VANCOUVER (CIS) – The Queen's Gaels finished in fifth position following a shootout win over the Cape Breton Capers in the consolation final at the CIS women's soccer championship at Thunderbird Stadium on Saturday.
For the third straight game, the OUA champions' fate was at the hands of kicks after a 1-1 tie with the Capers after regulation. They earned the 4-2 decision.
In the shootout round, Brittany Almeida, Tara Bartram, Lidia Bradau and Jessie de Boer all scored for Queen's. Two key saves from Gaels 'keeper Madison Tyrell on Cape Breton's Lauren Pasher and Becky Hanna gave the Queen's the fifth-place finish. Ciera Disipio and Kara MacKinnon both scored for the Capers on their attempts.
Queen's head coach Dave McDowell was pleased with the result and the experience his team got from being on the national stage.
"I was telling the girls that we had a run when we were in the finals three years in a row and we won two of those, but the year before we lost in the finals on penalties to Trinity Western. It was a good experience in terms of understanding for our younger players and what we have to do to win at this level and how hard it is to get here and what you have to do when you get here. I think it's been a great experience for our kids to play a team from each conference."
The opening goal of the game came from a cross by midfielder Karolyne Blain. With the ball making it's way through the box, miscommunication from the Queen's defensive unit allowed for the ball to get through goalkeeper Tyrell and Chelsea Currie was on the other side to find the back of the net for CBU. It was her first of the tournament.
The tying goal for Queen's came in the 87th minute when a weak shot from Jessie de Boer was bobbled by Capers goalkeeper Rachel Yerza and slowly rolled in behind her.
"They counterattacked very well and very quickly and they were a handful particularly in the first half," said McDowell. "Then I thought that in the second half we played well. We made a small change in the midfield and I think it settled us down. For us, it was just about generating chances and so it was nice to take one. I'd rather not go to penalties for the third straight game, but they handled them very well so I'm proud of them."
The first big chance for Cape Breton to get on the board was in the 11th minute. Midfielder Madison Goodlife came streaking down the sideline and crossed the ball to Keona Simmonds who was able to get a head on it. Queen's goalkeeper Tyrell got a piece of the shot, but the deflection gave another opportunity to Simmonds. She sent the ball wide for the game to remain scoreless.
Nearing the end of the first half, Queen's had a few corner kicks to try to get on the board. Both resulted in balls sailing over the net. Coming off another corner, Laura Callender arguably had the best chance of the half for the Gaels with a shot to the lower left corner. Yerxa made the save.
Capers head coach Ness Timmons reflected on Cape Breton's time on the national stage and how it would help the women's soccer program.
"This experience was fabulous for our program. We're a small school, but the girls played well all year and peaked at the right time. Any time you can get to nationals and play against these big teams is great. It's a great foundation for our team and it will only help us in the long run."
SCORING SUMMARY:
QNS 0-1: 2 (4-2 kicks)
CBU: 1-0: 1
First Half
1. CBU Chelsea Currie (1) (Karolyne Blain), 17th minute
Second Half
2. QNS Jessie de Boer (1) (unassisted), 61st
Kicks
CBU Kara MacKinnon, goal
QNS Tara Bartram, goal
CBU Lauren Pasher, saved
QNS Brittany Almeida, goal
CBU Ciera Disipio, goal
QNS Jessie de Boer, goal
CBU Rebecca Hanna, saved
QNS Lidia Bradau, goal
Goalkeepers:
QNS: Madison Tyrell (W, 1 GA, 2 saves, 90:00, 2-1)
CBU: Rachel Yerxa (L, 1 GA, 4 saves, 90:00, 0-1)
Team Stats
Shots: QNS 17, CBU 8
Shots on net: QNS 5, CBU 3
Corners: QNS 5, CBU 2
Offsides: QNS 3, CBU 1
Fouls: QNS 7, CBU 4
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None
Players of the game:
QNS: Jessie de Boer
CBU: Kara MacKinnon
SCHEDULE & RESULTS (all times PACIFIC TIME)
Thursday, Nov. 12
11:00 Quarter-final 1: Laval 1, Wilfrid Laurier 0
13:30 Quarter-final 2: Trinity Western 2, Cape Breton 0
16:30 Quarter-final 3: Sherbrooke 2, Queen's 1 (4-3 kicks)
19:00 Quarter-final 4: UBC 1, Calgary 0
Friday, Nov. 13
11:00 Consolation 1: Cape Breton 2, Wilfrid Laurier 0
13:30 Consolation 2: Queen's 1, Calgary 0 (4-2 kicks)
Saturday, Nov. 14
11:00 5th-place game: Queen's 2, Cape Breton 1 (4-2 kicks)
13:30 Semifinal 1: Laval vs. Trinity Western (CIS-SIC.tv)
16:30 Semifinal 2: Sherbrooke vs. UBC (CIS-SIC.tv)
Sunday, Nov. 15
13:30 Bronze medal (CIS-SIC.tv)
16:30 Championship final (CIS-SIC.tv)