VANCOUVER – Lea-Jeanne Fortier and Anais Bujold-Samson found the back of the net in the final 20 minutes as the eighth-seeded Université Laval Rouge et Or edged the top-ranked UBC T-Birds 2-1 in first-round action of the U SPORTS Women's Soccer National Championship.
In a surprising opening day that saw the top three seeds sent to the consolation side of the bracket, Thunderbird Stadium was packed with supporters from both sides as each starting 11 hit the pitch for the day's anticipated final match.
The 'Birds were buzzing out of the gates and wasted little time notching the opening tally courtesy of a free kick in the 11 minute.
Taiya Dennehy picked up a pass on the right side and delivered a soaring cross that found a rising
Maddy Norman just outside the six-yard box, who converted a header to put the T-Birds up 1-0.
Laval refused to go quietly, proving why they have secured medals in five straight national tournaments. As the game progressed the visitors continued to impose their physicality in a back and forth battle before eventually being rewarded in the 71st minute. Fortier fought for possession before rifling one from the right side of the box and slid it post-and-in on the far side for the equalizer.
The T-Birds continued to press and worked up a handful of chances as the game neared the final 10 minutes, but the tide changed when the Rouge et Or were awarded a corner kick in the 85th minute. The cross from the set piece ended up bouncing precariously in the box before Bujold-Samson took a quality chance and stayed with it, depositing her own rebound through a maze of blue and gold defenders to record the game-winning goal.
From there, the 'Birds fought back with a couple of shots on target but couldn't muster much more as Laval was able to secure the 2-1 victory.
The tournament continues on Friday, November 13, with UBC taking on the Dalhousie Tigers at 1:30 p.m., while Laval will face off against the Guelph Gryphons at 6:30 p.m., with both taking place at Thunderbird Stadium.
