Gee-Gees add another win to the column with a dominant performance against the Voyageurs
The Gee-Gees women’s soccer team put together an incredible offensive showing on home turf this past Sunday, handing the Voyageurs their second loss of the season while tying the program’s record for goals in a regular-season game.
First Half
The Gee-Gees wasted no time, as Lauren Ambrose capitalized on a loose ball in the Voyageurs’ 6-yard box following a corner kick. Less than a minute into the game, the third-year defender gave the Gee-Gees the lead while marking the first goal of her career.
Only a couple minutes later, Ottawa doubled their advantage. Last season’s top goal scorer, Sabrina Mangiaracina, found the bottom left corner of the net following an impressive set up pass from defender Rosalie Côté, giving the Gees a 2-0 lead.
The early offense set the tone for the rest of the afternoon. While Laurentian struggled to escape their own half, the Gee-Gees swarmed the Voyageurs in the midfield, consistently won challenges and turned them into attacking chances.
Leading the charge was Gracie Somers. The 2025 OUA East First Team All-Star had several great chances stifled by Voyageur goaltender Noémie Bouchard. Somers eventually broke through as a well-timed pass from Celina Bensebaa left her all alone with the keeper, and beat Bouchard with a beautiful shot off her left boot.
With a 3-0 lead and the game already getting away from the Voyageurs, Somers struck with her left boot once again off of an impressive through ball from forward Heidi Miles. The Gee-Gees had a staggering 4 goal lead before the 11 minute mark of the game.
The Gee-Gees continued to control possession, repeatedly creating numbers advantages in the offensive zone. Bouchard kept battling, making several diving saves as her defence repeatedly allowed great opportunities for Ottawa.
Later on in the half, defender Clare Sun scored her second goal of the year with a header off of a well placed cross. The ball hit the right post, bounced off of a Laurentian defender’s knee and in to make the game 5-0 for Ottawa.
Sun’s impact was felt off of the scoreboard as well, with several impressive long passes generating quality chances for the Gee-Gees. Sun noted that “Over the off-season, we’ve had a lot of games and training opportunities to build that chemistry with the team, I know where my teammates are going to be and what kind of pass they’re expecting from me.”
Shortly after being subbed in, second-year midfielder Erica Tsang put the Gee-Gees up 6 – 0, receiving a cross at the edge of the 18 yard box before firing the ball into the bottom right corner of the net for her first goal of the season.
Second Half
The Gee-Gees took control once again coming out of the break. Fourth-year midfielder Eva Bouity scored a tap-in goal off of a free kick from Adriane Devlin where the Voyageur defence was far too slow clearing the ball, making the score 7-0.
The Gee-Gees kept up the intensity, as Tsang lobbed the ball into the Voyageurs’ 18 yard box, where midfielder Élianne Gervais booted the ball out of the air. Though Bouchard was there to make an incredible save, Gervais was able to find the back of the net off her own rebound, increasing the lead to 8-0.
Minutes later, another perfectly timed pass from Bensebaa found a cutting Tsang who fitted the ball into the back of the net before the Voyageurs’ defenders could react, bringing Ottawa’s tally up to 9.
Bensebaa then made yet another contribution with a long run into the box where she was tackled, leading to a penalty shot. Heidi Miles was given the shot and capitalized, beating Bouchard to the left corner, giving the Gee-Gees a double digit lead.
Later on, Ambrose made a pass into the 6-yard box for an open Camille Bolduc who rang the ball off of the crossbar. Gervais capitalized on the rebound, scoring off of a header for her second of the game and Ottawa’s eleventh. After a valiant effort, Bouchard was subbed out in favour of back-up goalkeeper Teaghann Fitzpatrick.
At the 75-minute mark, Somers made another charge into the Voyageurs’ zone, beating two defenders before taking a shot that Fitzpatrick got in front off; however, Tsang was there once again to clean up the rebound, marking her first hat trick as a Gee-Gee while also tying the team’s record for goals in a regular-season match.
Throughout the game, head coach Steve Johnson was able to find playing time for his entire roster. When asked for comment, Johnson stated, “We got a chance to get everybody in, even a goalkeeper switch with a couple minutes left in the game, just in case there’s a situation later in the season where there’s an injury and a goalkeeper hasn’t had the time to get prep.”
With the record tied, the Gee-Gees’ pressure relented in the final minutes. The game finished with a score of 12-0, with the Gee-Gees outshooting the Voyageurs 38 shots to 1.
Looking Ahead
Following the victory, the Gee-Gees sit 1st in the OUA East with a perfect record of 3 wins and 0 losses. Ottawa will host the 0-2 RMC Paladins, looking to extend their streak to 4. Good luck to the Gee-Gees!
