Photo credit Rich Lam
VANCOUVER (CIS) – The tournament host UBC Thunderbirds cranked up the drama in front of their hometown fans, as it took a 90th minute marker for them to put away the Calgary Dinos 1-0 in the fourth and final quarterfinal match of the 2015 CIS women's soccer championship on Thursday night at Thunderbird Stadium.
Midfielder Kym van Duynhoven played the hero for the Thunderbirds, converting a brilliant free kick from midfielder Taylor Shannik at the death for the game-winner. The offensive contribution was only part of a terrific performance from the fourth-year van Duynhoven, as the veteran made smart plays all over the park throughout the contest.
"Beating a team of this caliber three times, we knew it was going to be tough but we had our game plan. I thought we stuck to it," said UBC head coach Marisa Kovacs. "It wasn't our best half, that first half, of the season. But, (we) kept ourselves in the game, nil-nil at half, and had that belief we've had all season, knowing that if we stick to our game plan and continue to connect as a team and work for each other, that in the end, we can get that result. And it took until the 90th to find the back of the net but we did."
The first real chance of the game came 13 minutes into the game off of a Shannik corner kick. After the ball bounced around in the Dinos 18-yard box, Thunderbirds defender Madison Guy corralled it and lobbed a shot at Calgary goalkeeper Sam Chang-Foidl, who made a diving stop.
Second Team All-Canadian Jasmin Dhanda nearly opened the scoring at the 19-minute mark after she jumped on a loose ball in the Calgary end and fired, but the attempt was inches off the mark, and missed wide right.
UBC managed three shots on goal to Calgary's one in the opening 45 minutes, but neither side could break through to open the scoring.
Calgary got the first good chance of the first half off of a 47th-minute corner. Third-year forward Dominica Wronski showed great touch, placing the ball dead centre of UBC's 18-yard box. A Calgary attacker got a head on it in the crowded scoring area, but the attempt sailed just over the bar.
Shannik made a nifty play at the 71-minute mark that almost succeeded in getting UBC on the board. From around midfield, Shannik deftly stepped around a couple of defenders and sent a terrific through ball in on Chang-Foidl. T-Birds forward Janna Speed ran on to it, but the Calgary netminder beat her to the ball by inches.
With just seconds left in regulation, Shannik lined up to take a free kick 25 yards out from the Calgary goal, near the right sideline. The Delta, B.C., native delivered a wonderful ball, placing it right at the back post, where van Duynhoven leapt and headed it past Chang-Foidl, sending Thunderbird Stadium into chaos.
Calgary head coach Troye Flannery was impressed by the drive shown by his team in the contest, as they held a talented Thunderbirds squad in check for much of the contest.
"You can't falter intent, you can't falter effort," said Flannery. "Sometimes at this level, you have to create your luck a little bit. I thought we were unlucky with the decision at the end and I think the team, as young as we are, to battle and keep that close with a team like UBC for that long – I was very proud of that."
The Dinos head coach also made note of Chang-Foidl, as the Calgary netminder was named her team's Player of the Game after a six-save performance.
"Sam was fantastic, she's been fantastic this playoff run and she made saves at key times. Unfortunately we didn't create many opportunities at the other end."
The UBC win locks in the semifinal matchups that will take place on Saturday. At 1:30 p.m. PST, the reigning national champion Laval Rouge et Or will face the Trinity Western Spartans, before the Sherbrooke Vert et Or take on the host Thunderbirds at 4:30 p.m. PST.
In the consolation round, which begins tomorrow, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks will challenge the Cape Breton Capers at 11 a.m. PST, while the Queen's Gaels will square off against the Dinos at 1:30 p.m. PST.
SCORING SUMMARY:
UBC 0-1: 1
CGY: 0-0: 0
First Half
(no scoring)
Second Half
1. UBC Kym van Duynhoven (1), (Taylor Shannik) 90th minute
Goalkeepers:
UBC: Olivia de Goede (W, 0 GA, 1 save, 90:00, 1-0)
CGY: Sam Chang-Foidl (L, 1 GA, 6 saves, 90:00, 0-1)
Team Stats
Shots: UBC 14, CGY 3
Shots on net: UBC 7, CGY 1
Corners: UBC 3, CGY 3
Offsides: UBC 1, CGY 0
Fouls: UBC 8, CGY 7
Yellow cards: UBC (Taylor Shannik) CGY (Maddie Lee)
Red cards: None
Players of the game:
UBC: Kym van Duynhoven
CGY: Sam Chang-Foidl
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: Wilfrid Laurier vs. Cape Breton (CIS-SIC.tv)
13:30 Consolation 2: Queen's vs. Calgary (CIS-SIC.tv)
Saturday, Nov. 14
11:00 5th-place game (CIS-SIC.tv)
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)