uOttawa Gets W Over X-Women, Face Mustangs For Fifth
By In a showing more true to form than their first-round appearance versus UBC, the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees found themselves once more in the ‘win’ column as they took on the St. FX X-Women in consolation semi-final action.
After having been on the receiving end of a painful one-nil loss the day prior, Steve Johnson’s Gee-Gees regrouped to take on the X-Women, the champions of the AUS, who also found themselves eliminated by the UdM Carabins.
The two sides were absolutely expecting more out of their squads at this year’s National Championship, however, having been disappointed in the quarter-finals, both could now use the remaining rounds as development for future seasons, particularly for their younger stars.
Once more, the Gee-Gees’ opponents would prove to be fierce competition, however considering the prowess of each of the programs who made it to this year’s Championship, that was to be expected by Johnson and company.
Multiple attempts were made by both sides against keepers Christina Gentile (St. FX) and Cassidy Joslin (uO), with both keepers on their A-games as to not be the reason their teams ended up with a goal against.
But ultimately one would find the mesh and this would come as a feed by uOttawa’s Eva Boutiy landed at the feet of an uncovered Maya Dussault. X-Women’s number four. Abby Steen attempted to intercept the arching pass, but whiffing on the attempt, Dussault was left with a clear path past the remaining defenders to net her first varsity goal and the Gee-Gee’s first of the tournament.
With their hopes of carrying on in the tournament on the line, the X-Women’s game began to shift towards a more aggressive and all-out push as they tried to force errors onto the uO backline.
Amongst this St. FX push saw a renewed spirit in the X-Women net as Gentile faced several promising chances – namely by Cassandra Provost – and was able to stop them three of four.
The fourth is where she found trouble as an ’84 corner Nibo Dlamini led to a disorganized mess of bodies in the St. FX goal area, allowing Eva Bouity to pick up her third on the season.
Even with an added five minutes of injury time, the AUS champions could not best Cassidy Joslin and the Gee-Gees, providing them with an early exit from this year’s Championship.
The Gee-Gee’s now move on to face the Western Mustangs (OUA-3rd) after they trounced the hosts and OUA runners-up Queens Gaels in the second consolation semi-final match on Friday.