This week we are flashing back to the year 1994 when the women’s soccer team was crowned national champions! The photo features (Front Row L-R): Meghan Johnson, Leahanne Turner. First Row (L-R): Amy Harding, Val Hutchings, Karen Hood, Kate Gillespie, Amy Joseph, Mito Duong, Suzanne Jones (Manager), Andrea Foreman. Second Row (L-R): Pam MacDonald, Tara Schiebel, Cindi Wilson, Allison Sears, Laura Fielding, Maureen Riley, Carla Perry, Dara Moore (Assistant Coach). Third Row (L-R): Jane Walton, Eva Al-Khouri, Sue Hunter, Dana Skinner, Neil Turnbull (Head Coach). Missing: Dana Holmes
The 1994 season was filled with a lot of excitement as the women’s soccer team was coming off an AUAA title the previous season. The coaches thought there was great talent and depth and that Dalhousie could really make an impact nationally, unfortunately that excitement did not translate to a fast start as the Tiger’s were slow out of the gate, recording just one win and three ties in the month of September.
In October however, the Tigers started to click, rattling off four wins and one tie, which would give the Tigers a 5-1-5 record. Unfortunately, due to tie breakers with Acadia, they were unable to host the AUAA championship and were forced to travel to Acadia. After easily winning their first two playoff games against Saint Mary’s and StFX, the Tigers found themselves in the AUAA championship final versus a very good Acadia squad. 90 minutes plus two-15 minute extra time periods were not enough to break the tie and the game ended up going to sudden death penalty kicks where Dana Holmes scored the decisive goal, making the Tigers back-to-back AUAA champions.
With an AUAA title in hand, the Tigers found themselves in the national final once again after emerging from the group stage with one win and one tie. In the national final versus UBC, both teams were stuck in a 2-2 draw after regulation time. Just as it had been against Acadia, the extra time was not enough, and it was going to be decided in a shootout. As the shootout came to the sixth shooter, Tigers player Karen Hood became the golden goal hero as her shot found the back of the net. When the UBC player hit the post, it meant that the Tigers had won and were the newest national champions.
The phenomenal season did not stop with the national title as Leahanne Turner, Carla Perry, Kate Gillespie, and Dana Holmes were all selected as CIAU tournament all stars.
The current women’s soccer team is in action all weekend and will conclude with their regular season finale versus UPEI on Sunday at Wickwire Field.