afternoon. Both games were played at StFX Oland Stadium.
 
X-Women head coach Trevor Reddick was pleased with his teams' play, commenting “I thought we played very well over all. We generated great scoring chances and we were able to capitalize on quite a few. We were also very solid defensively. We play a possession style of play and we had the majority during both games this weekend which I was pleased to see.”
 
“I thought our work rate was impressive, especially for the first game. Over all I think it's starting to come together for us. It only gets harder from here on in so we have to continue to play smart and with a sense of urgency.”
 
On Friday evening against the Capers, the X-Women were led by strikers Olivia Zanette and Jordan Brass who each scored two goals for the home squad.
 
It was the Capers, however, who opened the scoring in the game as Erika Lannon made good on a penalty kick in the 9th minute after X-Women defender Meaghan Ramsden was assessed a foul. The Capers came out strong in the opening 15 minutes of play.
 
StFX didn't waste any time getting back into the game as Zanette notched her first goal in the 14th minute, volleying in a cross from Maura Woodman who beat a Capers defender to set up the play.
 
Brass scored the game winning goal in the 29th minute after Zanette sent the ball through to her as she broke in and beat Capers goalkeeper Tiffany O'Donnell low in the right corner of the net. Zanette tallied her second goal of the match in the 36th minute to give the X-Women a 3-1 lead at half-time. Brass was again in on the play as she headed the ball across the top of the 18 yard box to Zanette who fired a high, hard shot to the back of the net.
 
The two continued their strong play up front in the second half. The X-Women kept the Capers off the score board for the remaining 45 minutes and Brass added to the X lead in the 82nd minute as chipped a deflected ball in over O'Donnell's head.
 
Maris Miller played well in the StFX net as she recorded 11 saves in the game. The X-Women outshot the Capers 22-18.
 
Zanette earned Subway Player of the Game honors for StFX while Lauren Ferguson was the Capers top player.
 
The X-Women continued their scoring streak on Saturday afternoon as they shutout the visiting UNB Varsity Reds by a 4-0 score. All the goals came in the second half, including two from midfielder Kirsten Desjardins-Lorimer.
 
The two teams played to a scoreless first half. The Varsity Reds had a good scoring chance approximately 30 minutes into the game as Elise Arseneau rang one off the cross bar. Zanette replied with a scoring chance for StFX on the next play down field but was stopped by UNB keeper Jackie Blank.
 
Play in the second half remained scoreless until the 62nd minute when Vanessa Smykalski connected on a broken play and capitalized on an error by the V-Reds keeper to put the X-Women on the board.
 
Desjardins-Lorimer, who entered the game as the second half began, then scored goals just over five minutes apart in the 71st and 76th minutes to put the game out of reach. After StFX keeper Maris Miller made a diving goal-saving save off Brianna Ford, Desjardins-Lorimer's second goal was a timely one. Blank got a hand on the shot but it had enough behind it to find the back of the net.
 
Her second marker was volleyed into the net off a Mallory MacDonnell pass as Blank was screened on the shot.
 
Freshman defender Gabby Bergh added to the StFX lead late in the game in the 89th minute as she scored her first career AUS goal, knocking the ball in the net after a couple of deflections around the box.
 
When extra time ran out, Miller earned the shutout win in nets for the X-Women, her second win in as many days. She had 7 saves as the X-Women outshot the Varsity Reds 15-9.
 
Desjardins-Lorimer was named the Subway Player of the Game for her two-goal effort.
 
With the two wins, the X-Women improve to 6-4-1 on the season with two games remaining on the schedule. Friday night, Oct. 28th they will travel to Sydney, NS for a re-match against the Capers before hosting the Saint Mary's Huskies on Sunday afternoon in Antigonish. Game time is 1:00 pm at Oland Stadium.

Source: StFX Sports Info

KINGSTON, Ont. - The Gaels defeated the Nipissing Lakers this Saturday afternoon at Tindall Field. After defeating the Lakers just one week ago on the road, the Gaels continued their dominance at home, wining 6-1.
 
Jacqueline Tessier of Winnipeg, started things off for the Gaels setting the tone in the third minute and scoring her first of the match. One minute later, Jessie De Boer of Vancouver added another. The early 2-0 lead had the Lakers on their heels. With five minutes left in the half, Breanna Burton of Ottawa added another for the Gaels. They entered half with a comfortable lead.
 
The second half started just like the first, with Tessier scoring an early goal, her second of the game. The Gaels did not let up. Julia Cory, of Vancouver, scored at the 78 minute mark and Kayla Crnic, of Milton Ont., in the 86th. It was an offensive show for the Gaels.
 
Nadia Pagliarello of Ottawa scored the lone goal for the Lakers.
 
The win brings the third-ranked Gaels record to 13-1-1.
 
The Gaels are back in action tomorrow afternoon, taking on the Laurentien Lady Vees at noon at Richardson Stadium.  

Source: Queen's Sports Info

KINGSTON, Ont. - The Lady Vees looked to keep their hopes alive for a home playoff game when they squared off on a chilly afternoon in Kingston versus RMC. Overcoming a first half goal and a penalty shot by RMC, the Lady Vees battled back with a 90th minute equalizer by Amy-Lynn Pitton (Brampton, ON) to escape with a point.

The first half saw some sloppy play lead to difficulties generating scoring chances on both sides of the ball. Both RMC and Laurentian exchanged a few ambitious efforts but weren't really able to get much going. RMC was first to break through when off a set piece, Michelle Hamilton (Winnipeg, MB) was able to get a solid touch and put the ball in the back of the Laurentian net, sending RMC into the half with a 1-0 lead.

The second half saw Laurentian change gears, carrying the play and generating numerous early chances. In the 55th minute Leanne Adams (Mississauga, ON) had a great opportunity when a deflection had the ball drop to her foot but was unfortunate not to get off a quality strike, allowing the keeper to make the easy save. Laurentian continued the upbeat play but in the 75th minute RMC were awarded a penalty and Hamilton looked to put the game out of reach with her second goal of the afternoon. Luckily for the Vees she sailed her shot over the Laurentian goal. This proved costly as the Vees continued to mount their attacks and in the 90th minute Amy-Lynn Pitton (Brampton, ON) would not be denied, shielding off an RMC defender and sending her shot off another defender and into the back of the net, avoiding what would have been a costly loss.

Laurentian head coach, Rob Gallo, was pleased with the character that the team showed in coming back from a goal down late to earn a draw. "We should have been up a couple of goals early missing a few key chances, but Im pleased with the effort the ladies put in to get a point and keep our hopes alive to host a playoff game."

The Lady Vees move to 7-5-3 on the season and look to clinch a home playoff game tomorrow when they battle Queens. Continue to follow www.luvoyageurs.com to keep up to date with your Voyageurs and Lady Vees!

Source: Laurentian Sports Info

WINNIPEG - It was a Canada West battle as well as a battle to keep warm on Saturday, October 22 afternoon, as the University of Manitoba Bisons women’s soccer team suffered a 2-0 loss against the University of Calgary Dinos. Despite a great effort on behalf of the Bisons, Calgary’s defensive unit simply proved to be too much to overcome in the Dinos’ blanking of Manitoba.

With the results of today’s game, the Bisons fall to 2-7-2 on their season, while the Dinos climb to 5-3-3.

Calgary’s goals were scored by Robyn Dutton and Lauren Deeks, while their net minder Kristen Barton made 11 saves.

The Bisons’ goaltender Chloe Werle also made 11 saves on the afternoon.

The Bisons struggled to get a lot of possession time in Calgary’s zone in the first half. Early on in the half, it looked as though Manitoba’s Alison Flintoft could put her team on the board, as she got a point blank shot on net, but Dinos net minder Kristen Barton centered herself to the shot, and didn’t even allow a rebound, keeping the game scoreless.

In the 37th minute, Calgary’s Robyn Dutton fired a high shot on net at medium range that looked like it might just miss the net on the far side. As the ball soared over top of Bisons goalie Chloe Werle’s head, things took a turn for the worst, as the ball just hit the inside post and bounced across the line, putting the Dinos up 1-0 near the end of the first.

The Bisons put up a good fight in the second half, but ultimately it was Calgary’s defence that would prevent them putting up a point. As time began to wind down in the second half, Manitoba desperately needed a goal to get back in the game, but it would be the Dinos’ Lauren Deeks who would put another past Werle in the 78th minute, giving Calgary the 2-0 lead, which would end up being the final score.

The Manitoba Bisons are in action next Sunday, October 23 as they take on the University of Lethbridge Pronghorns at the Unversity of Manitoba Turf Field West. Game time is 12 p.m. CT.

Source: Manitoba Sports Info

GUELPH, Ont. - The Guelph Gryphon women’s soccer team defeated the Windsor Lancers 3-2 this afternoon at the Gryphon Soccer Complex.  The Gryphons advance to 5-6-2 on the season.
 
Guelph lead at half time 1-0 on a goal by Heather Kendall (Newmarket, Ont.) who received an excellent cross field pass from Jenny Dunn (West Vancouver, BC) and beat the Windsor goalkeeper with a well placed far post shot.  Guelph went up 2-0 in the first five minutes of the second half on a goal by Courtney Whiteside (Guelph, Ont.) who beat the Windsor goalkeeper after a strong 30 yard run.  Guelph went up 3-0 midway through the second half when Katie Casucci (Niagara Falls, Ont.) scored on an excellent long range shot that eluded the Windsor goalkeeper.  
 
At that point Windsor threw many players forward and despite stalwart defending by the Gryphon back four, Windsor pulled two goal back to make the score 3-2 but it wasn’t enough as the Gryphons held on for the victory.
 
Guelph is back in action tomorrow, hosting the Waterloo Warriors at 1:00 p.m. With a win against Waterloo, Guelph hopes to gain home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs.

Source: Guelph Sports Info

OTTAWA - The Gee-Gees began the most important weekend of the regular season against the Ryerson Rams in a difficult late season matchup on Saturday afternoon. The two teams had met early on in the season, drawing to a 0-0 tie at Ryerson’s home field. However, on Saturday afternoon, the Gee-Gees would use their well-balanced attack to beat the Rams 3-0.
 
The Garnet & Grey took to the field knowing that they had to win the final two games of the regular season to finish in second spot heading into the playoffs. Despite the pressure, though, the Gee-Gees played a well-organized game, never panicking and eliminating mistakes.
 
It was a slow start to the afternoon, with neither team establishing a substantial attack for the first part of the match. Late in the half, however, Rams goaltender Lauren Lasalle was put to the test, making two key stops on Gee-Gee striker Elisabeth Wong (Nepean, Ont.). The Gee-Gees would also be denied by the post on a last minute corner kick attempt.
 
The Gee-Gees came out of the gate strong in the second half, though, mounting an immediate attack. Finally, in the 68th minute, the offensive pairing of Wong and Julia Francki (Orleans, Ont.) combined to put the Gee-Gees up by one. Wong used her fancy footwork to draw two Rams defenders in, leaving a wide open Francki in front of the net. Francki took the pass from Wong and slid a low, cross-net kick past the goaltender.
 
“It took us quite a while to establish a rhythm,” explained Gee-Gees head coach Steve Johnson. “[Ryerson] looked like a team that was better prepared in the early going. We looked somewhat tentative early on, but once we settled in, we were the better team.”
 
The home team would go on to score two more goals in the last 10 minutes of the game, pushing the game out of reach for a Ryerson team who only registered one shot on goal during the game. Goals came from Gillian Baggott (Ottawa, Ont.), who elevated higher than everyone and placed a powerful header in the Rams net, as well as Christine Hardie (Pictou, N.S.), who finished off an offensive scramble in front of the Ryerson goal.
 
The Gee-Gees will play their final match of the regular season against Toronto on Sunday, October 23, at 1:00 p.m. The two teams will be battling for second spot in OUA East standings. “Tomorrow’s game against Toronto will not be easy,” explained Johnson. “I expect it to be a playoff-type atmosphere. We have to be very good at the back, and we need to be able to score the way we have all season.” 

Source: Ottawa Sports Info

OTTAWA - The Carleton University Ravens women’s soccer team dropped to fifth place in the OUA East as they fell 4-1 to the No. 9 nationally ranked University of Toronto Varsity Blues Saturday afternoon at Ravens’ Field.
 
The Varsity Blues scored the match’s first marker in the 15th minute as striker Aisha Lewis (Mississauga, Ont.) collected a ball from an Olivia Gonslaves (Scarborough, Ont.) header on her run to the net and found the far bottom corner with her shot.
 
Toronto kept pushing for another goal before the break, but couldn’t beat Carleton keeper Anna Morsky (Saskatoon).
 
She stopped a Lewis cross in the 19th minute that would’ve led to a sure goal if she hadn’t.
 
And with 14 minutes left in the half, she got just enough of her fingertips on a header that Lewis earned from a clean cross.
 
But the lead was doubled just eight minutes into the second half when Lewis eluded Ravens right back Jennifer Tutton (Dartmouth, N.S.) and connected with Jessica Fantozzi (West Vancouver), who made no mistake on her opportunity.
 
The game then saw back-and-forth action until Carleton collapsed late.
 
Varsity Blues striker Hattie Daumann (Vancouver) was left unmarked in the 86th minute and crossed to Eilish McConville (Ottawa) who cleanly headed the ball on her run to the net to beat the recently subbed-in Rachel Bedek (St. Thomas, Ont.).
 
And with just a minute to go, Fantozzi easily earned her second goal of the outing as she was allowed to get a shot off in the six-yard box.
 
Adrianna Ruggiero (Markham, Ont.) responded for her Ravens just a few moments after, but it was too late to mount a comeback.
 
The loss drops Carleton to 7-6-2, one point behind the Laurentian University Lady Vees. The Ravens will look to find the win column in their last game of the season on Sunday, Oct. 23 against the Ryerson University Rams. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Source: Carleton Sports Info

REGINA - Neither team was able to score in the first 89 minutes of the contest, but Regina and Lethbridge traded goals in the waning moments as their Canada West women's soccer match ended in a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon at the U of R Field.
 
It looked as though the match was destined to end in a scoreless draw, but the Cougars got a goal from the unlikeliest of sources to grab a late lead.
 
Rookie Racquel Marshall – who hadn't played a game for the Cougars all season – was subbed into the game in the 88th minute and scored almost immediately. Fellow first-year player Adriana McCullough fed a high through ball to Marshall, who tucked it past Lethbridge goalkeeper Taura Willoughby and inside the right post to score the first goal of the match.
 
But just when the Cougars were prepared to celebrate their second win of the season, Lethbridge (0-9-2) struck deep in injury time on a play that started when Stephanie Groten sent a high ball into the box. A Cougar defender attempted to head the ball out of trouble but the attempted clearance went directly to Janelle Groten, who found the back of the net for her first of the season.
 
“We did a lot of good things throughout the game and got a number of scoring opportunities in close, but we've got to learn to seal the door when we're up late in the game,” Cougars head coach Bob Maltman said. “Lethbridge's keeper was strong today, and Stephanie Possberg had a very good game in the net for us as well.”
 
The Cougars (1-8-2) held a 12-9 shot advantage in the draw. Eight of Lethbridge's nine shot attempts came in the first half.
 
Lethbridge will travel to Winnipeg today for a Sunday match against Manitoba, while the Cougars will host Calgary in their final home match of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for high noon at the U of R Field.

Source: Regina Sports Info

The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades fell, 2-1 to the University of Victoria Vikes, at Bateman Park, in Abbotsford, BC. The Cascades Canada West regular season record falls to 3-7-3 for 12 points, while the Vikes improves to   6-4-3 for 21 points and keeps the Vikes in the post season hunt for the fourth and final playoff spot. 

The Cascades played a near perfect first half keeping Victoria’s offense in check, controlling the majority of play in the midfield and winning most of the loose ball battles.  The Cascades offense opened the scoring as fifth year senior Ellen Kuyer, Surrey, BC scored her final home goal at the 18th minute from a pass from Danika Snook, Chilliwack, BC.  The goal coupled with several great saves by UFV goalkeeper Chantelle Biagioni, Pitt Meadows, BC gave the home team the lead at the break.  UFV out shot Victoria 7 to 2  in the first half.

The second half started off where the first ended with UFV holding Victoria in check, and for 81 minutes it looked like the Cascades would hold on for the victory.  But the Vikes had other ideas as they scored back to back goals in a three minute span to keep their post season dreams alive. Shannon Elder, Victoria, BC scored her second and third goals of the season to send UFV to its 7th conference loss of the year.   The Vikes Stephanie Parker, Chemainus, BC held on for the win in the Victoria net, she recorded 10 saves in the match. 

Source: UFV Sports Info