Stephanie Parker聮s soccer career at the University of Victoria will officially be etched in bronze after the fifth-year goalkeeper was instrumental in Sunday afternoon聮s 1-0 (4-1 in penalty kicks) triumph over the Ottawa Gee-Gees.
Lunging to her right, Parker got her hand on Christine Hardie聮s offering on Ottawa聮s first spot kick, virtually demoralizing the Ontario champions and setting the tone for the bronze-medal win.
After a scoreless 90 minutes, Emma Greig was successful on Victoria聮s first attempt just prior to Parker聮s save. Then when Ottawa聮s Krista Draycott placed the second attempt well over the crossbar and Lindsay Hoetzel came through for a 2-0 Vikes lead, it was virtually done.
聯It was very exciting to get the bronze,聰 said Parker, while roughly 900 fans who braved the cold and wind at Centennial Stadium enthusiastically cheered on.
聯Not coming away empty-handed from this weekend was a goal,聰 admitted Parker, one of four graduating seniors. 聯Even though it聮s bronze, we聮re all very excited to be third in the country. It聮s a huge honour because there are 50 other teams who didn聮t get here.聰
An excellent point from Parker, who made a great guess on the first penalty shot.
聯I decided in my mind I was going to my right, and when she dropped into the middle, I stuck out my hand and hoped for my best and it worked,聰 she said. 聯Then the second girl hit it over, which was also good for us. But for us to score all four was terrific.聰
Chelsea Lanos finally connected on Ottawa聮s third of five kicks, but only after Jackie Harrison had made it 3-0 in kicks, avenging a missed opportunity from just five yards out in the dying minutes of regulation.
Jaclyn Sawicki put the nail in the coffin with Victoria聮s fourth.
The initial stop, after Greig聮s goal, was the key, though.
聯I think it is demoralizing because you become nervous and think, 聭Now we have to score,聮 聰 Parker said of the opponent. 聯And we were so composed. I am so proud of them.聰
As were the fans, in particular members of the alumni huddled in the VIP tent behind the victorious net.
聯It was so good for us,聰 fifth-year midfielder Nathalie Scharf said of the save. 聯It gave her [Parker] confidence and us extra confidence, and excitement, too.
聯It聮s a great way to go out and it聮s also a great way for them to start next season, on a high note,聰 added Scharf, whose header on a cross from Sarah Douglas just missed in the 84th minute.
聯Unfortunately, we didn聮t get first, but this is the farthest I聮ve ever made it with this team so I聮m pretty excited. It聮s exciting for us and for our fans. There was a lot of support from our alumni and I think they were pretty excited to see us win. Tracy [Vikes coach Tracy David] told us that they had been in this position before and it聮s good we came up with the win today.聰
It was the first medal for Vikes women聮s soccer since a national title in 2005.
The game was played just before the Queen聮s Gaels and Trinity Western Spartans battled for gold.
聯We are disappointed that we aren聮t playing in the gold medal game, but it was important to finish off on a high,聰 said David. 聯Winning the bronze was important for us. It聮s great for our program and it聮s great for our fifth-year players.
聯We came a long ways,聰 she added of the season. 聯I think you聮re going to see a lot from this group over the upcoming years.聰
Janelle Smith and Tessa Margetts are the other two graduating Vikes.
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