FINAL CIS women’s soccer championship: Host Laval stuns 5-time champs, first Quebec team to win CIS title

QUEBEC CITY (CIS) – History was made at the 28th CIS women’s soccer championship on Sunday. The tournament host Laval Rouge et Or made a big statement with a dominant 5-0 gold-medal performance over the defending two-time titlist Trinity Western Spartans at Stade TELUS-Université Laval Stadium, becoming the first Quebec program to claim the Gladys Bean Memorial Trophy.

Before an enthusiastic crowd of nearly 2,200 people, Laval also became the third team to win a national championship on home turf, after Trinity Western in 2008 and the Cape Breton Capers in 2007.

Already up 2-0 at the halftime break, the Rouge et Or added three second-half goals, including the second and third of the game by tournament and title match MVP, striker Joëlle Gosselin of Quebec City.

Laval’s five goals equal the second highest total scored in the Bean Trophy final, McMaster having defeated McGill 8-2 in 1991 and UBC having dominated Ottawa 5-0 in 2003. It was also the second largest goal differential for a final in CIS women’s soccer history.

Laval’s best result before Sunday was a bronze medal in 2002. As for Trinity Western, they missed the chance to become the first three-peat champions as well as earn a sixth national championship. The defeat marks the Spartans worst since its team’s inception in 2001 and their first in the CIS championship game.

"Twenty years, it's a long time, but the feeling is incredible,” said Laval coach Helder Duarte, who has been at the helm since the program made its CIS debut in 1995. “To win in that fashion, against the best team in the country, it's fantastic. The girls peaked at the right time, they were extraordinary. I knew we were capable of playing well, but I also knew there were a lot of emotions that could play against us. We did everything we thought we had to do to get them ready, and it worked.”

Spartans coach Graham Roxburgh gave credit to Laval for its play. “It's a tough result, you got to give credit to Laval, they were excellent. We didn't play very well today and it's probably the part that we are most disappointed with. We didn't give them a game. They were clinical and we knew that if we didn't defend well, they had weapons and those weapons showed today.”

The Rouge et Or showed no remorse in the opening half against the two-time defending champions Trinity Western Spartans. Laval was in control for most of the opening 45 minutes, and was able to capitalize early in just the 14th minute. Gosselin was sent in alone, on a superb pass from Roy Arielle-Petitclerc (St. Nicolas, Que.), and beat Spartans keeper Christina Oliverio (Calgary) low into the corner.

The two teams then exchanged chances ending with a great Marie-Joëlle Vandal (Longueuil, Que.) double-save in the 39th minute. Vandal robbed Spartans’ Alessandra Oliverio (Calgary) and then Seina Kashima (Burnaby, B.C.) on the rebound, keeping Trinity Western off the board and momentum in Laval’s favour.

The Spartans missed opportunities would shortly come back to haunt them as Laval doubled their lead four minutes later. Midfielder Gabrielle Lapointe (Montmagny, Que.) picked up the loose ball and slotted it past a diving Oliverio.

In the second half, Gosselin made sure to trample any possibility of a Spartans comeback in spectacular fashion. The rookie striker scored two, almost identical, 30 yard strikes in the 54th and 79th minutes.

Laval capped off the dominate performance scoring their fifth of the game when striker Melissande Guy (Quebec City), playing in her final university game, intercepted a pass and proceeded to finish into the corner.

The 2015 CIS championship will be held at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

SCORING SUMMARY:
LAV 2-3: 5
TWU 0-0: 0

First Half
1. LAV Joëlle Gosselin (2) Arielle Roy-P.), 14th
2. LAV Gabrielle Lapointe (1) (Cynthia Turcotte), 44th
 
Second Half
3. Joëlle Gosselin (3) (Alexandra Brunelle), 54th
4. Joëlle Gosselin (4), 79th
5. Melissande Guy (2), 84th

Goalkeepers:
LAV: Marie-Joelle Vandal (W, 0 GA, 7 saves, 90:00, 3-0)
TWU: Christina Oliverio (L, 5 GA, 2 saves, 90:00, 2-1)

Team Stats
Shots: LAV 14, TWU 12
Shots on net: LAV 7, TWU 7
Corners: LAV 3, TWU 3
Offsides: LAV 2, TWU 2
Fouls: LAV 5, TWU 7
Yellow cards: None
Red cards: None

Players of the game:
LAV: Joëlle Gosselin
TWU: Vanessa Kovacs

CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS

Gunn Baldursson Memorial Award (Tournament MVP): Joëlle Gosselin - Laval
R.W. Pugh Fair Play Award: Memorial University Sea-Hawks
 
Tournament All-Stars:
Goalkeeper: Marie-Joëlle Vandal – Laval
Defence: Mélissa Roy – Laval
Defence: Meaghan Ramsden – Ottawa
Defence: Jennifer Castillo – TWU
Midfield: Kara Delwo – Fraser Valley
Midfield: Vanessa Kovacs – TWU
Midfield: Alexandra Brunelle – Laval
Midfield: Léa Chastenay-Joseph – Laval
Forward: Joëlle Gosselin – Laval
Forward: Seina Kashima – TWU
Forward: Pilar Khoury – Ottawa

SCHEDULE & RESULTS

Thursday, Nov. 6
11:00 Quarter-final 1: Ottawa 2, Montreal 0
13:30 Quarter-final 2: Trinity Western 4, UOIT 1
16:00 Quarter-final 3: Fraser Valley 2, Memorial 1 (OT)
18:30 Quarter-final 4: Laval 3, Western 2 (4-3 PK)

Friday, Nov. 7
11:00 Consolation 1: Montreal 1, UOIT 0 (4-3 PK)
13:30 Consolation 2: Western 2, Memorial 0
16:00 Semifinal 1: Trinity Western 3, Ottawa 0
18:30 Semifinal 2: Laval 3, Fraser Valley 0

Saturday, Nov. 8
11:00 5th-place game: Western 2, Montreal 0

Sunday, Nov. 9
11:30 Bronze medal: Ottawa 2, Fraser Valley 1
14:00 Championship final: Laval 5, Trinity Western 0

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport

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