OUA Women's Soccer Final Four
UOIT off to OUA championship for the first time in program history
 
OSHAWA, Ont. – The UOIT women's soccer team is going where no Ridgeback team has gone before – to an OUA final four championship.
 
They made their way there by defeating the Toronto Varsity Blues 2-1 on Sunday in their OUA quarter-final at the Oshawa Civic.
 
"What an incredible achievement for a young school and an even younger soccer program," said head coach Peyvand Mossavat. "It's fantastic to see because they've worked so hard this season. We set goals as a team and they've achieved all of them and more. I couldn't ask for a better group of girls or a more committed group of coaches and staff. They got us to where we are today."
 
This weekend's championship opens on Saturday, Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. with the No. 6 ranked Ridgebacks facing the No. 5 ranked Western Mustangs.
 
The second semifinal between No. 1 ranked Ottawa and No. 4 ranked Wilfrid Laurier is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.
 
Sunday the bronze medal game is at 10 a.m. with the championship at 3 p.m. All games are being held at Ron Joyce Stadium at McMaster University.
 
"We feel that there is no pressure on us because we're the new team," said Mossavat. "They've all been there and not only won OUA championships, but been to nationals before. There's no pressure on us, but we've been working hard over the year for this game. We're going to go enjoy ourselves, work hard and hope to get some great results in terms of our performance and maximizing our potential."
 
Looking at the past two seasons, Mossavat said that experience has helped their team to be successful this year. Last year they lost the quarter-final game, but this year were able to win that game.
 
"Past experience is always handy," he said. "Last year we lost that game, but this year we won it. Our performance has proven that experience helps to get through tough games."
 
"The final four will be a battle and very demanding on the girls, but it's going to be exciting."
 
HEAD-TO-HEAD
UOIT Ridgebacks [Oshawa, Ont.]
Head Coach: Peyvand Mossavat
Conference Record: 12-2-2
Top Scorers: Shannon Lucas – 11 GP, 7 G & Cassandra Sribny – 16 GP, 7 G
Goals For: 42
Goals Against: 12
Last Season: Lost OUA quarter-final.
 
Western Mustangs [Toronto, Ont.]
Head Coach: Mark Painter
Conference Record: 13-2-1
Top Scorers: Amanda Boyle – GP 16, 21 G & Stephanie Di Tella 15 GP, 7 G
Goals For: 68
Goals Against: 6
Last Season: Lost CIS quarter-final and OUA final