OSHAWA, Ont. – The No. 8 ranked UOIT women's soccer team had their program high win-streak snapped at 10 games as the Laurentian Voyageurs blanked the Ridgebacks 1-0.
UOIT's 10-game streak saw them outscore their opponents 45-1 but the Ridgebacks could not generate any offence on Sunday failing to find the back of the net. Dina Mandolesi made six saves for Laurentian in her second shutout of the season.
The Ridgebacks had plenty of chances to get on the board but could not buy a break. With 20 minutes to go,
Nicole Zajac (Mississauga, Ont.) fired a bullet on net but the ball rang off the crossbar and out of trouble. In injury time,
Cassandra Sribny (Pickering, Ont.) was left alone in the crease but the ball skipped over her foot as time expired.
Laurentian's game-winner came in the 26th minute off a corner kick. Megan Ferguson sent the ball into the box which Sarah Sanford tracked down and beat UOIT goalkeeper
Helen Frampton (Toronto, Ont.).
UOIT outshot Laurentian 14-7 while the teams had four corner kicks apiece.
The two teams are building quite the rivalry in OUA eastern conference play. Earlier in the season, UOIT was able to comeback after being down 1-0 in Sudbury as they beat the Voyageurs 2-1. Last season, Laurentian swept the Ridgebacks two games to none.
Despite the loss, UOIT (10-2-1) remains in first place as the Ottawa Gee-Gees (9-0-3) were idle. The Gee-Gees have one game in hand and trail the Ridgebacks by just one point. With the win, Laurentian (7-5-0) moves into a tie for fourth place with the Carleton Ravens (6-3-3) with 21 points apiece.
UOIT will be on the road for their final three games beginning with a 5 p.m. match-up against the Queen's Gaels on Friday, Oct. 14. Game time in Kingston is 5 p.m.
QUICK LOOK AT THE RIDGEBACKS
Overall Record: 13-2-1
Conference Record: 10-2-1
Next match: Friday, Oct. 14 @ Queen's Gaels (5 p.m.)