It took the fifth penalty kicker in a post-overtime shootout for the McMaster Marauders to take a 1-0 win over the Western Mustangs women’s soccer team in OUA semifinal action at TD Waterhouse. Despite maintaining ball control for the majority of today's game, the Mustangs’ efforts were left on the field and not the scoreboard. Western was ousted from playoff contention but made great strides in the OUA rankings this season; the team finished in second place after regular season play, a huge comeback from a seventh place standing last season.
Marauder goalie Brittany Duffey played an outstanding game and accurately read the final kicks for McMaster’s 3-2 edge in the shootout. Mustangs Jessica Trejo, Jenn Spinozzi, Hannah Kennedy, Tara Condos, and Jayne Vandewalle all took free shots for Western following 110 minutes of play, with Kennedy and Vandewalle beating Duffey in the top corners. Western keeper Tori Edgar responded with composure; she made a game saving grab against Marauder Adrienne Harrison on the third shot, but misread McMaster’s final kicker for the 0-1 shootout loss.
Both teams fought through hostile winds and on-and-off rain this afternoon. Mustang Jessica Trejo was unaffected by the conditions and led the game with aggressive throw ins that blazed over 20 yards long – the strongest on the field. At ten minutes, Trejo threw towards the Marauder net and just missed off a player deflection, but the play had McMaster keeper Duffey diving for the ball to make her first save of the game.
Twenty minutes in, the Mustangs had a good opportunity from a long goal kick by keeper Edgar, but opposing goalie Duffey came way out from her own box to snatch the play. Jenna Schroeder rebounded and played a competitive game for the 'Stangs; at 34 minutes, she stole the ball off the Marauder offense but top OUA scorer, second year Lauren Winquist could not convert the scoring chance.
Winquist responded with an impressive run up the left side and a good centering pass at 26 minutes, but her cross didn’t align with the teammate Tara Condos to complete the play. Trejo then had back-to-back throw ins in the Marauder zone that rounded out the first half, and narrowly missed a bounce off Duffey’s right side on the first play.
Both Hannah Kennedy and Madison Seymour substituted in for the Mustangs to make an impact in the second half. Seymour made an impressive touch 17 minutes in but strong Marauder defense kept the ball in the neutral zone. Sabrina DeNard followed up with a free kick for Western and a scrum started in front of the Marauder net, but Duffey was aggressive and took no chances, catching the ball mid-play.
The Marauders came back with pressure in the second half and had the Mustangs deep in their own end. McMaster earned a free kick with eight minutes remaining but sailed it high over Edgar and the Mustangs goal.
Final minutes were action-packed on both sides and Western made a final push. Trejo had another accurate throw in to teammate Kennedy who just missed a header that deflected off the top of the Marauder crossbar. The Stangs followed up with a key turnover and three on one break in the final minute but the Marauder defense chased back in time to regroup and prevent a last minute goal.
Thirty-minute overtime also encompassed several close breaks for both teams. Mustang Jenn Spinozzi won several head balls to keep the momentum in Western's favour, while Marauder Sophia Ykema had a close scoring chance in the first moments of the second overtime period. Edgar was vigorous and got a piece of Ykema's shot as it also missed off the crossbar.
Both teams showed passion and grit during the final playoff shootout, but it was McMaster with the mental toughness edge that took the win 1-0 in an intense, rivaled game.
The Marauders will now play Laurier at the OUA Final Four tournament at the University of Ottawa next weekend. The Mustangs return to training and will undoubtedly be OUA threats again next season with many rookies and second-year players returning to the 2013 team.
