Women's Soccer | 10/29/2017 10:32:00 PM
MONTREAL -- Freshman striker
Noemie Briollais of Toronto scored what proved to be the winning goal as McGill edged the UQAM Citadins 2-1 on a rain-soaked Stade Saputo, Sunday, in the RSEQ women's soccer regular season finale.
The result clinched a playoff berth for the Martlets, who missed post-season play last year for the first time in team history. McGill, which finished third in the eight-team Quebec conference with a 5-5-4 record, will confront the second-place and unbeaten Montreal Carabins (10-0-4) in a sudden-death semifinal at Stade CEPSUM on Friday, Nov. 4 at 6 p.m.
"It was one of our objectives to finish in the top three spots in our conference. So we're both happy with that result and looking forward to the next challenge," said fifth-year McGill head coach
Jose-Luis Valdes, who has guided the Martlets to a 39-34-16 career record in 89 games overall.
"We struggled to be in control early on in the game today. they need the win so they came out hard and were pressing aggressively. But we manged to find our way through the storm without allowing a goal in the first half. that's been one of our strengths this season, that we haven't given up too many first half goals."
Natasha Tcheki-Jamgotchian of Pierrefonds, Que., opened the scoring on a free-kick for McGill five minutes before halftime. it was the second goal in as many games for the first-year defender, who transferred to McGill this season after three years at Syracuse University.
Briollais put the Martlets ahead by two in the 68th minute. It was her second career regular season marker with the Martlets.
"We moved the ball much better in the second half," noted Valdes. "And were in control until the final minute."
Gabrielle Brouillard spoiled a shutout bid by senior
Sarah Dubois in the 90th minute. Dubois, a 5-foot-8 'keeper, turned aside seven of eight shots for the victory.
Now the Martlets will turn their focus to the upcoming playoff game against the Carabins. They played Montreal tough this season, battling to to a 0-0 draw at Molson Stadium on Sept. 15 and losing 1-0 at Stade CEPSUM on Oct. 20.
The women's playoff will also be followed by a McGill-Montreal semifinal match-up on the men's side.
LINK TO RSEQ BOXSCORE
| 2017 RSEQ Women's Soccer Standings (FINAL) • Classement final de la saison régulière du RSEQ |
|
|
| McGill Scoring Leaders |
| Ducharme, Ariane |
11 |
12 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
|
|
|
| Lore, Tia |
2 |
8 |
3 |
|
3 |
1 |
|
|
| Agozzino, Claudia |
10 |
11 |
2 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
| Briollais, Noemie |
18 |
9 |
2 |
|
2 |
1 |
|
|
| Perrett, Elisabeth |
3 |
13 |
2 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
| Tcheki-Jamgotchian, Natasha |
8 |
12 |
2 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
| Brunelle, Nathalie |
5 |
13 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
| Sturgess, Victoria |
24 |
12 |
1 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
| Barlos, Sophie |
15 |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Boshari, Hannah |
1 |
5 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
| Bouchard-Canuel, Sarah-Maude |
7 |
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Boucher-Gould, Laurélie |
21 |
12 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
| Dodd, Hannah |
9 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Dubois, Sarah |
22 |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Enns, Justine |
17 |
13 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
| Evrard, Jeanne |
0 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Folino, Stefania |
19 |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lusterio-Adler, Olivia |
12 |
11 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
| Poissant, Isabel |
0 |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Robert, Anaïs |
6 |
13 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
|
|
| Tarricone, Briana |
23 |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tinfow, Alexandra |
4 |
12 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
| Trotter, Olivia |
16 |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Zamfir, Ioana Ruxandra |
14 |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
