After a successful 2004 season and coming off
a successful recruiting off-season, the Laurentian Lady Vees
soccer team had some hopeful expectations going into the 2005
season. They started their sixth year of play with two
exhibition games in Waterloo. The Lady Vees dominated the
Warriors in both matches, shutting them out, 2-0 and 5-0.
The Ontario University Athletics (OUA) season
started off with a tough schedule for the Lady Vees. Playing
host to Toronto and York, the Vees managed to come away with a
record of 0-1-1, losing 2-1 and tying 2-2 respectively. The
following weekend the Vees played host to their northern
rivals, Nipissing, coming away with their first victory of the
year, 1-0.
Keeping games close and capitalizing on
chances would be the main strength of the Lady Vees for the
remainder of the season. Picking up two more ties against the
tough squads of McMaster and Brock, the Lady Vees were
determined to seek more wins. The Lady Vees found their groove,
going on a three-game winning streak, taking out Ryerson,
Guelph and Toronto. After the victory against Guelph, the Lady
Vees clinched a berth into the
playoffs. The end of the season saw the Vees
lose to York and beat Nipissing, completing their record at
5-2-3.
Finishing in second place in the North
Division, the Lady Vees earned the right to host their first
ever playoff game against the Guelph Gryphons. After a
gruelling game in the harsh northern weather, Laurentian came
out victorious 1-0. Coming off the victory, the team travelled
to St. Catharines to face Brock in the quarter-finals. The Lady
Vees season would come to an end, after a well-fought game,
losing 1-0.
"All season our rookies have been helping out
the team. Combined with the veterans, we will come back
stronger next year," said head coach Robert Gallo, in a news
release.
