GeeGee’s Gain Greatly in GTA
By A weekend trip to the 6ix would prove to be a successful one as the University of Ottawa’s women’s soccer team would return home with six points, having beaten both the UoT Varsity Blues and the TMU Bold 3-2 and 5-1 respectively through two entertaining affairs.
Under the Friday night light’s of Varsity Stadium, the Blues would prove quite the challengers for uOttawa as the match would remain scoreless through ’45. The 0-0-2 Toronto backline proved strong enough to hold off Steve Johnson’s side’s strong attack, made up by the likes of Nibo Dlamini, Jenna Matsukobo, and Cass Provost.
…but eventually one attack would prove too many for UofT.
Not a minute into the second frame and a beautiful backwards header by Provost would put the GeeGees ahead by one. Shortly thereafter, a mistake by UofT’s Juliana Ottoni in the ’57 would put the ball at Provost’s feet, giving her her second on the night.
The inklings of a comeback by the Blues would arise as a sloppy foul in the penalty area would grant the Varsity Blue’s a PK and a goal, while a rocket of a second goal by UofT’s Samantha Gravina soared high over Cassidy Joslin’s glove.
But following a third GeeGee’s goal, this one off of the head of uO rookie Gabrielle Ferland for her first goal of 2023, the game would be set in stone, with the Blues leaving Varsity Stadium still winless on the season
‘Bold’ Name, Same Result
It was almost a year to the day since these two teams last met, and in that year’s time, it seems that the Bold did little to prepare for another University of Ottawa onslaught.
A sunny Sunday afternoon kickoff would prove to be the perfect backdrop for the match at North Toronto’s Downsview Park. Right from the kick-off, the Bold and the GeeGee’s demonstrated expert levels of passing and playmaking with both uO’s Josslin and TMU’s Abby Harrison receiving ample opportunities to show off their skills between the posts.
But, despite all the League1 Ontario skill on the Bold’s roster, a weak shot by Cassandra Provost off of an even weaker pass from Jenna Matsukobo would break the dam and open the scoring for the GeeGee’s.
Even the TMU commentator, Curtis Coleman, was taken a back by the goal, describing it as “a play that probably even uOttawa didn’t envision going in”.
The GeeGee’s would net three more in the first half alone with a fifth goal coming later in the second as Allana Oriente and Maya Smith would accompany a Provost Hat-Trick to make the game 5-1.
The Bold would get one back in the ’39 as a deflection from Ivymae Perez’s free kick would beat Joslin, but it would ultimately prove to be fruitless under the constant uOttawa attack, leading to back-to back years of 5-1 defeats for the Bold at the hands (or should I say hooves) of the GeeGees.
The GeeGee’s (3-0-0) now enter a two-week break until their next match at Matt Anthony Field where they will host the battle for first place against fellow league-leaders, the Queens Gael’s (3-0-0). All games can be streamed live and for free on OUA.tv while Ottawa residents can purchase tickets to watch the GeeGee’s live online, here.