In most cases, a top-10 national ranking and a decisive victory in league semi-finals play would guarantee the McGill women's soccer team a spot at Nationals. But not this year. With only one Nationals berth available for a Quebec team this season, the Martlets had the misfortune of playing in the same province as the best team in the country.
After dominating the Sherbrooke Vert et Or 3-1 in the Quebec University Soccer League semi-finals on Friday night, the Martlets couldn't get past the Montreal Carabins on Sunday afternoon, losing 2-1 to the nation's top-ranked team. As a result, the Carabins will be the lone QUSL representative at Nationals this year, while all other conferences will have at least two teams in the tournament.
"We're disappointed with the result of the game, but more upset that we can't go to Nationals when [two Quebec teams] deserve to be there," said Head Coach Marc Mounicot. "I think it's not fair, but it's an administrative matter and there's nothing we can do about it."
Friday night's match was more one-sided than the scoreboard indicated, as the Martlets dominated the Vert et Or on both sides of the ball.
On offence, midfielder Anna Smith had perhaps the best game of any Martlet this season, opening up the scoring in the 12th minute of play with a curling shot to the top left corner of the net from 15 yards out. Smith was also the architect of McGill's other two goals. Her low cross found midfielder Hannah Simmons for a goal four minutes into the second half, and Smith's free kick was headed in by defender Elizabeth Williams to give the Martlets a 3-0 lead in the 65th minute. Smith had a handful of other shots that forced tough saves by Sherbrooke goalkeeper Marie-Michelle Coulombe.
Defensively, the Martlets limited the Vert et Or to only two quality scoring chances in the game: Chloe Belhumeur-Limoges's goal in the 68th minute and a disallowed goal in the 10th minute. Aside from the miscommunication on Limoges's goal - created by a lack of concentration from the Martlet defence and uncharacteristic hesitancy from McGill keeper Anne-Catherine Huot - the Martlets' back-line was outstanding, controlling the middle of the pitch and allowing McGill to dominate the possession battle.
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