CMU Blazers Athletics

Blazers News

Blazers News

Women's Soccer Prepare For Red October Clash With Rouges On Saturday

In a rivalry that is only three years in the making, the MCAC Women's Soccer battle between CMU and the USB Rouges becomes more dramatic with every encounter.

Take last October, when riding a series of shutouts stretching back six-matches, from the start of the 2017 season, USB ended Lydia Balsillie's record start. The Rouges scored within 6 minutes and added another in the opening half, going on to hand the Blazers their first loss of the season. The two teams would meet again in the first round of the 2017 MCAC Championships and after CMU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the opening 30 minutes, the final 45 would be all USB, winning the match 2-1 as they fizzled out the Blazers Championship hopes.

Women's Futsal got their revenge when the teams came indoors last winter. CMU would win both regular season matches going on to trump the Rouges in the Copa de la Paz Finale at Assiniboine Community College as the Blazers were perfect through the regular season and playoffs, winning their first MCAC banner in the fledgling sport.

The 2018 MCAC season kicked off for both teams on September 9th; a 1-1 final that featured a completely back and forth contest. Since opening day, the Blazers have faced some obstacles that included back to back draws with the surging ACC Cougars and a loss to the defending MCAC Champion, Brandon Bobcats, but have also come up on the top side of two big wins; on September 16th, a 4-1 away win over Providence and last weekend when Camille Plett scored three in the second half to top the Red River Rebels 3-0 at home.

With the hat-trick on Saturday, Plett now sits on 11 goals scored in 6 matches, one above ACC's powerful first-year striker Jerra Green who face who also face a cross-town rival on Saturday in the Brandon Bobcats as the top teams in the conference face-off in a battle for first-place in the standings. A tie, coupled with a CMU win over USB on Saturday afternoon, would see CMU move into a first-place tie on points with the defending Champion Bobcats, who will be CMU next opponent on Sunday afternoon at the Ralph Cantafio Soccer Complex.

"I think it's important for us to approach these games knowing they will be tough," explained the fifth-year midfielder. "This year especially, everybody is so close in points. We want to secure our place in the playoffs early and just continue to work towards consistent performances by everyone on the field."

Despite exiting the match early last weekend, Plett has been ruled "fit to play" and is expected to be in the lineup this Saturday against USB. Also returning to the lineup is fourth-year fullback Kirsten Friesen who was unavailable against the Rebels last weekend.

The Rouges currently find themselves at the bottom of the MCAC Women's Soccer Standings and looking up at the five teams above them. USB sits on 5 points, 3 points out of the final playoff spot with 4 matches remaining.

 

 

Print This Article