The regular-season champion UPEI Panthers are intent on adding the 2011 Atlantic University Sport women’s soccer championship banner to their resume this weekend in Fredericton, N.B.
The Panthers (11-1-1) head into the championship tournament as the No. 1 knowing that means little in the competitive AUS conference.
The earned a bye into today’s semifinal games and will play the defending champion Cape Breton Capers at 12 p.m.
The Capers defeated the St. F.X. X-Women 3-0 in the quarter-finals on Friday.
The Dalhousie Tigers and the Saint Mary’s Huskies, who finished second in the regular season and earned a bye into today’s play, will play in the other semifinal at 2:15 p.m.
The Tigers advanced with a 2-0 quarter-final win over the UNB Varsity Reds.
The championship game is Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Panthers were on the losing end of the 2009 and 2010 finals, bowing to the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, respectively.
Unlike the past two seasons, only the conference champion earns a ticket to the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championships next weekend in Montreal
Panthers head coach Mike Redmond likes his team’s chances, noting UPEI has beaten all the teams in the league this year.
“We’ve had a good season, received significant contributions from many players,” said Redmond. “Now, we have to perform to our abilities on the weekend.”
The Panthers’ 27 goals in the regular season, the most since 2006, was second-best in the AUS, while their trademark defence led the conference in allowing only five goals.
On a side that often has six freshmen on the field, it is veteran leadership in the middle of the park and balanced scoring that could provide the Panthers with their second AUS title.
Keeper Channelle Roy, centre back Sara Stewart, midfielder Andrea Archibald and striker Chelsie McInnis, all seniors, were all named to the first all-star team earlier this week and are being counted on for solid games this weekend.
Rookie Maria Scichilone, who was named to the second all-star team, tied McInnis for the team lead for goals with six and scored in three consecutive games heading into the playoffs.
Third-year fullback Julie Lannan, rookie mid-fielder Danae Iatrou and rookie striker Andrea Yr Gustavsdottir have been solid all year, quietly getting the job done for the Panthers.
Freshman Meaghan Malcolm, a converted striker, made a successful transition to fullback when starters Kim Brown and Allyson Seviour were sidelined with injuries.
Seviour has practised with the team this week and is hoping to start today.
Alex Shinnan, Jenna Jo MacDonald and Kelsie Collier could also be in the starting 11.
Jen MacLeod, Emilee Pelletier, Katie O’Brien, Sarah Stanley, Hannah Roche, Lynn Symington and Kayla Balderston provide the Panthers a deep supporting cast capable of playing various formations and styles.
Many of them would be starters on a number of teams in the conference.
Low scoring affairs with overtime and penalty kicks should be anticipated this weekend.
There has been at least one shootout every year since 2005 and 29 of the 30 playoff games have been decided by two goals or less (23 by one goal).
The Panthers eliminated Cape Breton in 2009 with the Capers returning the favour last year, winning the final 1-0.
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Atlantic University Sport women’s soccer championship in Fredericton, N.B. (seedings in brackets):
Friday
Quarter-Finals
Dalhousie (3rd) 2 UNB (6th) 0
Cape Breton (4th) 3 St. F.X. (5th) 0
Today
Semifinals
UPEI (1st) vs. Cape Breton, 12 p.m.
Saint Mary’s (2nd) vs. Dalhousie, 2:15 p.m.
Sunday
Championship Game
Semifinal winners, 2 p.m.
The AUS champion will advance to the CIS championship, Nov. 10-13,
