CAMBRIAN 2, FANSHAWE 1

AMHERSTBURG, Ont. - Cambrian College (Sudbury) pulled off an early upset at the belairdirect OCAA Women's Soccer Championship with a 2-1 victory over Fanshawe College (London) Thursday at the Libro Centre in Amherstburg, Ont., outside of Windsor. Cambrian came into the game with 10-2 record in the East Division while Fanshawe was undefeated at 9-0-1 in the OCAA's West Division and ranked No. 5 in the country.

On an overcast and drizzly morning Cambrian scored 15 minutes into the contest on a strike from midfielder Dana Isaia (Sudbury, Ont.) and immediately went into a defensive shell. Fanshawe carried the play throughout the remainder of the first half but could not capitalize on several good chances. The teams took advantage of some shelter at halftime with Fanshawe holding a 9-2 shot advantage at the break. Cambrian goalkeeper Megan Coutu (Chelmsford, Ont.) thwarted several Fanshawe chances throughout the match.

Fanshawe continued to apply the pressure early in the second half and eventually broke through with a brilliant left foot goal from Falcons forward Jade Kovacevic (Georgetown, Ont.) in the 64th minute to even the score 1-1. Controversy on the goal limited the Fanshawe celebration as the ball passed through the back netting which had created the uncertainty. But after a few minutes the officials eventually ruled it a tally.

Cambrian came out of their defensive approach and the teams played more wide-open with shared chances in either direction. However, in the 77th minute Cambrian midfielder Clarissa McArthur (Durham, Ont.) potted the go-ahead goal on a fairly deep arcing shot from the left side over the Fanshawe keeper. From that point Cambrian was able to hold off Fanshawe and cleared out any possibility of dangerous chances the remainder of the match. Final shot attempts saw Fanshawe with a 16-7 advantage in the game.

Cambrian goalkeeper Coutu was named the Golden Shield's Player of the Game recording seven saves in the match while Kovacevic earned those honours for Fanshawe.

Cambrian advances to the 3 p.m. semifinal on Friday against Algonquin College (Ottawa) and Mohawk College (Hamilton). Fanshawe is relegated to the consolation side against the loser of Algonquin/Mohawk at 9 a.m. on Friday.

Source: St. Clair College