SUDBURY, Ont. - The three divisional winners advanced, as expected, on Day 1 of the 2017 belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship, though it was a heartbreaking loss by the host team in the Thursday finale that garnered much of the attention in Sudbury.
The Humber Hawks got the ball rolling in the early morning matchup, riding a goal in the 64th minute by Claudia Piazza to a 1-0 win over the St. Clair Saints. The Hawks, for the most part, stifled any good scoring chances for their West Division foes, with keeper Vanessa Fiori forced to make one key save in the 70th minute to preserve her clean slate
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Humber Hawks - Dominika Philip
St. Clair Saints - Charesse Thomas-Tate
The Fanshawe Falcons needed second half strikes from Hailey Corvari in the 61st minute and Chelsea Zavitz some seven minutes later to subdue the Durham Lords 2-0. That score might have been worse if not for a sensational save by Lords' netminder Jayden Ball, with time winding down, as her teammates scrambled in helping to avoid a three goal deficit.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Fanshawe Falcons - Alison Vlasman
Durham Lords - Erin Dicaire
The Algonquin Thunder proved once again exactly why they remain the top-ranked team in Ontario and second in the country, blasting the Mohawk Mountaineers 6-0 in their quarter-final contest. Mallory McQueen and Melissa Gilligan each enjoyed a two-goal effort for the winners, as the Thunder established a 2-0 lead by the half and really poured it on in the final 45 minutes of play. Andrianna Dmulchalsky and Darby Perry rounded out the scoring for Algonquin.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Algonquin Thunder - Melissa Gilligan
Mohawk Mountaineers - Alyssa O'Brien
Seneca Sting forward Francesca Pedulla snapped a 1-1 tie in the 87th minute, effectively shattering the hometown championship dreams of the Cambrian Golden Shield as Seneca edged the host team 2-1.
All-time OCAA leading scorer Tiffany Johnson opened the scoring in the 20th minute with a well placed header, before Jamie Smith evened matters for the Sting on a penalty kick in the 60th minute. A pair of apparent Cambrian goals were nullified, one of a foul, the other with an off-side call, as Seneca moves on to join the big three in semi-final play on Friday.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Seneca Sting - Angelica Cardarelli
Cambrian Golden Shield - Tiffany Johnson
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/championships/wsoc/2017-18/index
Live Webcast: livestream.com/cambriangoldenshield
Championship Schedule
Thursday, October 26
Quarter-Finals
Game #1: Humber 1, St. Clair 0
Game #2: Fanshawe 2, Durham 0
Game #3: Algonquin 6, Mohawk 0
Game #4: Seneca 2 Cambrian 1
Friday, October 27
Consolation Round
Game #5: St. Clair vs. Durham - 9 a.m.
Game #6: Mohawk vs. Cambrian - 12 p.m.
Semi-Finals
Game #7: Humber vs. Fanshawe - 3 p.m.
Game #8: Algonquin vs. Seneca - 6 p.m.
Saturday, October 28
Consolation Final
Game #9: Winner Game #5 vs. Winner Game #6 - 9 a.m.
Bronze Medal Match
Game #10: Loser Game #7 vs. Loser Game #8 - 12 p.m.
Winning team presented OCAA Bronze Medal at conclusion of match
Gold Medal Match
Game #11: Winner Game #7 vs. Winner Game #8 - 3 p.m.
OCAA Gold and Silver Medals presented at conclusion of match
Source: Randy Pascal/Cambrian College