WOLFVILLE, N.S. – The UOIT women's soccer team had their quest for a U Sports national championship come to an end on Friday afternoon as they fell 2-1 in overtime to the Laval Rouge et Or.
The Ridgebacks will now turn their attention to the national bronze medal game where they will take on the Queen's Gaels on Sunday, Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. EST. Queen's lost 1-0 in a shootout to the UBC Thunderbirds to set up the OUA championship rematch for bronze.
The gold medal game between UBC and Laval will kick off at 1:30 p.m.
The Ridgebacks did not get off to a great start in the semifinal match as Laval took a 1-0 lead in the seventh minute. With the Rouge et Or forwards on a 2-on-1, Ridgeback defender
Rachel Matthews (Ajax, Ont.) got her foot on the ball but deflected it over top of
Helen Frampton (Toronto, Ont.) who was charging out to challenge the play. The ball ended up rolling in the back of the net for a UOIT own goal.
Trailing for the first time in seven games, it did not take long for the Ridgebacks to bounce back as
Taijah Henderson (Ajax, Ont.) was sent in alone off a through ball from Thursday's hero
Shynice Williams (Mississauga, Ont.). Laval goalkeeper Marie-Joelle Vandal came out trying to break up the play but Henderson managed to dodge around her and score her first goal at the national championship.
In the second half, both teams had a number of scoring opportunities but the goaltenders managed to keep the offence off the board. The Ridgebacks best chance came off a corner kick by
Nicole Zajac (Mississauga, Ont.). Fifth-year senior
Jamie Ryan (Ottawa, Ont.) got her head on it but the ball sailed just wide.
Laval tried to crash the UOIT zone and create scoring opportunities but the Ridgebacks did a good job of neutralizing the Rouge et Or offence.
In the first period of overtime, Laval's Joelle Gosselin would capitalize on a broken play as the ball bounced to her in the slot all alone. The 2014 CIS championship MVP made no mistake as she blasted it by Frampton to put the Rouge et Or up 2-1.
The Ridgebacks would leave it all on the pitch looking to tie the game but time would eventually run out as Laval advanced to the national final for the second time in three years.
Henderson was named UOIT's player of the game,while third-year Laval defender Melissa Roy (Quebec City, Que.) got the nod for the Rouge et Or.
The Ridgebacks will look to accomplish another school first on Sunday as they aim to win UOIT's first medal at a national championship.
CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (All times Atlantic)
Thursday, Nov. 10
12:00 Quarter-final 1: Laval (5) vs Saskatchewan (0)
14:30 Quarter-final 2: UOIT (1) vs. Trinity Western (0)
17:00 Quarter-final 3: StFX (0) vs. Queen's (1)
19:30 Quarter-final 4: UBC (1) vs. Acadia (0)
Friday, Nov. 11
12:00 Consolation 1: Saskatchewan (1) vs. Trinity Western (0)
14:30 Consolation 2: Acadia (1) vs. StFX (0)
17:00 Semifinal 1: Laval (2) vs. UOIT (1)
19:30 Semifinal 2: UBC (1) vs. Queen's (0) (Fibe TV1 Channel 1/401 or Watch Online)
Saturday, Nov. 12
12:00 5th-place game Saskatchewan vs. Acadia (Watch Online)
Sunday, Nov. 13
12:00 Bronze medal UOIT vs. Queen's (Fibe TV1 Channel 1/401 or Watch Online)
14:30 Championship final Laval vs. UBC (Fibe TV1 Channel 1/401 or Watch Online)
