OSHAWA, Ont. – For the fourth straight season the UOIT women's soccer team will host a playoff game at home, but this year they are entering as the favourites after winning their first OUA eastern conference title in 2016.
 
The U Sports no. 3 ranked Ridgebacks (13-2-1) will host the Laurentian Voyageurs (9-6-1) on Saturday at the Oshawa Civic (main stadium) in the OUA quarter-finals with a trip to the final four on the line. Kick-off is scheduled for 3 p.m.
 
The two teams split their season series after each team won a game on the road. UOIT had a comeback 2-1 win in Sudbury on Sept. 18 that was followed by a Laurentian 1-0 shutout victory on Oct. 9 at Vaso's Field. This will mark the first time that the two teams have squared off in the postseason.
 
In 16 conference games, UOIT allowed an eastern conference-low nine goals against while scoring an OUA high 60 goals. Freshman Rhiannon Kissel (Peterborough, Ont.) led the OUA in scoring with 14 goals while Cassandra Sribny (Pickering, Ont.) was in the top five with nine.
 
Laurentian advanced to the OUA quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over the Carleton Ravens on Wednesday afternoon.
 
UOIT is 1-1 all-time in the OUA quarter-finals with their victory coming against the Toronto Varsity Blues in 2014. The Ridgebacks won a bronze medal that season and advanced to the national championship for the first time in program history.
 
UOIT Ridgebacks (Oshawa, Ont.)
Conference Record: 13-2-1
Home Record: 6-2-0
vs. Laurentian: 1-1-0
Top Scorers: R. Kissel – 14 G, C. Sribny – 9 G, 6 A
Top Goalkeeper: H. Frampton – 0.65 GAA
Goals For: 60
Goals Against: 9
Last Season: Loss OUA First Round vs. Carleton
 
Laurentian Voyageurs (Sudbury, Ont.)
Conference Record: 9--1
Road Record: 4-4-0
vs. UOIT: 1-1-1
Top Scorers: S.Sanford – 6 G, 2 A, S. Fitzgerald – 4 G, 5 A
Goals For: 30
Goals Against: 19
Last Season: Loss OUA Quarter-Final vs. Queen's