The home team of the 2024 CCAA Women’s Soccer National Championship, being held on the new turf at the Squamish campus of Capilano University, is in the running for a medal today after their win in the semifinals on Nov. 8.
The Capilano Blues will play for a bronze medal on Saturday at 12 p.m., taking on the Vancouver Island University Mariners.
The Blues came into contention thanks to their play in the second game of the day on Friday, when they beat the Seneca Sting, of Toronto's Seneca College, with a 1-0 final score.
Fifth-year Blues' defender Mya Fraser got an early goal that made all the difference.
"Capilano started strong, immediately pushing the ball into attacking position, which earned them a corner kick less than five minutes in," said Brent Mutis, spokesperson for the CapU Blues.
"Michaela Salvino lofted a stellar delivery to the front of the Seneca goal where Fraser got above the crowd and headed it home for the only goal of the game."
Players of the game were the Seneca's Christina Diaco and Capilano's Mya Fraser.
At 3 p.m. on Saturday, it will be a Quebec final for gold and silver between Nomades de Montmorency of Laval, and Aigles d'Ahuntsic, of Montreal.
Here's a recap of the other Friday games:
Game 1
Mount Saint Vincent Athletics vs. Brandon Bobcats
The MSVU Mystics scored a late goal to claim a 1-0 win over the Brandon Bobcats.
"It was a see-saw match, with teams trading bouts of possession but not really testing either keeper," said Mutis.
Mystics' second-year striker, Mhyah Allen, scored the winning goal with a low drive past a diving Josie Black in the Bobcats goal.
MSVU finishes in seventh place.
Players of the game were Brandon's Josie Black and MSVU's Ana Lucas.
Game 3
Vancouver Island University vs. Concordia-Edmonton
The VIU Mariners continued dominance with a 4-1 win over the Concordia-Edmonton Thunder Friday afternoon. After dropping a 1-0 decision to Montmorency on Day 1, the Mariners have defeated their next two opponents by a combined 12-1 count, including Friday's victory that included a pair of goals from Tori Hauptman.
"VIU pressed the agenda from kickoff and opened the scoring with Hauptman's first of the game in the 14th minute after some good setup work by Olivia Guild. Saki Meshida followed just eight minutes later, and Hauptman completed her brace just past the half-hour mark, putting VIU in command going to the second half," said Mutis.
Emma Thornton made it 4-0 with about 15 minutes to go.
Concordia's Madison Kempster, who was the goal keeper the first half, scored with two minutes remaining.
Players of the game were Emma Ward for Concordia-Edmonton and Tori Hauptman for VIU.
