AMHERSTBURG, Ont. - 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.

Source: St. Clair College