FeaturesUFV Women’s Soccer make school history by earning trip to Nationals

UFV Women’s Soccer make school history by earning trip to Nationals

This article was published on November 15, 2010 and may be out of date. To maintain our historical record, The Cascade does not update or remove outdated articles.
Reading time: 2 mins

by David Kent (Contributor)
Email: cascade.sports [at] ufv [dot] ca

The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades made school history last weekend, earning a berth in the CIS women’s soccer national championship tournament, in Charlottetown, PEI. The women’s soccer team became the first UFV program to qualify for a national berth in the school’s 5-year association with the CIS.

The Cascades came out strong and had the game’s first shot on goal less than 30 seconds in. They kept up with the two-time defending CIS national champions, except for a quick misplay in the box that led to a penalty shot goal by TWU, five minutes in. UFV played very well for their first taste of post season action.

The women’s soccer team was lead by Canada West all-star Lyndsay Munro, from Maple Ridge, BC, and second-year defender Danielle Schmidt, from Abbotsford, BC. The Cascade defense was brilliant on this contest. They kept the top scorers from TWU from getting any great scoring chances. Chantelle Biagioni, of Pitt Meadows, BC, made the ‘key’ saves when called upon to earn her first post season victory.

The Cascades offense was led by Schmidt, today, as she set up the first two Cascade goals with excellent passes into the box where Danika Snook, from Chilliwack, BC, scored the first Cascade goal in team playoff history at the 37th minute to tie the match. Schmidt then set up Ellen Kuyer, from Surrey, BC, with the team’s second goal at the 53rd minute to give UFV their first lead of the match.

The Spartans did keep the pressure on UFV and tied the match off a perfect set up in the corner, in the 83rd minute, as TWU’s Alicia Tesan banked the ball off Biagioni and into the Cascades net. TWU kept the pressure on UFV, but the Cascades were relentless and forced overtime.

In the extra time, UFV concentrated on keeping TWU from getting any clear shots at Biagioni.  In the first five minutes of overtime, the Cascades played great defense, as TWU kept up the pressure, forcing several corner kicks. But the Cascades held on and moved the ball up the field and out of danger. The first overtime ended with TWU having two consecutive corner kicks, which UFV was able to defend. 

In the second extra period, UFV goalkeeper Biagioni made three point blank saves to keep the Cascades in the game. TWU turned up the pressure on the “rookie” playoff team, but UFV would not bend! Their first post season match went to penalty shots, making it a great finish. The Cascades would shoot first, and Kuyer would score to set the tone of the penalty shots. The shots would go seven rounds, but rookie forward Danielle de Bruin, of Victoria, BC, would slip the ball past TWU’s Funk and send UFV to PEI for the nationals!

Other articles
RELATED ARTICLES

Upcoming Events

About text goes here