University of Manitoba | November 9 - 12

2017 Women's Soccer Championship

CONSOLATION #2 CIS women’s soccer championship: Tesan and Santaga spark Spartans to victory over Hawks

CONSOLATION #2 CIS women’s soccer championship: Tesan and Santaga spark Spartans to victory over Hawks

Photo credit Derek Drummond, McGill Athletics & Recreation

MONTREAL (CIS) – Alicia Tesan of Vancouver, B.C., came off the bench to score the game-winner and freshman goalkeeper Cara Santaga of New Westminster, B.C., earned her first official shutout in her maiden start as Trinity Western University blanked the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks 1-0 in a CIS women’s soccer championship consolation semifinal at Percival Molson Stadium, Friday.

Laurier had a lopsided 20-7 advantage in shots toward the net and a 3-0 margin in corner kicks but TWU seemed to be in control for most of the game.

Tesan, who subbed in during the 26th minute, scored four minutes later on a broken play initiated by striker Daniela Gerig.

“I'm actually not sure what happened on that goal,” said Tesan, a third-year forward who was named CIS rookie of the year in 2009. “It was a cross that deflected off the defender and I kinda settled the ball but it bounced up and I volleyed it in, top corner! Honestly, I can't even remember who made the cross, it happened so fast.”

Tesan took a yellow card during a collision four minutes later and had to be helped off the field, but returned to play after halftime.

Santaga registered 10 saves during her first start since the preseason, in the wake of a hip injury suffered the night before by all-Canadian ‘keeper Kristen Funk during penalty-kicks of a 1-0 shootout loss to McGill.

The Spartans will meet Alberta for fifth-place on Saturday in a 7:30 pm. Eastern start. The Canada West rivals have already met three times this season and TWU have won each one.

“I was pleased that both teams committed to trying to play tonight, because that's a tough game to play after losing in penalty-kicks last night,” said Graham Roxburgh, head coach of the Spartans. “So I'm just pleased that we battled and showed heart, and I want to compliment both teams because they pushed to the end in a game that some people would have said did not mean anything.”

Netminder Mallory Woeller, a senior from Kinburn, Ont., was credited with one save and took the loss for Laurier, the OUA finalists who finished the tourney with a disappointing 0-2 record and dropped to 14-11-0 lifetime at Nationals.

"We honestly couldn’t have asked for anything more from them today," said Hawks assistant coach Niki Budalic, filling in for head coach Barry MacLean, who learned earlier in the day that he would have to watch from the stands due to a one-game suspension assessed by the OUA for violating league procedures in the OUA final the previous week. "They gave absolutely all the effort they possibly could give, both physically and emotionally. I think we showed everyone that were one of the best teams in the country and did ourselves proud."

GAME NOTES: Both teams started the game in their dark uniforms as a result of a miscommunication about who was the home team. Trinity Western changed into their light-colours at halftime…. TWU defender Jennifer Castillo of Surrey, B.C., and ‘Hawks midfielder Tania Pedron of Maple, Ont., were selected as players of the game.

SCORING SUMMARY

WILFRID LAURIER: 0-0: 0
TRINITY WESTERN: 1-0: 1

First half
1. TWU, Alicia Tesan, 30th.

Second half
(no scoring)

Goalkeepers:
LAU : Mallory Woeller (start, L, 1 GA, 1 save, 90:00 min)
TWU : Cara Santaga (W, 0 GA, 10 saves, 90:00 min, SHO)

Shots: LAU 20, TWU 7
Shots on net: LAU 10, TWU 2
Corners: LAU 3, TWU 0
Offsides: LAU 2, TWU 1
Fouls: LAU 12, TWU 2
Yellow cards: LAU 0, TWU 1 (Alicia Tesan, 34th)
Red cards: none

Players of the game:
LAU : Tania Pedron
TWU : Jennifer Castillo

SCHEDULE & RESULTS

Thursday, Nov. 10
10:30 Quarter-final 1: Ottawa 3, Dalhousie 2
13:30 Quarter-final 2: Queen’s 2, Alberta 1
16:30 Quarter-final 3: Montreal 2, Laurier 1 (PK)
19:30 Quarter-final 4: McGill 1, Trinity Western 0 (PK)

Friday, Nov. 11
16:30 Consolation 1: Alberta 2, Dalhousie 0
19:30 Consolation 2: Trinity Western 1, Laurier 0

Saturday, Nov. 12
13:30 Semifinal 1: Queen’s vs. Ottawa (SSN Canada webcast)
16:30 Semifinal 2: Montreal vs. McGill (SSN Canada webcast)
19:30 Fifth-place game : Alberta vs. Trinity Western (SSN Canada webcast)

Sunday, Nov. 13
13:30 Bronze medal (SSN Canada webcast)
16:00 Championship final (SSN Canada webcast)

-CIS-

45 Vogell Road, suite 701 | Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada | L4B 3P6 | TEL: 905-508-3000 | FAX: 905-508-4221