Stunning Olimpico by Celina Bensebaa sends Gee-Gees to U SPORTS Nationals
The Gee-Gees women’s soccer team hosted the York Lions in an OUA semifinal match-up at Matt Anthony Field on Saturday. With the physicality picking up in the second half, Ottawa’s defence held firm to protect its 2-1 lead and advance to the OUA championship final.
The Lions secured their place in the semifinals with a 2-1 victory over the Brock Badgers on Oct. 24. Nia Fleming-Thompson, previously named OUA West MVP, scored the decisive goal in the dying seconds of extra time. Determined to not suffer the same fate as the Badgers, the Gees swarmed Fleming-Thompson every time the ball came her way.
“You really have to stay on her and try not to let her turn, or else she’ll just take it and go,” said Ava Donohue, Gee-Gees’ defender.
Fleming-Thompson eventually broke through the Gee-Gees’ defence in the 24th minute, as Lions midfielder Sabrina Fabiano sent a long through ball downfield. Fleming-Thompson raced past Ottawa’s defenders before firing a shot from distance that gave the Lions a 1-0 lead.
The Lions’ backline had its work cut out for it as well, with York defenders Jasmyn Clarke and Erica di Matteo working to keep pace with the Gee-Gees’ Gracie Somers. Usually a driving force on the left flank alongside Sabrina Mangiaracina, Somers found less room to operate as York doubled up on her and disrupted the pair’s usual one-two combinations.
With five minutes remaining in the first half, Ottawa’s Adriane Devlin sent a lofted pass over the Lions’ defenders into the six-yard box, where Mangiaracina met the ball and buried the equalizer.
Tensions rose going into the second half as both teams became increasingly physical, and York’s head coach became increasingly vocal, earning himself a yellow card from officials.
The Gee-Gees eventually broke the deadlock and sent their fan section to its feet as Celina Bensebaa curled a seemingly routine corner kick straight into the net.
The celebrations were soon dampened, however, as Bensebaa was shown a red card following a collision with Fleming-Thompson. Now down to 10 players, the Gee-Gees’ backline stayed disciplined as York looked to build its attacks from deep. Chloe Murphy and Donohue continued to stifle the Lions’ attacking threat as they successfully kept Fleming-Thompson at bay.
York made one last push in the closing minutes, as Clarke threatened with a header and Fabiano sent a shot wide, but the Lions couldn’t find the equalizer.
“I had nerves all throughout that game,” admitted Laura Salgado, Gee-Gees’ goalkeeper. “But staying composed was a team effort. We know we’re there for each other, and we were really prepared for anything that could have happened.”
Salgado and the Gee-Gees’ backline have been a force this year, conceding just five goals across the regular season and playoffs.
“They’re always steady,” said Donohue when asked about her fellow defenders. “I know if I make a mistake they’ll be right behind me to clean it up.”
The win sends Donohue to U SPORTS nationals for the second time in her career. The third-year previously made the trip as a freshman, when the Gee-Gees captured OUA gold:
“Most people don’t even get to go to nationals in their entire career. So getting to go a second time feels unreal.”
The Gee-Gees women’s soccer team will travel to Guelph for the OUA Women’s Soccer Championship on Nov. 7, looking to seal the program’s 13th OUA gold medal.
