OTTAWA – The Carleton Ravens women’s soccer team dropped a difficult home-opener to the Queen’s Gaels by a final score of 5-0.BOX SCORE
Despite the final score, Ravens fans were highly enthusiastic to watch their team play for the first time in over a year. The crowd was energetic from the start, and their enthusiasm never wavered throughout the match.
Feeding off the energy of an excited crowd at Ravens Perch, Carleton had an early chance in the second minute off the head of Ravens’ forward Chloe Doherty (Ottawa, Ont.) that went wide of the goal.
Queen’s opened the scoring after the fifteenth minute after a series of corner kicks, and a heroic goal-line clearance by Carleton midfielder Mya Van Haaster (Waterdown, Ont.).
Carleton was able to briefly fight off the Gaels attack through a combination of strong defending by Youma Konate (Ottawa, Ont.) and acrobatic saves by goalkeeper Sophie Ehlebracht (Ottawa, Ont.). Before the Ravens could make it to halftime, Queen’s defender Jenna Leslie (Burlington, Ont.) struck a shot with her left foot that found the bottom-right corner, and Carleton entered the half down 2-0.
After Queen’s made it 3-0 after the fiftieth minute, Carleton began to settle into their game. Ravens forward Lauren Illman (Whitby, Ont.) had a shot tipped off the crossbar by Queen’s goalkeeper Kristin Tynan (North Vancouver, B.C.). Minutes later, Ravens midfielder Melissa Balachorek (Whitby, Ont.) struck a shot from outside the box that beat the goalkeeper, but not the crossbar that had cost Carleton a goal just moments earlier.
Queen’s forward Cecilia Way (Vancouver, B.C.) added 2 late goals coming back into the game after a stint on the bench that started in the first half.
After the game, Ravens head coach Dominic Oliveri talked about the group’s inexperience and potential for growth.
“We’re a young team and we played young today. That’s a more experienced team than us. We played a little naïve and we’ll learn going forward.”
Oliveri says that while his group is disappointed with the outcome, there are lessons to be learned from this match.
Despite the final score, Ravens fans were highly enthusiastic to watch their team play for the first time in over
“It was a good learning lesson for us, and I know the players they’ll respond on Sunday, but it’s tough today cause [it was a] nice crowd out, beautiful night to play, first day out, we wanted it to be better for sure.”
The Carleton Ravens women’s soccer team will face off against Queen’s again on Sunday, Septempber 26, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. Their next home game at the Ravens’ Perch is Sunday, October 3 at 1:00 p.m. where they will take on Royal Military College.
