By Rylie Dobson
This week’s Flashback Friday features the 1993-94 women’s soccer team.
Back Row (L-R): Neil Turnbull (Head Coach), Allison Sears, Jo Pederson, Stephanie Johnson, Becky Bisson, Meghan Johnson, Dana Holmes, Laura Fielding, Nicole Webb, Gretchen Schmitt (Manager), Dara Moore (Assistant Coach).
Front Row (L-R): Eva Al-Khouri, Carla Perry, Kate Gillespie, Karen Hood, Myto Duong, Joanne Cluett, Amy Joseph.
Absent: Lynne Robertson, Suzanne Jones, Leahanne Turner, Amy Harding.
The 1993-94 women’s soccer team had a season to be remembered. The year started off on a high note in the month of September, when the team went 2-1-1, scoring nine goals and giving up only one in their lone loss of the first half to StFX.
In October, the team was hungrier than ever and posted back to back wins against Acadia, Memorial and Saint Mary’s. Finishing first in the AUAA handed the Tigers hosting rights to the championship tournament. With Wickwire Field in an unplayable state, the finals were moved to an artificial turf near Saint Mary’s.
In the AUAA semifinal, the Tigers faced Memorial and promptly shut them out with a score of 2-0. In front of 300 fans, the Tigers battled Acadia in the finals. Carla Perry, the AUAA MVP, stepped up to score the lone goal of the game, and the Tigers defeated the Axewomen to win their first ever conference championship.
The team’s next challenge was the national championship, held in Montreal. Dalhousie advanced to the gold medal game by defeating two teams who had previously won the title, Wilfred Laurier University and McMaster University. In the final game, the Tigers took on UBC in an intense, hard-fought matchup. Regulation time ended, and the teams were tied 1-1. After two overtime halves, the teams were at a standstill; penalty kicks would now decide the national champion. After 10 shots, the teams were still tied. The 11th shooter was UBC’s goalkeeper, who potted the game-winning goal to defeat the Tigers.
In a record-breaking season, the Tigers won AUAA’s for the first time and walked away with silver medals nationals. Stephanie Johnson and Leahanne Turner were named CIAU tournament all-stars for their efforts.