After a disappointing pair of games last weekend, the Gaels more than redeemed themselves on Saturday.
The nationally fourth-ranked Gaels (5-1-3) kept a clean sheet in an 8-0 demolition of the Trent Excalibur (0-11-0) at West Campus Field.
The Gaels were in rare form: on the offensive from the very beginning of the game. It was a far cry from the weekend before, when the Gaels struggled to find their footing against the Ryerson Rams and the Toronto Varsity Blues.
A constant refrain throughout the season has been that Queen’s players create opportunities that they can’t close. There was none of that on Saturday.
“I just thought we finished well, we created some chances,” said head coach Dave McDowell. “That’s what we’ve been working on, not just quantity, but quality of balls that we’re getting into areas of concern for defence.”
Seven of the Gaels’ goals were scored in the first half, including a hat trick from midfielder Riley Filion, who scored in the sixth, 34th and 40th minutes.
She wasn’t alone in propelling the Gaels to victory. Midfielder Rachel Radu scored in the 14th and 36th minutes; striker Breanna Burton scored in the 43rd minute; striker Jennifer Siu scored in the 44th minute; and midfielder Brittany Snell scored the only second-half goal in the 54th minute.
Goalkeeper Michaila Frawley was also instrumental in the victory, making two saves.
“It’s nice to find the back of the net, and it’s nice to be able to get in some players who don’t play too much,” McDowell said. “For them to go in and do really well was fantastic.”
McDowell again referenced the number of injured Gaels, including second-year striker Brittany Almeida, as one of the major factors that has held the Gaels back.
“The list of our hospital squad is very long, so we’re hoping that a couple of days off and half the season completed, that we can get the squad healthy and keep going forward.”
The Gaels remain in fourth place in the OUA East Division, two points back of the third-place Carleton Ravens.
Next up are two home games: first against the RMC Paladins (2-6-1) at 7 p.m. tomorrow and against the Ottawa Gee-Gees (8-0-2) at noon on Saturday. Both games are at West Campus Field.
Tags
Filion, Gaels, McDowell, Women's soccer
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