Saint-Lambert and Garneau to meet in rematch of 2017 CCAA Women's Soccer Final
MATCH 5: VIU Mariners 5, MSVU Mystics 0
After a tough 3-1 loss to a strong Champlain team, the VIU Mariners regrouped and put together an impeccable performance against the MSVU Mystics.
The Mariners started strong with a 5th minute goal, as Kanae Yamamoto attempted a cross that took a wild bounce in front of Caroline Larocque and flew into the net. In the 13th minute, Shae Battie got on the end of a Yamamoto free-kick to head home her second goal of the tournament. Battie’s goal was followed by a beautiful strike from the edge of the box by Justine McMahon to extend the lead to three goals.
The game quieted down until the 65th minute, when Kate Reynolds finished a beautiful series of Mariners passes to up the lead to 4, and did the same 5 minutes later on another excellent passing play.
The Mystics had some chances, but the constant attacking pressure from VIU prevented them from getting into any sort of rhythm, and they were unable to find the back of the net as the Mariners prevailed 5-0.
The 4imprint Players of the Game were MSVU’s Hannah Oatway and VIU’s Nicole Foglietta.
MATCH 6: Douglas Royals 4, SAIT Trojans 1
After a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of number one ranked Garneau, the Douglas Royals responded in their bronze quarterfinal with a 4-1 defeat of the SAIT Trojans.
The first 15 minutes were evenly matched, with chances at both ends of Percy Perry Stadium. However the Royals, an excellent set-piece team, took the first chance they got at a dead-ball situation. Sam Kell’s delivery pinged around in the six-yard box before an incredible backheel from centreback Hannah dela Cruz opened the scoring and gave the 2018 PACWEST All-Star her first goal as a Royal.
The Trojans immediately responded as Jillian Gibbs delivered a beautiful cross into the penalty area, and Mataya Blakney got on the end of it to strike home the equalizer.
The game became cagey and hesitant after the two quick goals, but when the Royals earned another corner, Kell’s delivery was headed towards goal by Mikaela Montagano and redirected by Caitlin Danielson to restore the Douglas lead.
Poor Trojan discipline lead to two second-half insurance markers for the Royals, as Sam Kell scored a penalty and then delivered a beautiful free-kick that was headed in by Taylor Wettig. The Royals would go on to win the game 4-1.
The 4imprint Players of the game were SAIT’s Rachelle LaBranche and Martina Pettenon of Douglas College.
MATCH 7: Ch. Saint-Lambert Cavaliers 3, NAIT Ooks 2
The Champlain St-Lambert Cavaliers let their three-goal lead slip away, but held firm in the final minutes to advance to the 2018 CCAA Women’s Soccer final round.
The Cavaliers were the stronger team in the opening minutes, but didn’t break through until Yuri Akatsu inadvertently handled the ball in the penalty area, and the resulting spot-kick was converted by Fréderique St-Jean to give Champlain St-Lambert the lead.
The Cavaliers continued to dominate the pace of play, and executed a beautiful give-and-go play between Noémi Paquin and Thalia Krauth-Ibarz, which Paquin finished to double the lead. Just before the halftime whistle, 2018 CCAA All-Canadian Karima Lemire made it three goals for Champlain with a great run from the left hand side, putting herself in position to calmly roll the ball into the goal.
The Ooks flipped a switch in the second half, immediately dominating the play for the entirety of the back 45. Just 5 minutes into the half, they converted a penalty of their own, and continued to press until an incredible free-kick goal from Augustine Gallardo drew the Ooks to within one. With 5 minutes of regulation and 4 minutes of stoppage time, the Ooks threw everything they had towards the Champlain goal, but the Cavaliers stood tall in the final moments to preserve a 3-2 win and advance to the gold medal game.
4imprint Player of the Game honours were awarded to the Ooks’ Kayleigh Pepper and the Cavaliers’ Mathilde Lefebvre Lalande.
MATCH 8: Élans de Garneau 2, Fanshawe Falcons 1
Vying for the last spot in the 2018 CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship final, les Élans de Garneau and the Fanshawe Falcons left everything they had out on the pitch, and it was the Quebec school who came out on top.
Garneau scored less than 4 minutes into the match, as Ève Malo got on the end of a corner to get les Élans on the board first. The Falcons responded with some positive attacking play, but were unable to find a way through the formidable Garneau backline, even with 30-goal scorer Jade Kovacevic leading the charge forward.
In the 23rd minute, les Élans doubled their lead, as Frédérique Métivier stole the ball from the Falcons and played an excellent pass into the path of Audrey Genois, who rounded the keeper and calmly rolled the ball into the empty goal.
After the Genois goal, the Falcons pressed even harder, and a glorious Kovacevic chance was robbed by Garneau keeper Anne-Marie Laroche.
Fanshawe would eventually get on the board in the second half as Kovacevic made a great run down the right wing and crossed to Nicole Nielsen, who cut the Garneau lead in half. But despite numerous opportunities from both open play and dead ball situations, the Falcons were unable to add a second goal, and les Élans held on to win 2-1 and once again secure their place in the national championship final.
4imprint Players of the Game were Alexandra Doucet for Garneau and Selena Roberts of Fanshawe.
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