Emily Goodwin | Editor-in-Chief
Featured Image: Lions Joselyn Gagliardi (left) and Teni Odetoyinbo (right) battle Maxyme Nobert of the Carabins for possession of the ball. | Courtesy of Armando Tura
The Lions women’s soccer team hit the University of Victoria’s Centennial Stadium full steam ahead during Thursday’s U SPORTS quarter-finals.
The Lions took on the Acadia Axewomen — the silver medalist at the Atlantic University Sport Championships — in the opening round of nationals. The Lions wasted no time asserting their dominance. Second-year midfielder Vanessa Salvaggio made a solid pass to fifth-year striker Kendra Saxton who put the ball in the Axewomen’s net in the ninth minute.
The rest of the first half saw no more goals, but saw plenty of bold moves by both sides since this was not an ordinary game. The score sat at 1-0 in favour of the Lions at halftime.
The Axewomen’s goalkeeper blocked all of the Lions’ shots in the beginning of the second half. The Axewomen, now knowing how the Lions play, were able to start breaking through to the Lions’ end and making shots goalkeeper Danzita Indacochea could not save.
Just three minutes in, the Axewomen scored and put themselves on the board, tying up the score in the process. After a 23-minute battle, the Axewomen added their second goal and took the lead.
Following this goal, the Lions made some substitutions hoping that rested players could provide renewed energy in the critical final minutes of the game.
Unfortunately for the Lions, they were unable to score before the final whistle, and had to walk off the pitch with a 2-1 loss.
Though eliminated from medal contention, the Lions played in Friday’s consolation semi-final. In that match, they took on the Montreal Carabins and were once again met with defeat.
The Carabins proved to be unstoppable, scoring twice and keeping the Lions away from their net. The game ended 2-0 in favour of the Carabins, and this ended the Lions’ championship run.
