2012 CIS women’s soccer championship [R]

[DJT]

2012 CIS women’s soccer championship: Brackets and schedule announced

OTTAWA (CIS) – The schedule and quarter-final matchups were announced Sunday evening for the 26th CIS women’s soccer championship set to kick off on Thursday at the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium.

The eight-team, single-elimination tournament runs until next Sunday with the national final scheduled for 2 p.m. Pacific Time. All 11 games from the competition will be webcast live on CIS-SIC.tv.

The reigning two-time champion Queen’s Gaels will make the trip to British Columbia to defend the Gladys Bean Memorial Trophy after qualifying as OUA bronze medallists.

Also competing for the CIS banner later this week will be the tournament host Victoria Vikes (Canada West finalists), Trinity Western Spartans (Canada West champions), Sherbrooke Vert & Or (RSEQ champs), Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA champs), Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA finalists), Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champs) and Cape Breton Capers (AUS finalists).

Queen’s kicks off its title defence against Dalhousie in the second quarter-final duel Thursday at 1:30 p.m. PT. Other opening day matchups include Ottawa vs. Cape Breton at 11 a.m., Trinity Western vs. Laurier at 4:30 p.m., and Sherbrooke vs. Victoria at 7 p.m.

Seven of the eight teams in the field have claimed at least one national title over the years, including Queen’s (3), Trinity Western (3), Dalhousie (3), Laurier (2), Victoria (1), Ottawa (1) and Cape Breton (1).

The CIS individual awards and all-Canadians will be announced on Wednesday night.

NOTE: A complete championship preview will follow on Tuesday.

Official championship website: http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/wsoc/index

PARTICIPATING TEAMS

Dalhousie Tigers (AUS champions: 10-2-1 regular season / 2-0 playoffs)

Sherbrooke Vert & Or (RSEQ champions: 10-3-1 regular season / 2-0 playoffs)

Ottawa Gee-Gees (OUA champions: 14-0-2 regular season / 3-0 playoffs)

Trinity Western Spartans (CWUAA champions: 11-1-0 regular season / 3-0 playoffs)

Cape Breton Capers (AUS finalists: 10-0-3 regular season / 1-1 playoffs)

Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (OUA finalists: 11-2-3 regular season / 2-1 playoffs)

Victoria Vikes (CWUAA finalists: 9-2-1 regular season / 2-1 playoffs)

Queen’s Gaels (OUA bronze medallists: 11-2-3 regular season / 2-1 playoffs)

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE (all times PACIFIC TIME)

Wednesday, Nov. 7

18:00 All-Canadian Awards Banquet (Harbour Towers Hotel)

Thursday, Nov. 8

11:00 Quarter-final 1: Ottawa vs. Cape Breton (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

13:30 Quarter-final 2: Dalhousie vs. Queen’s (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

16:30 Quarter-final 3: Trinity Western vs. Wilfrid Laurier (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

19:00 Quarter-final 4: Sherbrooke vs. Victoria (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

Friday, Nov. 9

11:00 Consolation 1: Loser QF 1 vs. Loser QF 2 (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

13:30 Consolation 2: Loser QF 3 vs. Loser QF 4 (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

16:30 Semifinal 1: Winner QF 1 vs. Winner QF 2 (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

19:00 Semifinal 2: Winner QF 3 vs. Winner QF 4 (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

Saturday, Nov. 10

14:30 5th-place game (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

Sunday, Nov. 11

11:30 Bronze medal (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

14:00 Championship final (CIS-SIC.tv webcast)

-CIS-

[DJT]

The first quarterfinal is complete:

Ottawa 3-1 Cape Breton

OTT 4' Kayla Jones

CPC 13' Jessica Furtado

OTT 27' Krista Draycott

OTT 80' Vanessa MacMillan

I saw only the last 15 minutes or so, but Ottawa seem to have dominated most of the match. For one thing, they had 29 shots at and 15 shots on goal to Cape Breton's 11 and 3. They could have scored a couple more during the part I saw. The commentators mentioned that they held the ball in Cape Breton's end through most of the second half, which isn't suprising because, from what I've seen and heard about them, they get stronger as games go on. From the highlights, it appears that their second goal wently directly in from a corner.

Cape Breton's goal was only the second given up by Ottawa this season, in this their 20th match. I happened to have seen the other one in person: a fantastic free kick from 30-35 yards on the left side of the field into the top right corner of the net by Toronto's Diana Esteireiro (who has the best foot in CIS women's soccer that I've seen); that was the first goal of the game, so it was the only time Ottawa has trailed this season, and that lasted for only 6 minutes. They've now scored 60 goals in those 20 games.

[DJT]

The second quarterfinal is complete:

Dalhousie 0-2 Queen's

QUE 18' Alexis McKinty

QUE 79' Riley Filion

Dalhousie had a bright start to each half, with some good chances particularly in the first, but Queen's quickly took over each time. Shots were pretty much even, but Queen's really had control of this match and could have had more goals, particularly in the second half, while restricting Dalhousie to long shots (though one did hit the bar, and another almost caught the keeper off her line) in their comeback attempt.

Queen's and Ottawa will now renew their OUA East rivalry in the semifinals. Should be interesting.

Kudos to the Webcast producers at UVic: good camera work, good commentary (including Ian Bridge on colour), the score and clock are always on the screen, and, of particular note, instant replay -- I haven't seen this on any other CIS soccer stream. Only thing missing is multiple camera angles.

[sulfur]

I saw only the last 15 minutes or so, but Ottawa seem to have dominated most of the match.

Cape Breton came out of the gate and looked far better than Ottawa did... other than the first 3 minutes. Ottawa scored on the first shot of the game, and it was a nice play by the Ottawa striker. After that goal, Cape Breton took over for the next 20 minutes or so.

Krista Draycott scored a beaut directly off of the corner, putting it just under the crossbar at the far post. The GK had no chance to save it.

That goal was really the last point that Cape Breton was in the game. Ottawa completely took over from that point forward.

[gwsmith63]

Ottawa v Queen's should be a good game. Having seen both their regular season games against each other this year as well as the OUA Final Four on the weekend v McMaster and Laurier, it could be tough to separate them after 90 minutes: might need an extra thirty or, as was needed at Nationals last year, penalties.

Ottawa's pace up front is key, especially on the flanks.

Did Christine Hardie come back in to the match today for Ottawa? If she has to miss the semi she will be tough to replace.

gws

[gwsmith63]

With 5 minutes to go the Gaels are hammering the Gee-Gees 4-1, so it is done and dusted. Was 1-1 at the half but the Gaels scored two quick goals early in the 2nd half to break open a tight game. The experience of the Queen's players showed today as they didn't panic after going down a goal, coming back and going from strength to strength as the game wore on.

Christine Hardie didn't play after all and she was a huge loss for Ottawa as they struggled to control the midfield.

Queen's will get a chance for a three-peat, quite the accomplishment in the ever-changing world of CIS sports.

A great season for the Gee-Gees will end on Sunday with a chance to match the Bronze Medal they won last year.

gws

[sulfur]

I've gotta say, having watched the Queen's women all year, I can honestly admit that I never expected them to get this far. They looked disorganized, and poor all around, and that was really obvious in the first game against Ottawa (3-0 for Ottawa, a game that Queen's was never in at all).

Over the course of the season, they've gotten stronger and stronger, but between the OUA Final Four and the CIS opener, Queen's still didn't look strong enough to hammer Ottawa the way that they did tonight. The final on Sunday should be interesting, as should the second semi-final tonight.

[rkomar]

@sulfur: from your description, it sounds like Queen's is well coached. It would go a long way to explaining a three-peat, if it happens.

[An Old Fullback]

I watched the entire game, it was much closer than the score indicated. Must feel for the Ottawa keeper, not much she could do on the goals, they were all perfectly placed. Perhaps only criticism was the free kick goal from the far side that went short side just inside the post. It looked stoppable, but maybe keeper didn't have a clear view of the shot. Ottawa had some chances in the box at the other end, but Queens made it very congested and seemed to get in front of everything during the corners. There was a nice goal line clearance off a corner too, great to see defender sticking to the post until ball clears the 18. It may have been the save that turned the tide.

With 5 minutes to go the Gaels are hammering the Gee-Gees 4-1, so it is done and dusted. Was 1-1 at the half but the Gaels scored two quick goals early in the 2nd half to break open a tight game. The experience of the Queen's players showed today as they didn't panic after going down a goal, coming back and going from strength to strength as the game wore on.

Christine Hardie didn't play after all and she was a huge loss for Ottawa as they struggled to control the midfield.

Queen's will get a chance for a three-peat, quite the accomplishment in the ever-changing world of CIS sports.

A great season for the Gee-Gees will end on Sunday with a chance to match the Bronze Medal they won last year.

gws

[The Ref]

UVic Vikes lost the semifinal against Trinity Western 1-0. Bridge was critical of the Vikes performance. I wonder if Trinity Western has more money to prepare their team since they have another campus in Washington state.

[sulfur]

@sulfur: from your description, it sounds like Queen's is well coached. It would go a long way to explaining a three-peat, if it happens.

Definitely well coached, they did suffer a number of injuries this year, including one to their left back -- she returned in the final game of the season and has played every minute in the post-season thus far. Frighteningly, she looks like she never missed a beat.

[Trillium]

Just watching the internet stream http://www.cis-sic.tv/

Not impressed by the announcer... too too bland ... empty stands showing from camera positions, you gotta wonder if the CIS will figure out they need to not place tournaments at a host school hoping that gets fans, but rather place the game in one city for a five year period and built up a real event.

As to the game so far..... too much kick and run, not enough skill on ball so far being exhibited at the 15 minute mark of first half.

[sulfur]

Into extra time, all knotted up 0-0.

[sulfur]

And it went to kicks. McKinty hit the bar for Queen's and then Deboer's shot was saved, and Trinity Western won 4-2 in kicks.

[rkomar]

I was rooting for Queen's, my old alma mater, but I wasn't sorry to see the better team win in the end. Three games in four days probably didn't bring out the best in either, and my hat's off to all the players who gritted it out through the whole tournament.