The University of Toronto Varsity Blues women’s soccer team lost 1-0 to the Ottawa Gee-Gees in a nail-biter of an OUA on Saturday, October 31 at Varsity Centre.

With high winds wreaking havoc at Varsity Centre all day the long, the first 45 minutes saw the play stay at midfield as both sides were cautious to play the long ball. The lack of a deep threat meant neither side would really threaten to score throughout much of the half. 

It wasn’t until the end of the half that both sides would exchange scoring opportunities. Alicia Lashley (Ottawa) would put her head to a cross off a corner kick that sailed just wide of the net. Gee-Gees forward Tara Condos (Ottawa) would then find herself in a foot race with Toronto keeper Mary Anne Barnes inside the penalty area. The Scarborough native was able to smother the ball with a well timed slide, taking the opportunity away from Condos. The halftime whistle blew moments later, bringing an end to the tedious first frame.

The game opened up early in the second half. Toronto forward Erica Basso (King City, Ont.) threaded a dangerous pass through the Ottawa defence that nearly sent Juliana Bergin (Baxter, Ont.) alone on goal. 

Moments later, Ottawa was awarded a free kick ten yards outside the penalty area on the right side. After a wonderful cross into the box, Condos was able to get her head on the ball, sending it into the high right corner to put the Gee Gee’s up 1-0 in the 55th minute.

Ottawa then seemed content to sit on their lead, using long balls to eat up the clock and dropping more of their players back defesively. This opened up the game for the Blues as they began to control most of the play from that point forward.

Jennifer Siu had some great individual work to win a corner kick for the Blues in the 60th minute. The London, Ont. native then sent a cross in that was headed just wide of the left upright by Basso.  The two forwards connected once again minutes later as Basso sent a wonderful through ball into the penalty area. Siu picked up the pass and got off a hard shot that was blocked quickly by the Gee-Gees keeper Melissa Pesant (Gatineau, Que.) who came out with a hard sliding challenge to make the save. 

The Blues kept the pressure on looking for that much-needed trying goal. Shirley Ho (Calgary) found some space down the left flank in the 77th minute and sent a long cross in that was eventually scooped up once again by Pesant. Mel Seabra (Brampton, Ont.) then headed a ball at point blank range off another great pass from Siu, that curled over the cross bar.

In their final efforts to even the match, the Blues would crowd the Ottawa penalty area after being awarded a free kick with only seconds left in injury time. Heidi Borgmann (Mississauga, Ont.) sent a deep ball into the box, hoping to find a free Toronto foot. 

Unfortunately, the Ottawa defence managed to win possession of the ball after a short scramble, clearing the ball down the field. The full-time whistle was blown seconds later and the Gee Gee’s would hold on for a 1-0 victory. 

The Gee-Gees now move onto the OUA final four championships Nov. 7-8.

Toronto hosts the 2009 CIS women's soccer championships Nov. 12-15, 2009 at Varsity Centre. For ticket information, please visit http://www.ticketbreak.com and for general inquiries visit www.varsityblues.ca.

For more information, scores and highlights on your favourite Toronto teams, please visit the home of the Varsity Blues at http://www.varsityblues.ca.