SENECA BEATS HUMBER TO WIN 2023 OCAA WOMEN'S SOCCER TITLE

VAUGHAN, Ont. - The Seneca Sting (12-0-1) captured the provincial title for the first time since 2014 after beating the Humber Hawks (10-0-4) under the lights of Ontario Soccer Centre. Yoana Peralta Fernandez scored the third tally to consolidate the win for Seneca.

The Seneca Sting knew they would be in for the biggest challenge of the season against the defending provincial champions. The Hawks were the only team who remained undefeated in the season.

The Hawks started hot, pressuring Seneca right at its defensive area. Humber was hungry for the first tally, and it would not take long for Emily Robitaille to find an early goal for the Hawks.

Humber's tally seemed to have woken up the Sting. Seneca started controlling the game in the midfield and building up more offensive opportunities.

A fault from 25 yards would change the game scenario for the Sting. Jessica Shears would receive a pass beside the 18-yard box and unloaded a long shot, the ball would get deflected before ending into the back of the net.

Seneca would not stop there and stayed hot. At 43 minutes, Kayla Uddenberg fought for the ball right next to the penalty box and smashed a long shot that would sail over the keeper's reach, putting Seneca ahead on the board 2-1.

The second half started with both teams feeling each other out. Seneca did not back off and kept creating offensive opportunities, while the Hawks, on the other side, were playing easy and smart to find a way to tie the match up.

The Hawks though, were struggling to find a solution to Seneca's solid defence and, at 75 minutes, a game-changing moment would set the pace of the match. Humber's Robitaille would receive her second yellow card, putting Humber one-player down.

Right after Robitaille was sent off, the Sting would step on the gas. Peralta Fernandez would receive a deflection inside the penalty box and calmly wrapped up the game for Seneca, driving another tally to the back of the net.

In a rematch of the 2022 OCAA final, the Seneca Sting overcame the Humber Hawks to capture their first gold medal since 2014.

Hayley Lewis from Humber and Peralta Fernandez from Seneca were named the players of the match. 

Championship MVP

Rebekah Lee - Seneca Sting

Championsip All-Team

Emily Robitaille - Humber Hawks
Chantel Spalla - Humber Hawks
Jessica Shears - Seneca Sting
Carley Uddenberg - Seneca Sting
Erin Michalicka - Durham Lords

Source: Humber Hawks

The Durham Lords won bronze at the 2023 OCAA Women's Soccer Championship. That marks an 11th all-time OCAA medal for Durham College in women's soccer.

After falling to the Humber Hawks in the semifinal, the Lords still had an opportunity on Saturday to take home a medal in another edition of the Sledgehammer Series with a matchup against the St. Clair Saints.

Durham scored first as Erin Michalicka (Pickering) found the back of the net in the 25th minute. St. Clair tied it up only 14 minutes later, sending the match into halftime all tied up. The Lords had a hot start, outshooting the Saints 7-5 through 45 minutes.

In the second half, Erika Bjorgum (Kingman, Alta.) found Michalicka for her second goal of the afternoon to take the lead back. It was short-lived as St. Clair tied it at two only four minutes later.

Ninety minutes was not enough, sending the two teams to 30 minutes of extra time - which was also not enough time to separate the two.

Bjorgum was the first to kick in the penalty shootout, picking the bottom left corner for a goal. St. Clair missed their first opportunity, thanks to a massive save from the 5-foot-8 goalkeeper Kayla Edelhofer (Bowmanville), who was substituted into the match late in extra time specifically for penalty kicks.

Durham scored their first four shots, but a big save from the Saints goalkeeper on the fifth shot kept them in the match.

With extra kicks required, Chloe Hercia (Oshawa) sent the goalkeeper the other way to score on the right side to make it 5-4. Edelhofer followed it up with a diving save on the next shot to win the match and secure the bronze medal for the Lords.

Olivia Checchia (Bowmanville) was named the Player of the Match for the Lords. During the award presentations, Michalicka was recognized as a Championship All-Star.

Source: Durham Lords

Championship Website: www.ocaa.com/wsoc

Live Webcast: www.ocaalive.com

Friday, October 27
Semi-Finals
S-F #1: Humber def. Durham 2-1
S-F #2: Seneca def. St. Clair 4-0

Saturday, October 28
Bronze Medal Match
Durham def. St. Clair 2-2 (PK)

Gold Medal Match
Seneca def. Humber 3-1

- OCAA -

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