MONTREAL – Midfielder
Karima Lemire of Longueuil, Que., scored the game-winning goal in the 34th minute on a rare direct corner kick as the No.8 ranked UQAM Citadins blanked McGill 2-0 in an RSEQ women's soccer semifinal, on a cold, rain-soaked pitch at Stade Saputo, Sunday.
UQAM advances to both the Quebec conference final and the U SPORTS Final Eight national championship, along with the No. 3-ranked Montréal Carabins, who defeated third-place Laval 1-0 in the other semifinal.
Lemire drove a curling corner into the box which soared through a maze of bodies as five UQAM players boxed in Martlets sophomore 'keeper
Annabelle Matysiak. The rifle-like shot went untouched and directly into McGill's goal.
"It is not technically a foul using the old FIFA rules from last year," noted McGill head coach
Jose-Luis Valdes of UQAM's goal-crowding tactic. "The current rules stipulate it is permitted as long as the player is moving towards the ball in some shape or form. But the reality is they impeded our goalkeeper from making the save that she needed to make."
According to the Martlets' soccer boss, the official FIFA rules were changed in 2019 but their application was delayed by the Quebec soccer federation as officials required extensive training to properly incorporate new rules. As a result, the 2019 RSEQ fall season was played with previous FIFA rules and the new regulations will be enforced next season.
"It was very difficult conditions for both teams to play well," added Valdes whose side retained 52 per cent of possession despite the downpour. "However, we played well enough given the circumstances. If a team that finishes first has to score that kind of goal... I'm okay with the way our players performed and how we evolved this year."
The 1-0 lead held until the dying moments of the game before UQAM captain
Marie-Pier Gougeon scored in the 88th minute after McGill had left itself vulnerable at the back-end, while pressing up-field in search of the equalizer.
McGill had a 8-7 advantage in attempted shots but UQAM held a 4-3 margin in shots on target. The game featured 14 fouls, with nine of them called against McGill. Only one yellow card was issued, in the 75th minute to Citadins' defender
Kelly Auger.
UQAM goalkeeper
Léa Palacio-Tellier made three saves to earn the shutout, while Matysiak of Vancouver turned was credited with two saves in a losing cause.
It marked the final outdoor game for graduating senior midfielder
Olivia Trottier from Victoria, B.C. The 5-foot-7 nursing major concluded her Martlets career with 42 regular season games played and one goal scored.
McGill finished with a solid 11-6-1 record overall, including a 9-4-1 fourth-place record in league play.
"Last season we lost seven graduating players and three others were unable to return this year due to injury," added Valdes. "So I don't think many expected us to be (fourth) in the league, competing, and beating (the Carabins) and Laval this year. But here we are. So great work from the girls for buying into the program and the style of play. That's the reason we got this far."
SoccerMeter for iPad Game Data
| McGill |
Game Total |
UQAM |
| 0 |
Goals |
2 |
| 3 |
Shots On Goal |
4 |
| 5 |
Missed Shot Attempts |
3 |
| 38 |
% Shot Attempts On Goal |
57 |
| 0 |
% Shot Attempts Scored |
29 |
| 46:48 |
Time of Possession |
43:12 |
| 52% |
Time of Possession % |
48% |
| 569 |
First Touches |
490 |
| 9.0 |
Average Time of a Possession (sec) |
8.3 |
| 329 |
Passes |
250 |
| 58% |
Pass Completion % |
51% |
| 17 |
Number of Pass Strings |
7 |
| 6.0 |
Average Pass String Length |
6.4 |
| 11 |
Longest Pass String |
11 |
| 1 |
Corner Kicks |
2 |
| 9 |
Fouls Committed |
5 |
| 2 |
Goalkeeper Saves |
3 |
| 50 |
Goalkeeper Save % |
100 |
Scoring Summary
| McGill 0 |
UQAM 2 |
| None |
34' Karima Lemire (unassisted)
88' Marie-Pier Gougeon (unassisted) |
Goalkeepers
| McGill |
UQAM |
| Annabelle Matysiak (L, 2 SVS, 2GA, 90:00) |
Léa Palacio-Tellier (W, 3 SVS, 0GA, SHO; 90:00) |
Cards
| McGill |
UQAM |
| None |
75' Kelly Auger (Yellow) |
Players of the Game
2019 RSEQ UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S SOCCER FINAL STANDINGS
