Womens team ready for Nationals

With nationals looming, the Falcon women still have to take care of some business.

The Fanshawe women's soccer team is heading to Ottawa on October 28 to compete against the Mohawk Mountaineers in an Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) semi-final contest.

After already defeating the Mountaineers by a score of 2-0, back on September 27, the Falcons are confident that they will be playing for the OCAA gold medal.

“We are better definitely now, “ said head coach Eva Havaris about the first match-up with Mohawk. “I'm expecting them to be better, and I'm expecting them to go with the same style, but I still think we are going to come up with the win.”

In order to reach the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) national tournament held at Langara College in Vancouver British Columbia, the women will have to defeat Mohawk, and then beat the winner of the other semi-final game between Durham College and Sheridan College in the OCAA final.

“We are looking to walk away with the gold, and I fully expect that we'll beat Mohawk no problem,” said women's athletic officer Joanne Verbeek.

“I'm preparing for them to make nationals.”

Team captain Emily Costello is also confident in the team's chances at capturing an OCAA championship.

“We're mentally and physically prepared for the game on Friday, and we're confident going into it,” Costello said.

In the final regular season game of the season on October 19, Fanshawe hammered Contestoga College, 9-0. Melissa Elie scored three goals, Shannon McLeod two goals, Carly Hall 2 goals, and Emily Costello and Sarah Nishikawa adding one apiece.

After capturing the OCAA West regular season crown with a 7-1 record, Fanshawe reached the OCAA semi-finals by steamrolling over Loyalist College by a score of 7-0.

Elizabeth Hall scored three goals leading the Falcons offensive outburst while Nishikawa netted two goals, and Elie and McLeod each added a goal as well.