WOLFVILLE, N.S. (U Sports) - After 90 minutes of regulation time, UOIT Ridgeback Shynice Williams (Mississauga, Ont.) nailed the eventual game winner in the second half of overtime to give the Ridgebacks a 1-0 overtime win over the No. 6-seeded Trinity Western Spartans.
The Ridgebacks captured the OUA championship for the first time in its program's history and their game plan was executed to perfection.
"We had a game plan going in and we followed it to a tee. We have always prepared ourselves to 120 minutes and I think that's what we did and that's why we had the upper hand today,"said Adidas Player of the Game Kylie Bordeleau (Cambridge, Ont.).
"Our coaches were well prepared in letting us know where to play on the field and what to take advantage of for us to be successful and we followed it to a tee. We knew we had to play our game," added Bordeleau.
In a tight and physical game where the defenders dominated, both teams landed one shot on goal but UOIT posted five shots in the second half and overtime with near misses throughout play.
Williams' goal came at the hands of a defending error when a pass was deflected back to Williams who had an easy kick to win.
Trinity Western will move onto the consolation round, a different direction for the Spartans, who a year ago fell short in winning a CIS championship in a 3-0 loss to UBC.
UOIT continues to set program records with their first win at the CIS championship. Tonight's game was a rematch of their loss to the Spartans in 2014.
UOIT will now take on Laval in game one of the semifinals on Friday. The Saskatchewan Huskies will be taking on the Spartans in the first of two consolations beginning at Noon tomorrow.