Team BC have reached the Gold Medal final of the women's soccer competition at the 2009 Canada Games after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Ontario on Friday afternoon.
A pair of goals from Player of the Match Jenna Richardson led the way for British Columbia in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. Vancouver Whitecaps Prospects Women's team midfielder Alicia Tesan also netted a goal for Team BC.
British Columbia pressured their opponents from the opening whistle, but it was Ontario who opened the scoring on 17 minutes following some miscommunication in the Team BC backline. Ontario's Adriana Leon was on hand to score her fifth goal of the tournament.
Richardson then scored Team BC's equalizer on 40 minutes after getting in behind the Ontario defence. It was her team-leading fourth goal of the tournament.
Team BC had to wait until the midway point of the second half to take the lead, as substitute Tesan made it 2-1 on 68 minutes.
Leon then levelled the match at 2-2 eight minutes later, but Jesse Symons' squad were undeterred. Their perseverance paid off when they were rewarded a free kick on the halfway line in time added on at the end of the match. Melissa Bowen launched a forward ball into the Ontario box that Richardson got on the end of before flicking it past the outstretched arms of the Ontario goalkeeper to give Team BC a dramatic 3-2 win.
Symons knew his squad were in for a tough test on Friday, but was delighted with the way his team performed. "Ontario are a quality team with great depth," said the Team BC head coach. "But our players were very committed offensively and defensively. We were the better team today."
Team BC will now look to bring home a fourth Canada Games women's soccer gold medal when they face Quebec in Saturday's tournament final.
