KINGSTON, Ont. (September 23, 2017) – In a battle of two nationally ranked teams, the No.8 Gaels (4-1-2) fell 2-1 to the undefeated No.2 UOIT Ridgebacks (8-0-0).
The women's soccer Gaels-Ridgebacks matchup has become somewhat of a rivalry since last season, as these two teams met four times during 2016 – twice during the regular season, once during the OUA Championship, and finally during the U SPORTS bronze medal game – four matches that UOIT defeated Queen's by just one goal margins.
GAME FLOW
The Queen's Gaels came out strong in the opening minutes of play. Fullback Alicia Levy (Mississauga, Ont.) moved up the Gaels back line to whip in a cross into the box that found Jenny Wolever (Toronto) who just missedthe target.
From there, Queen's controlled the run of play, with possession in the Ridgebacks attacking third. A UOIT foul had fifth-year captain Laura Callender (Ottawa) step up to take a free kick within striking distance from 25-yards out. Callender hit the ball with pace but the UOIT keeper was able to trap it before a scramble ensued.
Minutes later, Matija Skoko (Toronto) drove forward from the midfield into the box and beat her defender with a big push to strike on goal. The Skoko shot hammered the near post to keep the score level at nil-nil.
The closing minutes of the half saw another quality chance for the Gaels from a corner kick. First-year Taylor Green (Fall River, N.S.) delivered a ball into a danger area and defender Micah Vermeer (Grimsby, Ont.) got her head on a piece of the ball. UOIT was able to clear it out for a counterattack however - a counterattack that saw defender Vermeer track all the way back and make a clutch slide tackle to stop the UOIT attack.
The first minute of the second half had UOIT first on the scoreboard. In an unlucky deflection off of a Gaels defender, a UOIT strike found the back of the goal to put the No. 2 Ridgebacks up 1-0.
Queen's and UOIT exchanged a few corner kicks later into the half. It was Wolever however that provided the next quality chance in the game, driving up the wing to cross a low ball into the box that found Callender whose touch went just wide of the goal.
Wolever wasn't done yet though. Beating her defender down the line again, the third-year forward hit a perfect cross into the air that found the head of rookie Alex Doane (Brooke Side, N.S.). Doane scored her fourth U SPORTS goal of the season to level the score 1-1 against the Ridgebacks.
With one minute of play left, Callender demonstrated some spectacular dribbling, beating three Rideback defenders deep into the box.With only the keeper to beat, the UOIT goalie did well to get to ground and stop the Callender strike.
Queen's kept the pressure on with a series of shots, but it was a UOIT shot from 35 yards out that found the goal to edge the Ridgebacks 2-1 over the Gaels until the final whistle.
BY THE NUMBERS
13 – Shots from the Queen's Gaels
5 – Saves from UOIT goalkeeper Victoria Sauvage
6 – Shots from Queen's striker Laura Callender
0 – Gaels held UOIT to 0 shots in the first half
2 – Loss of the season for the Gaels
FINAL SAY
"How we bounce back will be the big test tomorrow against Trent. It was disappointing the way the game ended. We were able to creat chances but we gave them some chances as well," said assistant coach Marco Giacomello. "Tomorrow's a new game and we have to get out there and play again to get a result."
UP NEXT
The Gaels have a quick turnaround as they host the Trent Excalibur tomorrow at 1pm at Richardson Stadium.
