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HOME OF THE MCMASTER MARAUDERS
WSOC - Celebration - Quarterfinal @ Guelph
Michael P. Hall
2
Winner McMaster MCMASTER (2-0-0, 9-3-5)
1
Guelph GUELPH (0-1-0, 12-2-3)
Winner
McMaster MCMASTER
(2-0-0, 9-3-5)
2
Final
1
Guelph GUELPH
(0-1-0, 12-2-3)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
McMaster MCMASTER 1 1 2
Guelph GUELPH 0 1 1

Game Recap: Women's Soccer | | Fraser Caldwell, Sport Information Officer

Women's Soccer: Roberts' Injury Time Strike Snatches Dramatic Quarterfinal Win for Marauders

McMaster advanced to the OUA Final Four for the first time since 2012

Standing as the only team to deal the Gryphons a defeat over the course of the OUA's regular season, the Marauders entered Sunday's quarterfinal in Guelph with confidence, fresh from their first playoff win in six years.

What followed was a dramatic victory for McMaster and heartbreaking defeat for the hosts, as the Marauders broke a 1-1 deadlock in the third minute of stoppage time to grab victory and a place in the OUA Final Four for the first time since 2012.

Fourth-year forward Stephanie Roberts, who's 14 goals in the regular season won her the conference scoring title, provided the dagger for her third marker in two playoff matches, and headed her team into the championship weekend.

The victory ensures that McMaster is bound for London, with the Western Mustangs set to play host to the Final Four after similarly upsetting the OUA West's second-seeded York Lions on Sunday.

Unlike the upset-filled West, which saw the third and fourth seeds survive to play on the final weekend, the OUA East was dominated by the top two seeds, with the division-leading Ottawa Gee-Gees beating the Toronto Varsity Blues 2-0 and the second-seeded Queen's Gaels cruising to a 5-1 win over Nipissing Sunday.

With that, the Marauders are due to face the Gee-Gees in a semifinal Friday in London.

The quarterfinal opened brightly for McMaster, as the visitors got on the scoresheet just 11 minutes into proceedings when winger Amy Froome found the back of the net.

That lead held well through halftime, until Guelph managed to fashion a late equalizer in the 78th minute, when Julie Karn provided the finishing touch for 1-1.

Seemingly destined for extra time, the match was turned upside down when Roberts came free in the area and managed to nod home in the third minute of stoppage time, sending the Marauders into a wild celebration as the game wound to a close moments later.

Now, McMaster faces the prospect of competing in the conference's culminating weekend for the first time in six years.

The Marauders last trip to the OUA Final Four ended with a fourth-placed finish in 2012.

Three of the four teams headed to London will take part in the U SPORTS Championship tournament, as the Gee-Gees have already guaranteed their place as hosts and the OUA boasts two conference berths.

A semifinal or bronze medal win would send McMaster to the nation's capital for the year-end event.
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