Game Recap

Women’s Soccer (CIS Nationals)
Thursday, November 8, 2006
TWU (4) Cape Breton (0)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPARTANS PLAY STRONG GAME AGAINST CAPERS
TWU advances to 5th place game after 4-0 win

VICTORIA, British Columbia – The TWU women’s soccer team overpowered the Cape Breton Capers in consolation play Friday in Victoria by a score of 4-0.  The Spartans made a good showing following a first round loss to York the previous day in the quarter finals, while the Capers will head home after having no answer for the speed of the Spartans.

“It’s a good way to bounce back.  I thought at times we played some nice soccer.  In reality, I’m really encouraged that we persevered and we didn’t just throw in the towel and take it for granted,” said TWU Head Coach Graham Roxburgh.

Cape Breton found themselves under attack early by the Spartan forwards.  Carlee O’Brien (4th year, Nanaimo, B.C.) played the ball onward passed the last defender, but her shot was saved by Cape Breton goalkeeper Jessica MacDermid (Baddeck, N.S.).  Despite having let in three goals, MacDermid was very solid, stopping some very high-percentage opportunities throughout the match.  The Spartans opened the scoring off a break away from Dana DuMerton (2nd year, Abbotsford, B.C.), assisted by Lindsay Rohla (4th year, Langley, B.C.).

While the Spartans (7 first half shots) had their chances, the Capers (2 shots in the half), looking for the tie, could not beat keeper Veronika Rogina (1st year, Surrey, B.C.), who recorded her 2nd shut-out of 2006 in her 5th start this year in conference or playoff matches.  In the 24th minute, Rogina stopped a break by sliding out to the edge of the 18-yard box, taking the ball into her hands before a shot could be taken.

The other great opportunity for the Capers came in the second half, when a shot from Kristine Mills (1st year, Sydney, N.S.) in the 63rd minute almost made it by Rogina, who was quick to the right corner of the net to get in front of the ball.

The second half showcased a TWU attack that came from a variation of players.  The Caper defenders were constantly running with Spartan forwards on through-balls or passes sent over the heads of the backline.  Off a pass from Christine Gerig (2nd year, Langley, B.C.), O’Brien scored on a break in the 53rd minute by beating her defender to the inside and putting the ball back across her body to the bottom left corner of the net.  Six minutes later, Katie Smart (4th year, Surrey, B.C.) scored from the left side with a powerful strike that went over the head of MacDermid, making the score 3-0.  TWU maintained possession through most of the field, and held their ground against the Caper attackers with their experienced backline.

“We had some really good individual performances: Christine Walker [1st year, White Rock, B.C.] was outstanding, Carlee [O’Brien] was dangerous with her pace,” Roxburgh said of his players.  “I was also really encouraged by how Rebecca Ferguson [1st year, Calgary, A.B.] and Andrea McLachlan [2nd year, Maple Ridge, B.C.] kept possession for us, and I was really impressed to see Katie Smart score.”

The last goal of the match was scored by Kelli Anne McCabe (1st year, Tswassen, B.C.) on a botched play by the Capers when they tried to play it back to their goalkeeper.

The Spartans were strong from start to finish, something good to see from a team that came into Nationals as conference champions in the West.  It seemed that, despite the wet conditions, the Spartans thrive on a grass surface that makes for getting under longer balls sent to streaking forwards a little easier than turf.

“In reality, we deserved to keep our season going, deserved to play Sunday, and I felt like the surface made a difference because we could actually play soccer on this surface.  It’s just disappointing we couldn’t play Thursday’s game on this,” mentioned Roxburgh.

Christine Walker was player of the match for the Spartans, while Heather Stevenson (Costa Mesa, C.A.) was given the honor for the Capers.

The Spartans will play Sunday, November 12 at 10:00 am in the 5th place game against the winners of McGill versus Victoria.

Match Notes: Shots: TWU 15 CapeB 6...SOG TWU 10 CapeB 5...

-TW-
-Jay Duke, Sports Information Assistant