AMHERSTBURG, Ont. - Algonquin College (Ottawa) put through a dominating effort to claim its second consecutive gold medal with a 3-1 victory over Humber College (Etobicoke) Saturday afternoon at the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship hosted by St. Clair College on Amherstburg's Libro Centre field.
Algonquin's Vanessa Macmillan (Ottawa, Ont.) scored a natural hat trick in the first half and struck quickly just two minutes into the match for her first goal. Macmillan was set up by eventual OCAA Championship Most Valuable Player Melissa Harris (Burlington, Ont.) on her second goal at the 19 minute mark and completed Algonquin's scoring with a long run in the 34th minute for her final tally.
Humber tried to make the game interesting with a goal from Giulia Zanardi (Tottenham, Ont.) in the second half's 76th minute but the Thunder were not to be stopped.
For her efforts Macmillan was named Algonquin's Player of the Game with Mikaela Zeballos (Brampton, Ont.) earning that honour for the Hawks.
Algonquin now advances to the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association National Championship being hosted by Collège Ahuntsic at Montreal's Soccer Stadium Nov. 9-12.
Championship All-Star Team
MVP - Melissa Harrison (Algonquin)
All-Star - Sylvie Avedessian (Algonquin)
All-Star -Vanessa Fiore (Humber)
All-Star -Hayley Mackie (Humber)
All-Star -Clarissa McArthur (Cambrian)
Final Placing
Gold Medal: Algonquin College (Ottawa)
Silver Medal: Humber College (Etobicoke)
Bronze Medal: Cambrian College (Sudbury)
4th Place: Seneca College (North York)
Consolation Champion: Fanshawe College (London)
6th Place: St. Clair College (Windsor)
7th/8th Place: Mohawk College (Hamilton)
7th/8th Place: St. Lawrence College (Kingston)
OCAA BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
CAMBRIAN 1, SENECA 0
AMHERSTBURG, Ont. - Cambrian College (Sudbury) capped a fine season with a supreme defensive effort to shut down Seneca College (North York) 1-0 and claim the bronze medal at the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship hosted by St. Clair College at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg, Ont.
OCAA Championship All-Star Clarissa McArthur (Durham, Ont.) scored at the 40 minute mark of the first half after controlling a good cross in front of the Seneca net. From that point Cambrian put their effort into the defensive side and completely shut the door on Seneca providing no opening for any decent scoring chance.
Alexandra Ross (Garson, Ont.) was named the Golden Shield Player of the Game with Jamie Smith (Newmarket, Ont.) receiving the same honour for the Sting.
This is only the second OCAA medal in Cambrian's history having also won a bronze in 2014.
OCAA CONSOLATION FINAL
FANSHAWE 1, ST. CLAIR 0
St. Clair College (Windsor) fell just short with a 1-0 loss to Fanshawe College (London) in the consolation final at the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship at Amherstburg's Libro Centre.
Fanshawe opened the scoring in the 23rd minute taking advantage of a St. Clair miscue and Marissa Oilveira (London, Ont.) depositing an easy mark into the yawning net for a 1-0 lead.
That lead stood into halftime with the Saints coming out inspired in the second half forcing the play. The teams traded good chances the remainder of the game with several great saves from St. Clair's goalie Alexandria Samping (Windsor, Ont.) to a keep her team within striking distance. The Saints had many near misses off free kicks and throw-ins but the ball didn't cross the goal line.
Both squads named a pair of Player of the Game recipients with Fanshawe's Daniella Strano (London, Ont.) and Oliveira collecting a reward for the Falcons. St. Clair's Kaitlyn Austin (Parkhill, Ont.) and Alessia Vagnini (Tecumseh, Ont.) were given the Saints Player of the Game award.
OCAA SEMIFINALS
HUMBER 2, SENECA 1 (PK)
Humber College (Etobicoke) scored in the 89th minute to force extra time before prevailing 3-2 in penalty kicks over Seneca College (North York) Friday night at the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship semifinal hosted by St. Clair College at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg, Ont. With the win Humber advances to the gold medal game against Algonquin Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. Seneca will play for bronze at 12 p.m. Saturday against Cambrian.
A very even match failed to create many good scoring chances in either direction as the play remained in the middle of the field. Still scoreless by halftime Seneca came out in the second half and created a chance for Andrea Runco (Newmarket, Ont.) who drilled a shot off Humber goalie Vanessa Fiore (Brampton, Ont.) in the 50th minute. The rebound came right back to Runco and she calmly chipped it over the fallen keeper giving Seneca a 1-0 lead.
The lead was unchallenged until the final minute of regulation when Rebecca Spratt (Mississauga, Ont.) found the net for Humber who was set up on a nice individual play by Zoe Longsworth (Toronto, Ont.). The game official added a few minutes of injury time but the teams were destined for extra time which solved nothing. Humber took control of the play nearing the end of extra time and few hard tackles and yellow cards were dished out as the intensity grew. Seneca changed their goalie late knowing penalty kicks would likely decide the outcome.
The teams chose and submitted their five penalty kick shooters with both sides including their net minders in the group. Seneca led after scoring the opening shot and Humber answered to make it 1-1. A pair of misses for both teams were followed by a pair of saves for both teams. Both teams scored with their fourth shooters setting up the conclusion. Seneca failed to connect with their last shooter and Humber's Stephanie Gutierrez (Toronto, Ont.) placed her shot bottom left as the goalie dove in the opposite direction.
ALGONQUIN 4, CAMBRIAN 3 (OT)
Cambrian College (Sudbury) had an upset within its sight but allowed Algonquin College (Ottawa) to snatch a berth in the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship final with a 4-3 extra time victory at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg, Ont., on Friday afternoon.
A see-saw battle that seemed to last forever, both teams had control of the pace at different times and were ahead on the scoreboard with a chance to secure the win. Algonquin scored just six minutes into the match when Melissa Harisson (Burlington, Ont.) wrung a shot off the post and then calmly collected the rebound to deposit the ball in the back of the net.
Algonquin took that 1-0 lead into halftime but came out quickly to start the second frame when Vanesa Macmillan (Ottawa, Ont.) scored to put her team ahead 2-0 in the 46th minute. Cambrian didn't come undone and two minutes later Clarissa McArthur (Durham, Ont.) brought the Golden Shield within striking distance with a goal of her own.
The teams traded possession the remainder of regulation until super-sub Chelsie Sargeant (Sudbury, Ont.) collected a misplayed ball in the crease after a corner kick to beat the Thunder goalie and even the score 2-2 in the 89th minute. Extra time ensued and Sargeant wasn't finished with her theatrics and once again collected a loose ball after a free kick putting Cambrian ahead 3-2 in the 94th minute.
Cambrian seemed to control both extra time periods but with just a few minutes remaining in the match Algonquin's Jenna Baldree (Kingston, Ont.) came out of scramble to chip one into the net and tie the match 3-3 in the 117th minute. Nearly heading to penalty kicks Algonquin's Harrison made a fantastic individual play to work past the goalie and scored her second goal of the game into the open net in the 119th minute.
Player of the Game awards were given to Algonquin's Sylvie Avedessian (Ottawa, Ont.) and Cambrian's McArthur.
OCAA CONSOLATION SEMIFINALS
ST. CLAIR 2, ST. LAWRENCE (K) 1
St. Clair College (Windsor) advanced to the consolation final of the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship with a 2-1 win over St. Lawrence College (Kingston) Friday afternoon at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg, Ont. The Saints will play Fanshawe College (London) at 9 a.m. Saturday morning.
St. Clair controlled the play for most of the game limiting St. Lawrence's chances to deep shots that were easily covered by Saints goaltender Alexandria Samping (Windsor, Ont.). Kaitlyn Austin (Parkhill, Ont.) made several nice runs on the right side for St. Clair and set up Kristen Melo (Windsor, Ont.) for the game's first goal in added time at the end of the first half allowing the Saints a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
St. Clair continued to pressure the Vikings in the second half with Austin again setting up another goal by Melanie Jubenville (Windsor, Ont.) in the 63rd minute for a 2-0 lead for the Saints. At that point the St. Clair opened the bench with multiple substitutions leading to some life for St. Lawrence. The Vikings cracked the egg in the 89th minute with a goal from Megan Simpson (Napanee, Ont.) just as the official awarded four minutes of added time to the remainder of the match. St. Lawrence forced the play into the St. Clair end creating some late chances but the Saints held firm securing the win.
Nina Civitarese (LaSalle, Ont.) won the Player of the Game award for St. Clair and St. Lawrence's goalkeeper Megan Edwards earned that honour for the Vikings who turned away several good shots around her net.
FANSHAWE 3, MOHAWK 1 (OT)
Fanshawe College (London) needed extra time to eliminate Mohawk College (Hamilton) in the consolation semifinals Friday morning at the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship being hosted by St. Clair College at Amherstburg's Libro Centre.
Fanshawe tied the match 1-1 midway through the second half to force extra time where they added two goals and advanced themselves to the consolation final with a 3-1 victory. The Falcons will face the winner of St. Clair College (Windsor) and St. Lawrence College (Kingston) Saturday morning at 9 a.m.
Mohawk's Gabrielle Krebs (Hamilton, Ont.) gave her team a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute of the first half with a goal. OCAA Player of the Year Jade Kovacevic (Georgetown, Ont.) scored the first of her two goals in the match in the 63rd minute of the second half. In extra time (98th minute) Gillian Iantosca (Chatham, Ont.) notched a goal followed quickly by a strike from Kovacevic in the 100th minute to complete the scoring.
Iantosca earned the Player of the Game award for Fanshawe with Michelle DiDionisio (Hamilton, Ont.) taking that prize for the Mountaineers from Mohawk.
OCAA QUARTER-FINALS
HUMBER 1, ST. CLAIR 0
St. Clair College (Windsor) fell 1-0 to Humber College (Etobicoke) Thursday night in the quarter-finals of the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship at the Libro Centre field in Amherstburg, Ont.
Humber is the 14th ranked team in Canada and were second place finishers in the OCAA's Central Division with a 7-1-2 record in the regular season. St. Clair had an identical record in the regular season finishing second in the OCAA's West Division but are now relegated to the consolation side of the bracket playing St. Lawrence (Kingston) at 12 p.m. on Friday, dashing their medal hopes. Humber advances to the semifinal game against Seneca College (North York) being played Friday at 6 p.m.
A very even first half between the teams saw them break at halftime with a scoreless 0-0 draw. In the second half Humber was awarded a free kick from just outside left side of the box in the 51st minute. Humber midfielder Guilia Zanardi (Tottenham, Ont.) arced a blast over the St. Clair keeper's head into the back of the net in the for the game's lone goal. Humber did dominate possession of the ball for most of the second half and didn't allow a decent St. Clair scoring chance the remainder of the match.
For her goal effort Zanardi was given Humber's Player of the Game award with St. Clair's Marisa Stratis (Windsor, Ont.) earning that honour for the Saints.
SENECA 4, ST. LAWRENCE (K) 0
Seneca College (North York) went ahead of St. Lawrence College (Kingston) 4-0 before halftime at the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship Thursday afternoon and never looked back cruising to the shut-out victory. The provincial tournament is being hosted by St. Clair College at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg, Ont.
Seneca is the No. 12 ranked team in Canada and won the OCAA's Central Division regular season title with an 8-0-2 record while St. Lawrence finished in the East Division at third place with a 7-4-1 record.
Seneca needed just six minutes to notch a goal with Haley Pozzo (Keswick, Ont.) putting the Sting ahead. Bianca Granata (Richmond Hill, Ont.) then added another tally at the 20 minute mark which was quickly followed a penalty kick goal by Chantel Cifuentes (North York, Ont.) in the 23rd minute. But the back breaker was netted by Nicole Berardi (Markham, Ont.) in added time at the end of the first half to make it 4-0.
St. Lawrence made a valiant effort to turn the tide with a light wind at their backs in the second half but their best chance in the 74th minute was turned away by Seneca's goalkeeper Sarah-Anisha Van Wart Bradbury (Brampton, Ont.) to preserve the shutout.
Player of the Game awards were given to Seneca's Christiana Carmosino (Aurora, Ont.) and St. Lawrence's Rachel Fardella (Cobourg, Ont.).
Seneca will advance to the 6 p.m. semifinal on Friday versus the winner of St. Clair College (Windsor) and Humber College (Etobicoke) which is being played later tonight. St. Lawrence moves to the consolation side of the bracket to face the loser of St. Clair/Humber at 12 p.m. on Friday.
ALGONQUIN 5, MOHAWK 0
Algonquin College (Ottawa) proved why they are the nation's No. 2-ranked team with a 5-0 victory over Mohawk College (Hamilton) Thursday afternoon at the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship being hosted by St. Clair College at Amherstburg's Libro Centre. Algonquin is the East Division's regular season champion with a perfect 12-0 record while Mohawk entered the game as the West Division's third place team at 5-4-1.
Cool and breezy conditions prevailed throughout the match but Algonquin used superior passing and ball control to gain an early advantage. Eleven minutes into the contest fifth-year Algonquin Thunder player Melissa Harrison (Burlington, Ont.) opened the scoring with a left foot play while falling down as the Mohawk defender was draped all over her. Vanessa Macmillan (Ottawa, Ont.) put the Thunder up 2-0 with a header in the 22nd minute after a corner kick. Algonquin must have had a comfortable break at halftime with a 2-0 lead after carrying the play to that point and they didn't relent to start the second half.
Two minutes into the new half Sylvie Avedessian (Ottawa, Ont.) put Algonquin up 3-0. Algonquin then tacked on two more goals with Darby Perry (Ottawa, Ont.) scoring in the 56th minute and Harrison adding her second tally of the game in the 57th minute. The Thunder were able to get some substitutions off the bench and Mohawk did start to mount an offence trading some chances the remainder of the match.
Harrison's two goals earned her the Player of the Game award for Algonquin with Mohawk's Alyssa O'Brien (Fort Erie, Ont.) taking home that prize for the Mountaineers.
Algonquin will move on to Friday's 3 p.m. semifinal match against Cambrian while Mohawk will move to the consolation side of the bracket to play Fanshawe at 9 a.m. on Friday.
CAMBRIAN 2, FANSHAWE 1
Cambrian College (Sudbury) pulled off an early upset at the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship with a 2-1 victory over Fanshawe College (London) Thursday at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg, Ont., outside of Windsor. Cambrian came into the game with 10-2 record in the East Division while Fanshawe was undefeated at 9-0-1 in the OCAA's West Division and ranked No. 5 in the country.
On an overcast and drizzly morning Cambrian scored 15 minutes into the contest on a strike from midfielder Dana Isaia (Sudbury, Ont.) and immediately went into a defensive shell. Fanshawe carried the play throughout the remainder of the first half but could not capitalize on several good chances. The teams took advantage of some shelter at halftime with Fanshawe holding a 9-2 shot advantage at the break. Cambrian goalkeeper Megan Coutu (Chelmsford, Ont.) thwarted several Fanshawe chances throughout the match.
Fanshawe continued to apply the pressure early in the second half and eventually broke through with a brilliant left foot goal from Falcons forward Jade Kovacevic (Georgetown, Ont.) in the 64th minute to even the score 1-1. Controversy on the goal limited the Fanshawe celebration as the ball passed through the back netting which had created the uncertainty. But after a few minutes the officials eventually ruled it a tally.
Cambrian came out of their defensive approach and the teams played more wide-open with shared chances in either direction. However, in the 77th minute Cambrian midfielder Clarissa McArthur (Durham, Ont.) potted the go-ahead goal on a fairly deep arcing shot from the left side over the Fanshawe keeper. From that point Cambrian was able to hold off Fanshawe and cleared out any possibility of dangerous chances the remainder of the match. Final shot attempts saw Fanshawe with a 16-7 advantage in the game.
Cambrian goalkeeper Coutu was named the Golden Shield's Player of the Game recording seven saves in the match while Kovacevic earned those honours for Fanshawe.
Cambrian advances to the 3 p.m. semifinal on Friday against Algonquin College (Ottawa) and Mohawk College (Hamilton). Fanshawe is relegated to the consolation side against the loser of Algonquin/Mohawk at 9 a.m. on Friday.
Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/championships/wsoc/2016-17/index
Source: St. Clair College
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