UFV Cascades defeat University of Montreal Carabins, 3-2, on Penalty Kicks

 

The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades women’s soccer team defeated the University of Montreal Carabins, 3-2, on penalty kicks to capture the 2010 CIS Bronze Medal.  The Cascades won the Canada West title, last weekend in Edmonton, Alberta, and this weekend they captured the schools’ first ever national medal, in Charlottetown, PEI.  The list of “firsts” continued today as they battle hard against the Quebec Champion Carabins and in the end won the match on the strength of the team’s ability to shoot penalty shots after the first 90 minutes ended in a tie.  The CIS does not play overtime in Bronze Medal games, it goes straight to penalty shots.

Playing the match without starting goalkeeper Chantelle Biagioni, Pitt Meadows, BC and captain Megan Webster, Abbotsford, BC both due to injuries, the Cascades rallied around goalkeeper Charmaine Biagioni, Pitt Meadows, BC and went to work battling the Quebec Champions for 90 solid minutes.  The match was close and after Montreal scored the first goal late in the half, UFV went to work pressuring the Carabin defence and had numerous excellent opportunities to tie the match.  The Carabin led 1-0 at the half.

In the second half, very similar to yesterday’s CIS semi-final, UFV  came out strong and rookie Carly Neesion, Maple Ridge, BC would tie match for the Cascades early in the second half.  Danika Snnok, Chilliwack, BC would give UFV the lead ten minutes after Neeson’s goal and the Cascades defence would make it stand until Montreal tied the match with  ten minutes remaining.

With no overtime the match went straight to penalty shots and just like last week’s Canada West semi-final shoot out with TWU, the penalty shots lasted 7 rounds until fourth year veteran midfielder Marie Verbenkov, Langley, BC scored the fifth penalty shot for UFV and  after a miss by Montreal, the Cascades were national bronze medalists!

“Once again I walk off the field extremely proud of my team. We battled hard and took a quality opponent to penalties,” said UFV Head COach Rob Giesbrecht.  “The girls stepped up and took their penalties with confidence and Charmaine did so well for her first taste of CIS soccer.”

“Giving up the goal late in the first half was disappointing because we have been so efficient at defending set pieces. Carly Neeson was excellent this week and it was so fitting for her to level the score at 1-1.  Danika was injured early in the tournament but she was back to her usual stuff and she scored the goal to put us up 2-1.”  Neeson was name “Player of the Match” for all three Cascade games.

“The CIS bronze is a great accomplishment for our team. We can all hold our heads high knowing that we gave it everything we had all year long. Its a fantastic way for our 5th year players to finish their university careers and it was special that all 3 were on the field at the end of the match.”  Fifth year veterans are Lyndsay Munro, Maple Ridge, BC, Roxanne Snook, Chilliwack, BC and Selina Miller, Abbotsford, BC.

Montreal   1   1   (4)  =  2

UFV          0   2   (5)  =  3  CIS Bronze Medalists

First Half:

42:22 Mtl  Laverdiere

Second Half:
58:45 UFV Neeson (Blondin)
71:28 UFV D Snook (Schmidt)
79:02 Mtl  Laverdiere (Thouverot)

Penalty Shots:
UFV:  deBruin, Blondin, Neeson, McLachlan, Verbenkov

UFV:  Charmaine Biagioni W  Saves: 1

Shots on Goal:
UFV: 6

UFV: 6

UFV:  C Neeson