OTTAWA (Oct. 13, 2024) - The Carleton Ravens women's soccer team will have to do things the hard way in the OUA playoffs, heading out on the road next weekend for a first-round matchup.
After hosting playoff games each of the last two seasons, the Ravens finished the regular season sixth in the OUA East division with a 5-4-3 record. Carleton wrapped up their regular season 2-1-3 at home after beating Trent 7-0 on Friday before drawing Ontario Tech on Saturday. Saturday's scoreless draw was enough to eliminate the Ridgebacks and clinch Carleton a playoff spot.
Carleton will now travel to Queen's for a playoff matchup with the 8-3-1 Gaels.
Needing a strong weekend to clinch a playoff spot, Carleton wasted little time getting started when they blew out Trent on Friday. Selena Moussa and Ava Mills scored back-to-back in the 17th and 18th minute setting the tone for the afternoon. Already up two goals, Lauren Illman hammered a ball from 35-yards out, catching the Trent keeper off their line for a three-nil lead at halftime.
The Ravens would add four in the second half, including two from Sydney Atwell as they posted their second seven-goal win of the season.
While honouring seven graduating members of the program, the Carleton Ravens defence was on full display Saturday en route to a scoreless draw with the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. Carleton's veteran-laden defence line kept an organized visiting side to the outside most the afternoon, making easy work for the tidy Chloe Lachance-Soulard in goal.
Making four saves on the afternoon, Lachance-Soulard recorded her second clean-sheet of the season while the Ravens locked up their playoff spot.
Ontario Tech didn't go down without a fight. For most of the final five minutes, they threw everything at the Ravens pushing all 11 players including Alicia Chisholm forward as they sought the tie.
The Ravens must break an 11-game, 8-year winless streak against Queen's to advance to the second round. Rada Mintchev had 14 saves in 2016 when the Ravens doubled up the Gaels 4-2 for their last head-to-head win.
The two teams have met twice this season sharing a 1-1 draw in September before Queen's recorded a late 1-0 decision over the Ravens a week later at Richardson Stadium.