RECAP: Gee-Gees sweep weekend homestand in dominant fashion

The Gee-Gees women's soccer team swept their weekend homestand, defeating the Laurentian Voyageurs 3-1 on Saturday and besting the Nipissing Lakers by a score of 8-0 on Sunday.

"I'm really pleased with our performance," said head coach Steve Johnson. 

"We've been using our depth all season. [On Saturday] absolutely everybody got into the game and [Sunday] everybody got in, except we didn't make a change at goalkeeper. The players that have come off the bench, in some cases have been vets and, in some cases, have been rookies. Our performance in both halves has been very strong."

The Gee-Gees dominated the Voyageurs, outshooting their opponents 14-5, with Laurentian failing to record a shot attempt in the first half. 

It was a milestone game for two University of Ottawa players, with rookies Kaylane Hogue and Soumaya Bouak netting their first career goals on Saturday. Both markers were tap-ins, with Hogue potting a rebound inside the six-yard box and Bouak slotting home a pinpoint cross from Katherine Bearne. 

Julia Rosenthal put an exclamation point on the victory, chipping the Laurentian goalkeeper from 40 yards out in the 52^nd minute.

The Lakers were the only team to beat the Gee-Gees during their 2018 U SPORTS National Championship run, but Ottawa overwhelmed Nipissing on Sunday. It was the first time the team has scored seven or more goals in a single game since August 28, 2016, when they defeated the Trent Excalibur 9-0 at Matt Anthony Field. 

Emma Lefebvre notched a hat trick, with Mikayla Morton scoring twice, and Hailey Walsh, Hogue, and Bouak also finding the back of the net.

"The assists were part of it too," said Lefebvre when asked about her hat trick. "We practiced well this week knowing we were going to be against Nipissing, who play an offside trap. We were practicing how to break their back line and we got in behind very well."

Morton's marker on Sunday was her team-leading seventh of the season, tying her for the most goals in the OUA.

Margot Shore earned her second clean sheet of the year, turning aside all three shots she faced.

The number one ranked team in the U SPORTS National Rankings, the Gee-Gees improved to 5-0-1 on the season. They now sit alone in first place in the OUA East division, three points clear of the second place Queen's Gaels (4-0-1). 

The Gee-Gees hit the road next week to take on RMC Paladins on Sept. 21, before they battle the Gaels for first in the OUA East on Sept. 22.