No. 4 WOMEN'S SOCCER WIN ON PENALTY KICKS, ADVANCE TO OCAA FINAL

Humber wins OCAA semifinal on penalty kicks

TORONTO, Ont. – No. 4 Humber women's soccer maintained its championship aspirations by beating No. 9 Seneca on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in the OCAA Championship semifinals, Friday night.

Humber opened the scoring in the opening minute when a clearing attempt by Seneca was intercepted by Claudia Piazza outside the 18-yard box. The two-time league all-star capitalized on the turnover, firing a strike past Seneca keeper Raven Edwards-Dowdall.

Less than ten minutes later, Giulia Zanardi lined up a free kick, looking to extend the lead. Humber's top-scorer bent a beautiful ball that beat the keeper but glanced off the post and was cleared away.

The Sting responded in the in the 38th minute when a tough call by the referee awarded Seneca a penalty kick. Ellie Hayes snuck her penalty kick by the hands of a diving Vanessa Fiore.

Humber dominated possession in the second half, but was unable to find the back of the net and put the match away. After 30 minutes of overtime was not enough to decide a winner, the match went to penalty kicks.

Vanessa Fiore was the star for Humber, proving once again why she is the top-keeper in the province. Fiore guessed right on all five Seneca shots, making three saves to seal the win for the Hawks.

Giulia Zanardi put Humber on the board, blasting a goal that the Seneca keeper could not even attempt to save. All-Star Hayley Mackie gave Humber the lead, going bar down past the Seneca keeper.

In the fifth round, Fiore saved Sona Makulova's shot, sealing the victory for Humber.

Game Notes

• Humber has yet to surrender a goal in open play this season.
• The Hawks improve to 3-0 in penalty kicks during the OCAA postseason.
• Claudia Piazza has recorded three tallies in two matches.
• Humber has reached the OCAA finals in three straight years.
• The Hawks improve to 5-1 against Seneca in the OCAA postseason.

Championship Preview
No. 4 Humber will face No. 6 Fanshawe (10-0-0, 1st West) in the championship final Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. The Falcons feature OCAA Player of the Year Jade Kovacevic, who has scored 32 goals in 12 matches this season. Humber is 2-0 against Fanshawe in the OCAA Championship final.