A pair of goals from Vanessa Kovacs sent the Trinity Western Spartans to a 4-1 victory over the Ontario Institute of Technology Ridgebacks in the quarter-finals of the CIS women’s soccer national championships on Thursday.
Both goals came off Krista Gommeringer corner kicks and the win sends the Spartans through to the semifinals as they look for their third consecutive Gladys Bean trophy.
“It was a bit of a nervy start to be honest. I thought UOIT were a worthy opponent, they made it tough,” said Trinity Western coach Graham Roxburgh after the game. “That late goal at the end of the first half probably made it more tricky than it should have been, but credit to my team.
“We talked about it at halftime, that we had to win the half.”
The championships are being hosted by Laval University in Quebec City and the Spartans face the Ottawa Gee-Gee’s in the semifinals on Friday (Nov. 7).
Kovacs opened the scoring in the fifth minute, heading home a Gommeringer cross.
Jenna Di Nunzi doubled the lead in the 33rd minute, taking a nifty feed from Seina Kashima and slotting home what turned out to be the game-winning goal.
The Ridgeblacks’ Kylie Bordeleau got her team on the board in first half stoppage time. But the Spartans re-established their two-goal edge in the 57th minute when Kovacs again got to the end of Gommeringer’s corner for her second of the contest.
Gommeringer rounded out the scoring in the 70th minute when she ripped a shot from distance off the cross bar and in.
Christina Oliverio came up with seven saves for the Spartans.
For the most part UOIT coach Peyvand Mossavat was pleased with his team’s effort. “I’m proud of the girls. Some rookie mistakes let us down, but the girls kept trying to play and they didn’t give up regardless of the score. I can’t be happier,” said Mossavat.
“Without a doubt Trinity Western had a fantastic and experienced team versus our very young team.”
