From Underdog to Dominance How the UOIT Women’S Soccer Team Evolved from Rookies to OUA Champions and National Medalists in Five Short Years
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From underdog to dominance How the UOIT women’s soccer team evolved from rookies to OUA champions and national medalists in five short years By Joel Wittnebel The Oshawa Express Take us to the days where we’re no longer underdogs in the OUA. Where we’re a threat in every game we play. The above lines are borrowed from a song created by the UOIT women’s soccer team five years ago. Thinking of the team singing the full rendition, created when they were only 10 days old, still gives head coach Peyvand Mossavat goosebumps when he thinks about it. It was like a prophecy – one that came true this season. “I couldn’t comprehend it in the moment, I didn’t even know what to do. I was shellshocked,” says Ridgebacks captain Kylie Bordeleau Photo by Allan Fournier See RIDGEBACKS Page 21 Gens top Durham bidding Bulldogs to hold for ParaSport down first place The Oshawa Generals added more points to their division lead over the Games Hamilton Bulldogs with a 2-1 victory on Dec. 2. Currently, the Gens (18-7-0-2) are Region looking to host annual eight points ahead of the Bulldogs, who sit with 30 points for second place in the OHL`s Eastern tournament in 2019 Conference. It was Jack Studnicka who got By Graeme McNaughton 400 participants, including things started for Oshawa on the road, The Oshawa Express approximately 260 athletes, come scoring shorthanded in the first period Photo Submitted to the region in either February or to put the Gens up by one. The province’s top para-athletes March of 2019 to take part in The Oshawa Minor Generals Bantam AE team pile together on the ice at the Air Mitch Vande Sompel, coming off Canada Centre after taking part in Under Armour`s Storm the Centre competition. may soon be coming to Durham eight to 10 sports, including one of his biggest games of the season Region. swimming, wheelchair rugby and against North Bay Battalion where he Regional councillors will be wheelchair basketball. netted a hat trick, sealed the deal on like to be a pro off the ice with media Durham will next be in action in asked to endorse Sport Durham’s Bridgeman says hosting the the powerplay in the second period. training, dry-land training, nutrition the new year when they head to bid, submitted earlier this year, to event would not only be a great Hamilton would manage one in the coaching and a talk from Leafs alum - Toronto for the annual George Brown host the 2019 edition of the opportunity to host a provincial second frame as well, beating starter ni Mike Johnson. The teams capped New Year’s Classic. Ontario Parasport Games, as well event in the region, but also an Jeremy Brodeur, but it would prove the day off with a regulation game on as authorize a grant of $20,000 to economic boon. not enough. the ice at the ACC. go towards the event. “Winning the right to host The Gens are back home for a pair Ridgebacks roll “For more than a decade, these games would boost our local of games this weekend, facing off Durham Region has worked to economy by about $500,000,” he against Saginaw on Dec. 9 and the Lords end 2016 over over RMC achieve an inclusive and accessi - says. Battalion on Dec. 11. ble environment; one that pre - “But for us, it is about more serves dignity and independence than just economic factors. It with a win over 7-2 for individuals of all abilities,” would offer the chance to The UOIT men’s hockey team says Brian Bridgeman, the strengthen inclusion far beyond Minor Gens Fleming region’s commissioner of plan - closed out conference action in 2016 our borders, while creating legacy Coming off a last second loss to with a 7-2 victory over the RMC ning and economic development, opportunities here at home.” travel to ACC in an emailed statement to The Centennial on Nov. 30, the Durham Paladins on Dec. 3 at the Campus Ice And to add to that, the Ministry On Dec. 4 the Oshawa Minor Oshawa Express. College men’s basketball team was Centre. of Tourism, Culture and Sport has Generals and York Simcoe Express “As a result of this strong lead - able to rebound, earning an 87-70 vic - With the lopsided win, UOIT heads advised that it will give a hosting got a chance to act like their hockey ership, Sport Durham – in partner - tory over Fleming at home. into the holiday break with a 12-5-1 grant of $110,000 for the games. heroes for a day as they took part in ship with other community organ - The win over the Knights wraps up record, good enough for third place in The report, due to be presented Under Armour’s Storm The Centre izations and volunteers – decided conference play in 2016 for Durham the OUA eastern conference standings to councillors for the first time at competition. to complete the necessary as they enter the break with a 5-4 with 25 points. Going into the new the next committee of the whole They were welcomed at Air research and due diligence for a record, putting them in fifth place in year, a number of teams are still in the meeting. Canada Centre with training gear and potential bid to host the 2019 the OCAA east region standings. hunt for the conference title with only The document does not indi - stepped on the ice with Toronto Maple Ontario ParaSport Games.” Funsho Dimeji had a big night for seven points separating first from cate when a decision on the host Leafs staff and alumni, Wendel Clark, If the bid is successful, the Durham as he dropped a game-high 22 sixth. Queen’s (13-4-1) leads the way community for the 2019 games for on-ice training session. region can expect to see more than points to go along with eight with 27 points while McGill (12-3-2) will be announced. Players also got a taste of what it’s rebounds, six assists and a steal. is in second place with 26. DEC 7 2016 Page 19 n’t have the work ethic, we wouldn’t have the “I think the girls around her helped her, the knowledge, we wouldn’t have anything that environment helped her,” he says. A success we do have…Peyvand has absolutely taught us And the players were going to need all the everything that he knows to be better players, help they could get as they entered the OUA to be better people, to be better just as a final against the Queen’s Gaels. The national whole,” Bordeleau says. stage is nothing new to Queen’s, which has five years lifted the championship trophy six times Up against the best before along with two CIS championships. After a scoreless start to the game, it was Entering the OUA as a new team is one Henderson again, muscling off a Queen’s in the thing; going up against veteran schools like defender to run in on a breakaway and pick the Queens is another. bottom corner. However, even from their first year, the The goal was the only offense of the game, making team showed promise, with strong defense and it was enough to seal the win for UOIT and quickly establishing itself as an underdog in punch their ticket to the U Sport champi - the OUA, a team not to be ruled out. onships for the second time in program histo - From UNDERDOG Page 19 “We set goals that we didn’t really know if ry. That moment came when the final whistle they were realistic or not, but we did every - “Every step of the way, everything has been blew, sealing the deal on UOIT’s 1-0 victory thing that we could to achieve them,” Ryan historical,” Mossavat says. over the Queen’s Gaels to capture the U Sports says. And it didn’t end there. bronze medal, the first not only in the pro - It was in the team’s third season together in The club’s first match of the championship gram’s history, but for the university. 2014 that their success was taken to the next saw the Ridgebacks draw the Trinity Western “It was kind of just the cherry on the cake. level. Spartans, the club that knocked them out of the We all knew that we could do it, but we knew Following a dominant 12-2-2 season, tournament two years ago. Photo by Allan Fournier that anything can happen in those games. So behind only Ottawa (the year’s eventual If UOIT was looking for a bit of redemp - when the whistle blew and we actually knew national champion) in the OUA East standings, tion, it came off the foot of Mississauga’s we accomplished more than we ever thought UOIT would find themselves in the finals for Shynice Williams in the second overtime half, I couldn’t comprehend it See RIDGEBACKS Page 21 we could, it was just surreal, and a fairy tale the first time in their early history. breaking the scoreless tie and push them into ending,” says Jamie Ryan, a team veteran. After getting edged out by Western, miss - the semi-finals for the first time ever. “in the moment, I didn’t While the fairy tale came to an end for ing out on the chance to play for the gold There, the Ridgebacks found themselves some of the players this season, it has been a medal, UOIT played for the bronze medal against the powerhouse in Laval, who was even know what to do.