EDMONTON, Alta. – The NAIT Ooks fell to the Champlain Saint-Lambert Cavaliers 1-0 in the CCAA bronze medal semi-final on Friday afternoon at Clareview Turf Field.
The ACAC champion NAIT Ooks and RSEQ Champion Saint-Lambert Cavaliers both came out vying for a spot in the bronze medal game. Both teams began evenly matched trading ball possession back and forth. As the half went on, the Cavaliers controlled the ball. The Ooks were playing a defensive formation, which meant they didn't control the ball, but they also didn't allow any quality scoring chances. The game was tied 0-0 at half time.
In the second half, there was a bit more offense on both sides. Several scoring chances were exchanged, none better than one that occurred in the 83rd minute. During a breakdown in the Ooks defense, Cavalier's Olivia Mazarello got a clear shot on Toni Burse, who leaped just in time to punch the ball over the cross-bar for the save of the game. The game remained scoreless until the 86th minute when Mazarello fired a corner kick into the crowded box, only to deflect off of her teammate Cassandra Provost, and past Toni Burse. The Provost goal gave Champlain Saint-Lambert the 1-0 lead late, which would end as the game-winner.
"I could not be more proud of the game we played today. We defended like champions and prepared to compete for every ball," said NAIT head coach Carole Holt. "We were brave and stuck together for the entire game. Like I said, I could not be prouder."
With the loss, the Ooks season is now over. The #5/#6 game has been canceled on Saturday due to an inclement weather forecast. This game also ends the CCAA careers of Mia Simon and CCAA All-Canadian Marissa Webb, who have now used all five years of their eligibility.