Women’s Soccer
Semifinal 2: Carabins advance to final with 5-0 win over Spartans
The Victoria Vikes earned a 4-1 win over the Manitoba Bisons in the consolation at the 2017 U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Championship Sunday morning at the Subway Soccer South Complex in Winnipeg, Man.
“We were really pumped and everyone was cheering each other on,” said Vikes midfielder Stephanie Badilla Gutierrez. “The Bisons played a good game overall, and I really enjoyed playing against them.”
The Vikes dominated play over the host Bisons, opening the scoring when Rachel Baird headed in a goal in the seventh minute. Badilla Gutierrez added to the lead, posting their second goal in the 11th minute on a free kick.
Bisons midfielder Michaila Pilcher saved a possible third goal in 19th minute, as the ball hit the Manitoba goalpost and would have bounced in had Pilcher not been there to kick the ball away.
The Vikes eventually put a third goal on the board when Caitlin Millham drew Manitoba keeper Justina Jarmoszko to the edge of the box in the 36th minute.
The Bisons made a change in goal to start the second half, pulling Jarmoszko for Maddie Wilford. But the Vikes offence kept coming, as forward Victoria Wulff scored an open-play low-kick goal on Wilford in the 57th minute to extend the lead to 4-0.
Bisons midfielder Sara Schur scored the lone goal for the hosts in the 77th minute, putting an open-play kick past the Vikes All-Canadian goalkeeper Puck Louwes.
“Credit to Victoria, they came out really hard,” said Bisons head coach Vanessa Martinez Lagunas. “We learned that scoring the first goal is crucial at this tournament.”
Badilla Gutierrez was named player of the game for Victoria, while Schur was honoured as Manitoba’s.
“We played a great game and a great tournament,” said Badilla Gutierrez. “I’m going home with a lot of good memories.”
With the win, Victoria finishes the tournament in fifth place, while Manitoba finishes sixth.
Player of the Game:
- Victoria: Stephanie Badilla Gutierrez
- Manitoba: Sara Schur