CREDIT: MARTIN BAZYL
Fanshawe's women's soccer team brought home the gold for the first time in nine years from the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Provincial Championships.

Fanshawe’s women’s soccer team was victorious at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) Provincial Championships in Toronto last Saturday, taking home their first gold medal in nine years. The team, ranked #6 nationally in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), defeated the #4 Humber Hawks in 3-2 overtime.

Jade Kovacevic was named Player of the Year at the quarterfinal match on Thursday, scoring two goals that ultimately beat defending champion Algonquin 2-0. Kovacevic was also named player of the game. Friday’s semi-final saw All- Star teammate Nicole Nielsen score all three points in the Falcon’s 3-0 win against Durham. Nielsen was named player of the match.

Kovacevic got the Falcons on the board in the 16th minute of the championship final against the Humber Hawks, and the team took the 1-0 lead into the half of the game. Humber responded in the second half and tied the game 1-1 in the 65th minute, but Fanshawe countered with another goal in the 82nd, shot by Allison Pike from nearly 40 yards out.

The Hawks were awarded a penalty kick in extra time, and converted to send the game into overtime. The Falcons responded with Nielsen headed a Kovacevic pass into the net in the 95th minute.

A media release from the game said it was “strong defensive play and excellent goalkeeping from Breanne Carreiro”, that shut down the Hawks from that point forward.

Kovacevic was named player of the match and Tournament MVP, while defender Alex Clements and midfielder Selena Roberts achieved Tournament All-Star honours for their play over the three days. The women’s team will now go on to represent Ontario at the CCAA from Nov. 6 to 10 in Coquitlam, BC. The men’s team also played well at the Provincial Championship. The #6 CCAA nationally ranked team captured the OCAA bronze medal after defeating the #12 Algonquin Thunder 3-1. The Falcons won the quarterfinal game against University of Toronto Mississauga at 3-1 on Thursday. According to a release, “OCAA Rookie of the Year Ben Vyfschaft scored first for Fanshawe, followed by two goals from All- Star striker Mike Sneddon. Bradley Heath was named player of the game for the Falcons for his stellar defensive performance.”

Fanshawe fell to the #5 ranked Humber Hawks in the semi-final, with Heath scoring the Falcon’s goal. Captain Alberto Barquin was named player of the match.

On Saturday, Ahmad Al Rajie and Sneddon scored goals in the first frame, with Heath adding a third on a penalty kick in the second half. Al Rajie was named player of the game, and Heath a Tournament All-Star.