For the second time in three years, the Rouge et Or of Laval University won the silver medal at the Canadian women’s soccer championship.
Sunday in Halifax against the UBC Thunderbirds, the tournament favorites and defending champions, the Rouge et Or lost by a score of 1-0. Goalkeeper Anne-Marie Laroche allowed her first goal of the tournament in addition to the shootout. UBC broke the deadlock just before the end of the first half to move towards the 9th national title in its history.
In 2022 on home soil, the Rouge et Or also lost in the Canadian final, this time against the Carabins of the University of Montreal.
Photo Trevor MacMillan
After last year’s bronze at Queen’s during a season marked by only one defeat, in the semi-final against Trinity Western, and that of 2021, the Rouge et Or won a fourth consecutive medal at nationals.
The feat is all the more remarkable since David Desloges’ protégés had to wait until the last match of the regular schedule to secure their place in the playoffs with a victory against the Citadins de l’UQAM before overthrowing the Bleues in a shootout. in the provincial final against all odds.
“I’m sad for the girls because they played a better match than UBC and they didn’t get the result they deserved,” Desloges said. The girls put on a remarkable performance and put on a show. This match was not like the previous two where we defended ourselves.”
With a silver medal around their neck, the Rouge et Or finished as champions with no goals scored in regular time. “It’s rare,” agreed Desloges, “but we managed the games well. Before the final, we had not allowed a single goal.”
Semi-final over two days
The Rouge et Or had secured their ticket to the ultimate match by defeating the Ottawa Gee Gees in the semi-final by a score of 1-0 in a shootout in a match that stretched over two days. The end of the match and the penalty shootout was broadcast on the giant screen at PEPS before the start of the Dunsmore Cup.
Involved in a collision with her own goalkeeper and victim of a blow to the head, a Gee Gees player left by ambulance in the 61st minute with the score 0-0. Both teams agreed to stop the match and resume the next day. On the return leg, Laval won in a shootout for the second time in the tournament after its victory against the Trinity Western Spartans on Thursday.
“The girls from Ottawa were in shock,” Desloges said. We interrupted the match for the good of everyone.
Gold Medal for Sportsmanship
Attacker Léa-Jeanne Fortier made a gesture demonstrating great sportsmanship. A Gee Gees defender was left on the ground after suffering a knee injury when her cleat got caught in the synthetic surface.
The ball ended up at Fortier’s feet in the penalty area and she could have scored the goal which would have given the Rouge et Or the lead, but she preferred to kick the ball into touch so as not to take advantage of the injury to his opponent. She was alone with the goalkeeper of the Ontario champions.
“Léa-Jeanne did not want to take advantage of an opponent’s misfortune to score,” explained Desloges. She wanted to deserve the goal if she scored.
The Rouge et Or won the championship sportsmanship award. Fortier, Mathilde Lachance and Geneviève Girard were elected to the tournament’s all-star team.
Money for the Carabins among the men
Also opposed to the Thunderbirds, the Carabins lost by a score of 1-0 in the final of the men’s championship played in Oshawa. The Thunderbirds scored the game-winning goal with added time. This is a 14th national title for UBC.
