“Having the opportunity to win OUA a third year in a row is amazing”
Saturday was the day for the Gee-Gees women’s soccer team to advance to the OUA finals. After an intense and physical game against the University of Toronto this past Wednesday in the quarterfinals, they won 2-1 to secure this battle against Guelph in the semifinals.
The garnet and grey went cleat to cleat against the Gryphons yesterday afternoon in an intense and hardcore contending match, with a tying score of 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes, forcing both teams to settle the score in overtime and then a shootout.
The game started favouring the red and yellow team, with them scoring their first goal off a penalty kick in the sixth minute of the first half. The goal came after Gryphons defender Jasmine Burke got a corner kick, which resulted in Gees midfielder Élianne Gervais fouling Guelph forward Olivia Brown. Forward Christina Gomes scored her fourth goal of the season on the penalty, a marker for this game.
Ottawa, coming from a solid season in which they showed possession of the ball and a calm and collected attitude, was suprisingly all over the place in the first half. By losing control of the ball and failing to communicate with their usual strong passes, they finished the first 45 minutes of this final game chasing balls and, in an unusual position for them, as the underdog.
Special mention to Gees keeper Cassidy Joslin, who did not crumble to the pressure and made countless saves that were dangerously close to making a dent in the score sheet. Another honourable mention goes to forward Allana Oriente who showed up for every run, attack, and defence opportunity.
The crowd erupted in the second half when the dynamic duo of Oriente and Jenna Matsukubo teamed up to deliver the Gee-Gees their first goal and an opportunity to beat Guelph. Matskubo ran up the sideline and crossed it to the far post for Oriente to kick it in and tie up the score, obtaining her fifth goal of the season.
Continuing was a battle for that place at the finals, with multiple shots on goal and countless saves by Joslin and Sabrina Spano in the opposite goal, which ultimately led to overtime.
Both teams ran up and down, making this one hell of a game to watch and witness, but it all led down to that last-second overtime whistle, which signalled a shootout would start, which was what Joslin wanted. “My team fought for me,” said the fifth year. “I kept saying, ‘just get us to penalty kicks, I’ll do my thing.’”
Nibo Dlamini led the shootout, scoring for the Gees, which was followed by two other goals from Maya Smith and Sabrina Mangiaracina. Joslin made her presence known underneath the crossbar and stopped not one, not two, but three penalties.
Joslin continued to talk about what the win meant to her. “I am on fire — I’m so happy to be in this position.” Her saves secured the team’s win and earned the team a spot at the OUA finals, which will take place at 12 p.m. next Saturday at Matt Anthony.
The win also booked their ticket to the national championship, which will take place from Nov. 7–Nov. 10 at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
