Cavaliers dethrone Élans for first CCAA Women's Soccer title
GOLD MEDAL MATCH: Ch. Saint-Lambert Cavaliers 3, Élans de Garneau 2
An excellent tournament deserved an incredible final match, and the 2018 CCAA Women’s Soccer gold-medal game between les Élans de Garneau and the Champlain St-Lambert Cavaliers did not disappoint.
The first goal of the game was scored by Olga Massombo, who would go onto be named tournament MVP. A corner kick bounced around in the box before landing in front of Massombo, who emphatically fired it into the roof of the goal. But les Élans responded almost instantly, scoring in the next minute as Melissa Dagenais misplayed a cross into the box and Audrey Genois pounced on the loose ball to tie the game at one.
After the two-minute flurry of action, the pace of play settled down for the remainder of the half as the teams seemed happy to return to the dressing rooms with the score tied at one.
In the 57th minute, the Cavaliers regained the lead as Thalia Krauth-Ibarz helped on a through ball into the box. Again, les Élans would respond. Garneau was awarded a penalty in the 64th minute and Ève Malo converted to once again tie the game.
The crowd seemed to have accepted that 30 minutes of extra time would be necessary to decide a champion, but in the 88th minute, Thalia Krauth-Ibarz scored her second of the match to break the 4-year championship streak of Garneau and bring the gold medal home to Saint-Lambert.
4imprint Players of the Game were Ariane Langlois of Garneau and Champlain Saint-Lambert’s Thalia Krauth-Ibarz.
BRONZE MEDAL MATCH: Fanshawe Falcons 2, Douglas Royals 1
In the bronze medal match, the Fanshawe Falcons and Douglas College Royals fought a hotly contested battle that saw the Falcons just barely come out on top.
The opening half was an excellent exhibition of high-octane, open-field play, with both teams pushing hard to score the opening goal. It took until just 5 minutes before the end of the half when a beautiful strike from Robyn Scott put the Falcons on top with halftime looming.
In the 52nd minute, the Royals were awarded a free kick, and with Sam Kell's set-piece delivery responsible for a fair number of Douglas goals in the tournament, it seemed their best chance to equalise. The resulting cross was headed home by Alyssa Lum, sending roars throughout Percy Perry Stadium as the hosts drew level.
The game appeared destined for extra time, but in the 84th minute, a Falcons corner found Nicole Nielsen, who headed the ball past Royals keeper Alexa Gazzola to give Fanshawe the lead with just over five minutes in regulation.
Despite six minutes of added time and a huge push from the Royals, the match ended 2-1 and the Falcons won their first CCAA medal since 2009.
Player of the Game honours went to Hannah Dela Cruz of Douglas College, and the Falcons' Robyn Scott.
MATCH 12: VIU Mariners 1, NAIT Ooks 0
In the 5/6 placement game, the VIU Mariners and NAIT Ooks played to a thrilling conclusion, as a late-game goal pushed the PACWEST champs over the ACAC gold medallists.
The game had a cagey start, with both sides reluctant to give the other any opportunities to break through. Chloe Gummer and Shea Battie did get some open looks at goal, but both Mariners put the ball wide of the net. Most chances in the match sailed wide of goal, with both goalkeepers mostly inactive in the first half of play.
The second half saw some more open play as both sides sought to break the deadlock, but most attempts that did get through to Toni Burse and Melanie Osborne were handled without any difficulty. Burse had an excellent tournament; however a deflected shot from Nicole Foglietta in the 87th minute broke the tie.
With the Ooks down a goal, they stepped on the accelerator, but couldn't quite find an equaliser despite a great opportunity from an Augustine Gallardo free-kick, as the Mariners finished in 5th.
The 4imprint players of the game were Samantha Weech of NAIT and VIU's Natsu Yayama.
MATCH 11: SAIT Trojans 2, MSVU Mystics
The 7/8 placement game was between the ACAC runners-up SAIT Trojans and ACAA champions MSVU Mystics.
The Trojans got on the board in the first half as Taylor Zimmer scored her first of the tournament to give SAIT the advantage heading into halftime. 20 minutes into the second half of play, Mataya Blakney doubled the SAIT lead. Blakney had an excellent tournament, as she contributed to so much of the Trojans' incisive forward play. The Mystics had no answer for the relentless Trojans attack, as the game finished 2-0.
4imprint Player of the Game honours were awarded to MSVU's Julia Short and Jaime McPherson of SAIT.
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