CIS women's soccer championship at University of Toronto (times EST, all games on www.CIS-SIC.tv):

THURSDAY
Quarter-final 1: Montreal 2 Western 1
Quarter-final 2: Alberta 1 Laval 0 (YouTube Recap)
Quarter-final 3: Trinity Western 3 Wilfrid Laurier 0 (YouTube Recap)
Quarter-final 4: Cape Breton 1 Toronto 0
 
FRIDAY
Consolation 1: Laval 2 Western 0
Consolation 2: Toronto 2 Laurier 1
 
SATURDAY
Semifinal 1: Montreal 2 Alberta 0 (YouTube Recap)
Semifinal 2: Trinity Western 1 Cape Breton 0
 
SUNDAY
5th: Toronto 2 Laval 1
Bronze: Alberta 1 Cape Breton 0 (YouTube Recap)
Gold: Trinity Western 1 Montreal 0 (YouTube Recap)

SUNDAY

Trinity Western 1 Montreal 0

Carabins-Spartans Stats

TORONTO (CIS) – The Trinity Western Spartans notched a record-tying fifth national title with a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Carabins in the gold-medal final of the 27th CIS women's soccer championship, Sunday evening at the University of Toronto's Varsity Centre.

It marks the fifth time in program history, all in the past decade, that the Spartans have hoisted the Gladys Bean Trophy, and the second time they have defeated the Carabins at Varsity Centre for the title. The two teams met in the championship finale the last time U of T hosted in 2009, when Trinity Western edged the Carabins 1-0 (4-2 PK) for the crown.

“Credit to Montreal, they defended extremely well,” said Graham Roxburgh, in his 15th season as the Spartans head coach. “They created a lot of problems for us that we were struggling to deal with. We knew it was going to take one chance and if we scored it might open things up a little bit.”

Third-year midfielder Vanessa Kovacs of North Delta, B.C., was one of five Spartans named to the tournament 11 and earned 2013 championship MVP honours.

“I'm speechless right now,” said Kovacs, a 2013 CIS all-Canadian. “Especially winning back-to-back it's pretty fantastic right now. As soon as we started the quarter-final it was just one game at a time and every game we gave our all and it was just fantastic.”

“We think Vanessa is one of the best players in the country,” added Roxburg. “She's just battled so hard through adversity and injuries and frustration and she just never quits. She's the heart and soul of our midfield and she deserves everything she gets.”

Second-year forward Krista Gommeringer of Calgary scored the game's lone goal, her third of the tournament, in the 59th minute as she received a cross from fifth-year forward Alicia Tesan of Vancouver and slid with a Montreal defender to kick it into the back of the net.

The CIS all-Canadian striker scored two goals in leading the Spartans to a 3-0 win over the OUA champion Laurier Golden Hawks in Thursday's quarter-final match and shares the tournament lead in scoring with Laval's Léa Chastenay-Joseph.

Trinity Western maintains a perfect 5-0 standing in national final appearances and ties UBC's record of five CIS titles with the victory. Overall, the Canada West has claimed 15, which accounts for over half, while the AUS and OUA have earned the title five and seven times, respectively, in the 27-year history of the CIS women's soccer championship.

In search of the RSEQ's first women's soccer national title, Montreal earns their third silver medal in as many CIS gold-medal match appearances, all in the last five seasons. The Quebec champions end their season with an outstanding 15-2-2 record.

The Laval Rouge et Or are the proud hosts the 2014 CIS women's soccer championship.

Players of the game
TWU: Vanessa Kovacs
MTL: Laura Chénard

CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS

Gunn Baldursson Memorial Award (Tournament MVP): Vanessa Kovacs – Trinity Western
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: Cape Breton Capers
 
Tournament All-Stars
Goalkeeper: Rachel Bedek – Trinity Western
Defence: Shalla Kadima – Alberta  
Defence: Allison Bell-Davies – Cape Breton
Defence: Mélissa Gougeon – Montréal
Defence: Colleen Webber – Trinity Western
Midfield: Laura Kautz – Alberta
Midfield: Laura Chénard – Montréal
Midfield: Laurianne Garant-Saine – Montréal
Midfield: Vanessa Kovacs – Trinity Western
Midfield: Natalie Boyd – Trinity Western
Striker: Krista Gommeringer – Trinity Western

Alberta 1 Cape Breton 0

Capers-Pandas Stats

TORONTO (CIS) – Shalla Kadima's goal in the second minute stood as the game-winner as the Alberta Pandas defeated the Cape Breton Capers 1-0 to claim the bronze medal at the 2013 CIS women's soccer championship on Sunday afternoon at the University of Toronto's Varsity Centre.
 
The Canada West champion Pandas earn their 10th medal in 12 appearances on the national stage and first since claiming silver in 2002. Alberta ends their 2013 campaign with an impressive 13-2-2 record and improves their overall CIS championship record to 22-8-4.
 
After defeating the Laval Rouge et Or 1-0 in quarter-final action, the Pandas dropped a narrow 2-0 decision to the Montreal Carabins, who take on the Trinity Western Spartans for gold in today's championship finale at 4:30 p.m.
 
“It was great to see that we came out to play and did our job early,” said Pandas head coach Liz Jespen. “I'm amazed by this group of girls. I've had the pleasure of coaching many great teams and players but what's unique about this team, such a new team, is their coming together to get CIS bronze. I think it says a lot about their character.”
 
A second-team all-Canadian this season, Kadima (Edmonton) notched the game's lone goal as she headed a Jessie Candlish (Edmonton) corner kick past Capers goalkeeper Tiffany O'Donnell (Cole Harbour, N.S.).
 
Cape Breton had a great chance to score in the 18th minute off a corner kick, but Pandas midfielder Laura Kautz (Edmonton) was there to make the save and kick the ball out of harm's way. The Capers continued to pressure and Tiffany Johnson (Sudbury, Ont.) sent a booming shot at Alberta's Kelti Biggs (Spruce Grove, Alta.), who had to dive to make the save in the 28th minute.
 
O'Donnell made three saves in the first half and the Pandas maintained the 1-0 lead at the half.
 
The Capers had a couple of chances to score in the final minutes of the match, but the Alberta back line held strong to hold on for the win.

SATURDAY

Trinity Western 1 Cape Breton 0

Capers-Spartans Stats

TORONTO (CIS) – The Trinity Western Spartans will have a chance to defend their national title after a 1-0 victory over the Cape Breton Capers in the second semifinal on Day 3 of the 2013 CIS women's soccer championship at Varsity Centre.
 
The defending champion Spartans advance to their fifth CIS gold-medal match in the past decade. Trinity Western will look to keep their undefeated championship final record alive in a rematch of the 2009 final, also played at Varsity Centre, versus the Montreal Carabins on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
 
The Spartans won the title in 2009 after topping the Carabins 1-0, 4-2 in penalty kicks. Montreal defeated the Canada West champion Alberta Pandas 2-0 in the first semifinal match to earn their spot in tomorrow's finale.
 
The Spartans, who are looking for a record-tying fifth national title, met the Capers only one other time at the CIS women's soccer championship. In 2006 in Victoria, Trinity Western defeated Cape Breton 4-0 in the consolation semifinal.
 
“We lacked a little bit of energy,” said Spartans head coach Graham Roxburgh. “I didn't think we played very well. Cape Breton made it very hard to defend and made life difficult. Montreal is a very good program. We're going to have to be at our best and better than we were tonight.”
 
Fifth-year midfielder Natalie Boyd of Surrey, B.C., opened the scoring in the 40th minute as she received a pass from Liverpool, England native Jessica King and fired a rocket off the cross bar that bounced down into the net. The Spartans led 1-0 at the half.
 
Trinity Western continued to dominate in the second half and had two more great chances to score. In the 57th minute CIS all-Canadian Krista Gommeringer of Calgary sent a booming shot over the cross bar and three minutes later Jenna Di Nunzio (North Delta, B.C.) rang one off the bar.
 
Cape Breton, who won their lone title in 2007, looks for their second national medal in program history as they take on the Alberta Pandas for bronze Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
 
“I was very proud of the girls,” said Capers bench boss Ness Timmons. “We had a game plan to try to defend as a unit, take our chances on the counter and try to do a little transition and they scored on us so we had to open up a bit in the second half, but I think we executed our game plan very well.”
 
“Anytime you lose you slide down but they'll rally again,” added Timmons. “They know there is a medal on the line and I think they'll come out ready to play tomorrow."

Montreal 2 Alberta 0

Carabins-Pandas Stats

TORONTO (CIS) – In their first-ever meeting on the national stage, the RSEQ champion Montreal Carabins defeated the Alberta Pandas 2-0 in semi-final action on Day 3 of the 2013 CIS women's soccer championship and earn a spot in their third gold-medal match in five years tomorrow at the University of Toronto's Varsity Centre.
 
Montreal, which advanced to the semifinals for the fifth time in the past six years with a 2-1 victory over the Western Mustangs on Thursday, will battle the winner of Saturday's second semifinal between the Trinity Western Spartans and Cape Breton Capers for the Gladys Bean Trophy in the championship final on Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
 
The Carabins are still in search of their first national title after falling in the gold-medal match in both 2009 and 2011, both time in penalty kicks. Their first championship final appearance also happened at Varsity Centre five years ago, when the Spartans broke a scoreless draw with a 4-2 win in PKs.
 
The Canada West champion Pandas will face either the Spartans or Capers for bronze tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. Alberta is a perfect 3-0 in CIS bronze-medal matches, claiming third place in 1988, 1991 and 1994.
 
“It was a well-played game by both teams,” said Carabins head coach Kevin McConnell. “I think we should have finished off one or two chances early and there were quite a few corners in the first half. The motivation certainly won't be lacking playing in a national final tomorrow but playing two games in two days we are going to have to recover as much as possible.”
 
Both teams had good chances to score in the early goings. Alberta's Rebecca Brandt (Edmonton) sent a long ball off the cross bar in the 15th minute, while Montreal's Kim Brûlé (Trois-Rivières, Que.) sent a long ball off the goalie that landed on top of the net one minute later.
 
It wasn't until the 65th minute that Montreal opened the scoring. First-year forward and Montreal native Virginie Labossière was in the right place at the right time, receiving a ball from Steffy Roy-Ouellett (Saint-Hyacinthe, Que.) and shooting it past Alberta goalkeeper Kelti Biggs (Spruce Grove, Alta.) for the eventual game-winner.
 
Six minutes later, second-year midfielder Constance De Chantal Dumont of Saint-Alexandre, Que., added an insurance marker as she jumped on a loose ball off an Alberta defender and made no mistake in finding the back of the net.
 
Alberta pressured in the final minutes of action and Laura Kautz (Edmonton) rang one off the post in the final minute, but Carabins keeper Martine Julien (Lachine, Que.) earned the shut out win.
 
“I think we spent a lot of the game answering the questions that Montreal was asking,” said Pandas head coach Liz Jespen. “We battled hard right to the very end and I was impressed with our willingness to fight. I'm very proud of the team, they battled hard and I don't think we could ask for more.”

THURSDAY

Alberta 1 Laval 0

Rouge et Or-Pandas Stats

TORONTO (CIS) – Second-year forward Paula Dadensky scored the lone goal in leading the Canada West champion Alberta Pandas to a 1-0 victory over the Laval Rouge et Or in the second quarter-final of the 2013 CIS women's soccer championship on Thursday afternoon at Varsity Centre.

It was the second time the two teams had ever met on the national stage, with Alberta also taking the first game, 2-1, as the hosts of the 2002 tournament.

The Pandas advance to Saturday's championship semifinal at 1:30 p.m., and will take on the Montreal Carabins, who defeated the Western Mustangs 2-1 in the first quarter-final of the day. The Pandas are after their seventh CIS final berth in 12 appearances. They last won the title, one of three in program history, in 2001 when they defeated the McGill Martlets 2-1 in Ottawa.

“To get through this first game I think it takes a lot of heart and desire and passion and that's what I saw,” said Alberta Pandas head coach Liz Jespen. “Laval is a dangerous team and I think it was about weathering the storm. It was about whether or not we could keep that momentum going and not give them the opportunity to get in at the net.”

Dadensky proved to be the games hero, notching the game-winner in the 65th minute. The Stettler, Alta., native placed a header perfectly past Laval goalkeeper Joëlle Morasse (Québec City, Que.) off a Rebecca Brandt (Edmonton) corner kick.

Trinity Western 3 Laurier 0

Golden Hawks-Spartans Stats

by Scott Stewart, TWU Sports Information

TORONTO (CIS) – CIS all-Canadian Krista Gommeringer scored two goals and added one assist as the CIS defending champion Trinity Western Spartans blanked the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks 3-0 in the third quarter-final of the day at the 2013 national women's soccer championship Thursday evening at Varsity Centre.
 
Trinity Western remains undefeated in their now four meetings with Laurier on the national stage.
 
The Spartans, who look to capture their fifth CIS title in the past decade, are set to appear in their fourth championship semifinal in the past six years. They will take on the winner of Thursday's fourth quarter-final, featuring the AUS champion Cape Breton Capers and host Toronto Varsity Blues, on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
 
Each time the Spartans have won their quarter-final in their six prior appearances, they have claimed the CIS title.
 
The Golden Hawks move to the consolation side of the bracket and will take on either Cape Breton or Toronto tomorrow at 4:30 p.m.
 
“It was a pretty even first half and then we were very fortunate to score an opportunistic goal that settled our nerves a little bit,” said Spartans head coach Graham Roxburgh. “I thought we played extremely well in the second half and I'm really pleased with that.”
 
The Spartans opened the scoring just before the half when CIS all-Canadian Krista Gommeringer of Calgary sent a corner kick that deflected off teammate Natalie Boyd (Surrey, B.C.) and into the net.
 
Laurier goalkeeper Katrina Ward (Surrey) came up with a big save minutes later and Trinity Western took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
 
Golden Hawks defender Sarah Farano of Oakville, Ont., almost netted the equalizer in the 53rd minute, but Spartans goalkeeper Rachel Bedek (London, Ont.) jumped up for the huge save.
 
Trinity Western extended their lead in the 69th minute as fourth-year veteran Jessica King (Liverpool, England) crossed the ball to Gommeringer, who headed it off the cross bar and in.
 
Fellow CIS all-Canadian Emily Brown (Waterloo, Ont.) nearly got the Hawks on the board in the 76th when she rang a booming shot of the cross bar.
 
Gommeringer notched her second of the game in the 86th minute as she intercepted a Laurier header and made no mistake in finding the back of the net to give the Spartans the 3-0 victory.
 
“The score is not a reflection of the game at all,” said Laurier head coach Barry MacLean. “On balance of play, we were as good as they were throughout the game. We had a couple of great chances. I think a couple of goalkeeping errors are the difference in the game and the third goal we were pushed forward and we gave away the goal.”

CIS Women's Soccer Championship