TORONTO (CIS) – The No. 1 Montreal Carabins scored three goals in 13 minutes to come from behind and defeat the host University of Toronto Varsity Blues, 3-2, in the fourth quarter-final at the CIS women’s soccer championship at Varsity Centre.

The Carabins, who were the 2008 CIS bronze medalists, found themselves down 2-0 after 45 minutes of action. Second-year striker Jennifer Siu (London, Ont.) scored two first-half goals to give the Blues an early 2-0 lead in their inaugural game at the national championship.

The Blues opened the scoring in the 7th minute as third-year defender Nav Deol (Mississauga, Ont.) sent a beautiful pass through two Montreal defenders to a speedy Siu who sent the ball into bottom left corner of the net.

On the ensuing play, Véronique Laverdière (Montreal) sent a rocket towards Blues goalkeeper Mary Anne Barnes (Scarborough, Ont.) who caught it and quickly sent it up the field.

A second-year striker, Siu continued her stellar play with numerous fast breaks to pressure Carabins goalkeeper Martine Julien (Lachine, Que.).

Laverdière (Montreal, Que.) looked as though she would even the score in the 25th minute, sending a wide-angled shot that forced Barnes to dive right and make the save.
Just five minutes later, fourth-year veteran Mel Seabra (Brampton, Ont.) sent a booming shot off the cross bar to get the home crowd on their feet.

Montreal began to pressure the Blues defence as Éva Thouvenot-Hébert (Montreal, Que.) headed a pass to Laverdière, however, Toronto defender Janessa Banwell (Scarborough, Ont.) was there to keep the ball out of harms way.

Siu would add her second goal of the night in the 39th minute, taking a pass from first-year OUA all-star Arin King (Pickering, Ont.) and sending a nice hard shot over the head of Julien to give Toronto a 2-0 lead at the half.

The tables quickly turned in the second half as Toronto slowed their first-half pace and Montreal began to show why they are the No. 1 team in the country.

Laverdière finally got the Carabins on the board in the 52nd minute when she bicycle-kicked the ball over a diving Barnes and into the net.

Montreal continued to press and evened the score in the 62nd minute when CIS first team all-Canadian Véronique Maranda (Montreal, Que.) sent a free kick from 30 yards out and Laverdière was there to direct it into the Toronto net.

First-year midfielder Virginie Lévesque (Montreal, Que.) would complete the comeback just three minutes later. Maranda sent a well-placed corner kick into a sea of Blue and White and Lévesque fought through the scramble for the eventual game-winner.

“It started out rough - the strategy wasn’t to give up a goal seven minutes into the game,” said Montreal head coach Kevin McConnell. “The girls showed composure and true character is shown during hard times, not easy times - to come back 3-2 definitely says something.”

Siu looked as though she would tie things up and complete her hat trick performance in the 86th minute as Montreal’s back-up goalkeeper Sarah Thérien (Montreal, Que.) fumbled a ball, however, she quickly recovered before Siu could get a clear shot on goal.

The Carabins held on for the 3-2 victory and earned a berth in the CIS semi-final round versus the UBC Thunderbirds on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

SCORING SUMMARY

Toronto: 2-0: 2
Montreal: 0-3: 3

First Half
1. Toronto, Jennifer Siu 6th minute
2. Toronto, Jennifer Siu 39th minute

Second Half
3. Montreal, Veronique Laverdiere 52nd minute
4. Montreal, Veronique Laverdiere 62nd minute
5. Montreal, Virginie Levesque 65th minute

Goalkeepers:
Toronto: Mary Anne Barnes (L, 3 GA, 2 saves, 90:00 mins)
Montreal: Martine Julien (2 GA, 1 save, 45:00 mins)
: Sarah Therien (W, 0 GA, 1 save, 45:00 mins)

Shots: Toronto 7, Montreal 9
Shots on Net: Toronto 4, Montreal 5
Corners: Toronto 2, Montreal 5
Offsides: Toronto 2, Montreal 2
Fouls: Toronto 13, Montreal 9
Yellow Cards: none
Red Cards: none

Players of the game:
Toronto: Jennifer Siu
Montreal: Veronique Laverdiere

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS

Thursday, Nov. 12
Quarter-final 1: Queen’s 1 vs. StFX 0 (overtime)
Quarter-final 2: Trinity Western 1 vs. UPEI 0
Quarter-final 3: York 1, UBC 2 (overtime)
18:30 Quarter-final 4: Montreal 3 vs. Toronto 2

Friday, Nov. 13
13:30 Consolation 1: St. FX vs. UPEI (SSN Canada webcast)
15:30 Consolation 2: York vs. Toronto (SSN Canada webcast)

Saturday, Nov. 14
13:30 Semifinal 1: Queen’s vs. Trinity Western (SSN Canada webcast)
15:30 Semifinal 2: UBC vs. Montreal (SSN Canada webcast)
18:30 Consolation final (5th-place match) (SSN Canada webcast)

Sunday, Nov. 15
14:00 Bronze medal (SSN Canada webcast)
17:00 Championship final (SSN Canada webcast)