WATERLOO, Ont. - The Western Mustangs women's soccer team took the top-seeded Laurier Golden Hawks to the brink but could not pull out the OUA quarter-final victory losing 3-2 on penalty kicks.
Laurier got on the board first in the 21st minute to make it 1-0. The Mustangs would respond just before half-time to even the score as
Jenna Schroeder forced a turnover at midfield,
Kristyn Smith would send a beautiful through ball to Grand. Grand would beat her defender and blast a shot past Laurier's keeper.
Coming out of half with the score even and the wind at their back the Mustangs were energized and took advantage. Grand sent a ball through to Deckert who placed the ball perfectly in the bottom corner to give Western a 2-1 lead in the 51st minute.
Laurier would show why they were the number one seed as their pressure, they outshot Western 12-3, finally got to Oberholzer who made an error in net allowing a free kick from the 18-yard box. Co-captain Tania Pedron of Laurier roofed the ball into the top corner to tie the game.
Both teams received chances in thirty minutes of extra time but no team could capitalize. Western made some key substitutions to get ready for penalty kicks subbing in Courtney Stocks, Ginger Basnett, Andrena McElroy and goalkeeper Marissa Chinn.
The moves would pay off as Stocks, who did not miss a penalty kick all season, Basnett and McElroy all scored for the Mustangs. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, all four of the Laurier shooters would find the net. Chinn guessed correctly on three of the four but the balls were so well struck she had no chance to save them.
Laurier will advance to the Final Four in Kingston, Ont. while the young Mustangs squad will regroup and use this experience as they prepare for next season.
