WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The UOIT women's soccer team advanced to the U Sports semifinal for the first time in program history after earning a 1-0 overtime victory over the Trinity Western Spartans on Thursday afternoon.
Shynice Williams (Mississauga, Ont.) was the hero for the Ridgebacks scoring the game-winning goal in the opening minute of the second 15-minute overtime half.
Williams' goal came at the hands of a defending error when a pass from
Taijah Henderson (Ajax, Ont.) was deflected back to her in the crease as she had an easy kick for the game's lone goal.
The Ridgebacks, who captured the OUA championship for the first time in program history on Sunday, stuck to their game plan, which was executed to perfection.
"We had a game plan going in and we followed it to a tee. We have always prepared ourselves to 120 minutes and I think that's what we did and that's why we had the upper hand today," said Adidas Player of the Game
Kylie Bordeleau (Cambridge, Ont.).
"Our coaches were well prepared in letting us know where to play on the field and what to take advantage of for us to be successful. We knew we had to play our game," added Bordeleau.
In tight and physical game where the defenders dominated, both teams landed one shot on goal but UOIT posted five shots in the second half and overtime with near misses throughout play.
During the second half, Williams had the best chance of the game when she fired one off the post that deflected back into play but Trinity Western All-Canadian goalkeeper Ally Williamson was able to pull it in.
At the other end of the field,
Helen Frampton (Toronto, Ont.) earned the shutout victory. Despite only stopping one shot on target, Frampton was effective breaking up a number of Spartan crosses in the box.
Trinity Western will move onto the consolation round, a different direction for the Spartans who a year ago fell short in winning a CIS championship in a 3-0 loss to UBC.
The quarter-final game was a rematch of the Ridgebacks opening game at the 2014 championship. That year, the Spartans came out on top with a 4-1 victory.
UOIT continues to set program records with their first win at the U Sports championship. This was Trinity Western's first loss in the opening round of the national championship since 2011. Heading into the championship, the Spartans had reached the national title game in five straight years.
UOIT will now take on Laval in the first semifinal match on Friday beginning at 4 p.m. EST. The Saskatchewan Huskies will be taking on the Spartans in the first of two consolation games beginning at 11 a.m. EST.
