UPEI wins AUS battle at women's soccer Nationals

(Ottawa, ON) At the CIS championship in Toronto, the StFX X-Women faced a familiar foe in the UPEI Panthers in consolation semi-final action Friday afternoon. In a re-match of the AUS championship game, this time the X-Women came out on the losing side, dropping a close 1-0 game to the Panthers.

Midfielder Carolyn McKenna scored a late goal in the 93rd minute of the game as the two teams were playing in injury time to seal the win for UPEI and advance them into the consolation final on Saturday evening, The X-Women have been eliminated from further CIS championship play.

The two teams battled a close game, just as they had a week prior in the AUS championship which ended in a 1-1 tie after regulation time and a 4-2 penalty kick win for the X-Women.

The X-Women moved the ball well to open the game and had a few balls directed on net, though it was the Panthers who had the best scoring opportunities. In the 26th minute, a cross by Jennifer MacLeod in front of the StFX net resulted in a quick one-timer by Chelsie McInnis that was sent over the cross bar.

The Panthers continued their pressure as StFX keeper Anna Thompson made a diving save off a MacLeod header off a UPEI corner kick. Shortly after a Panthers free kick resulted in the ball being knocked around and hitting the inside far goal post, but it did not cross the goal line.

UPEI out shot the X-Women 4-1 in the first half and had a flurry of chances late in the half as the ball was banged around on several plays in front of the X net.

Olivia Zanette and Julie Griffiths each had a shot towards the goal in the final minutes of first half play but Panthers keeper Anna Roy was able to handle each play.

The teams entered the dressing rooms at halftime locked in a scoreless tie.

Panthers striker Chelsie McInnis had a pair of scoring chances 10 minutes into the second frame. The ball got through to her in the middle of the field and she nearly touched the ball past Anna Thompson, but Thompson got her hand on it and knocked it away. On the ensuing play McInnis also got the ball on net but Thompson again challenged her and made the save.

Nicole McNeil had a shot on net for StFX in the 58th minute but it sailed high and wide. A few minutes later on a Stacey Holland throw in, the ball was loose and banged around in front of the Panthers net but Roy was able to scoop it up.

Both teams settled in and battled hard throughout the remainder of the half. The X-Women directed a few balls on net but had no major scoring opportunities.

Just as the battle of the AUS teams seemed destined for overtime, McKenna came through for the Panthers in the late game heroics. Teammate Sara Stewart sent a free kick from 30 yards out in on goal, resulting in a scramble in the six-yard box. The ball bounced loose to McKenna who headed the ball to the back of the net for the game winner in the 93rd minute.

With the victory the Panthers (1-1) advance to the consolation final for fifth place Saturday against the host University of Toronto, while the X-Women (0-2) end the competition in a tie for seventh position.

McKenna earned Player of the Game honors for UPEI, while fifth year X-Women captain Eugenia Renderos was the Player of the Game for StFX.

GAME NOTES: This is only the second appearance at the CIS soccer championship for both the Panthers and the X-Women since the inaugural tournament in 1987... UPEI went 0-1-1 in round-robin play in 2004 when six teams qualified for Nationals and ended up in a tie for fifth place... StFX went 1-2-0 en route to a sixth-place finish in the 2005, which mark the first year of the eight-team single-elimination format...The X-Women played without AUS Rookie of the Year defender Meaghan Ramsden who suffered a sprained ankle in their quarterfinal game…StFX midfielder Julie Griffiths went down in the second half with a lower leg injury and possible broken leg.

SCORING SUMMARY

StFX:  0-0: 0
UPEI: 0-1: 1

First Half
no scoring

Second Half

1. Carolyn McKenna, 93rd minute (assisted by Sara Stewart)

Goalkeepers:
StFX: Anna Thompson (L, 1 GA, 4 saves, 90:00 mins)
UPEI: Anna Roy (W, 0 GA, 2 save, 90:00 mins)

Shots: StFX 8, UPEI 10
Shots on Net: StFX 2, UPEI 4
Corners: StFX 2, UPEI 5
Offsides: StFX 0, UPEI 5
Fouls: StFX 14, UPEI 7
Yellow Cards: none
Red Cards: none

Players of the game:
StFX: Eugenia Renderos
UPEI: Carolyn McKenna

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS

Thursday, Nov. 12
Quarter-final 1: Queen’s 1 vs. StFX 0 (overtime)
Quarter-final 2: Trinity Western 1 vs. UPEI 0

Quarter-final 3: York 1, UBC 2 (overtime)
18:30 Quarter-final 4: Montreal 3 vs. Toronto 2

Friday, Nov. 13
13:30 Consolation 1: StFX 0 vs. UPEI 1
15:30 Consolation 2: York vs. Toronto (SSN Canada webcast)

Saturday, Nov. 14
13:30 Semifinal 1: Queen’s vs. Trinity Western (SSN Canada webcast)
15:30 Semifinal 2: UBC vs. Montreal (SSN Canada webcast)
18:30 Consolation final: UPEI vs Winner Consolation 2 (SSN Canada webcast)

Sunday, Nov. 15
14:00 Bronze medal (SSN Canada webcast)
17:00 Championship final (SSN Canada webcast)