International
Canada takes home two medals at University Combat Sports World Cup
Last gasp saves from Cassidy Joslin and goals from Soumaya Bouak and Olivia Allen in the final helped the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees women’s soccer team to the gold medal at the FISU Americas tournament held in Merida, Mexico.
Ottawa bested Paulista in the gold medal game by a 2-1 score to secure the championship. The two schools had previously faced off in the final of the 2019 FISU University World Cup tournament, which was also a Gee-Gees win.
Bouak blasted a left-footed shot into the roof of the net early in the first half, and Allen doubled the lead in the second half after a mazy run by Trinity Esprit.
Paulista pulled one back with about 25 minutes to go, but that was as close as they would get. A late push by the Brazilians was thwarted by a pair of sprawling saves from Joslin, who played every minute of every game for Ottawa in the tourney.
Ottawa clinched a spot in the final by topping Tecnológico de Monterrey by a 2-0 score in the semifinal. Ella Chase scored both goals.
It was an eventful group stage for the University of Ottawa, which was forced to battle intense heat and a bout of food poisoning.
The Garnet and Grey soundly defeated University Salgado de Oliveira 4-0 in the opener, but then were shorthanded for the rest of the group stage with large portions of the squad unavailable.
Just 13 players were available for selection for the second group stage game against Monterrey, which Ottawa won 3-1. Chase netted a brace, while the game-winner was an own goal by the Mexican side off a shot from Allen that was destined for the back of the net anyway.
Paulista posed the biggest challenge of the group stage, and the teams settled for a 1-1 draw. Nibo Dlamini scored the lone goal of the match, with several key members still out.
As the defending FISU University World Cup champions, Ottawa had already clinched a spot in the 2023 FISU University World Cup. The date for the 2023 tournament has yet to be set.