A unseasonable warm afternoon in Brandon saw the top four seeds battled it out in the 2022 MCAC Women's Soccer Championship semi-final matches, hosted by Assiniboine Community College (ACC), on Saturday, October 29. 

The top two seeds USB Les Rouges and PUC Pilots were victorious and will now meet-up in the championship on Sunday, October 30. 

#1 USB Les Rouges vs. #4 CMU Blazers

The #1 seed Université de Saint-Boniface (USB) Les Rouges (11-0-1 regular season record; 1-0 in playoffs) extended their match winning streak to seven with a 4-0 victory against the #4 seed Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) Blazers (4-1-7 regular season record; 0-1 in playoffs) at Sportsplex Field. 

Les Rouges scored quickly and often in the first half. The first goal was scored in the eight minute mark and then 2022 MSOC Player of the Year Sara Boissonneault scored the first of her two goals by the 25 minute mark. Two more tallies by 2022 All Conference Tara Boulanger and Marlene Zarychta ended any chance for a upset by the Blazers as they could not break through with a goal during this semi-final. 

USB took advantage of going with the wind and their high-octane offence continued to score as they had already outscored their opponents 62-4 in the regular season and added a 11th shutout out of 13 games so far in 2022. 

Les Rouges still has an chance for a three-peat now as they won last year and then in 2019 before the pandemic. 

Player of the Match for USB was defender Chantal Boulet and midfielder Tiegan Kroeker for CMU.

#2 PUC Pilots vs. #3 BU Bobcats

After a scoreless first half, the #2 Providence University College (PUC) Pilots (8-1-3 regular season record; 1-0 playoffs) rattled off three unanswered goals against Brandon University (BU) Bobcats (5-2-5 regular season record; 0-1 playoffs) for a 3-0 victory to disappoint the partisan crowd at HLC Field. 

In less than ten minutes, this match turned quickly. Ava Temple, 2022 All Conference, scored twice and then Kathryn Tierney added another by 70 minutes and Brandon could not stymie the Pilots defence for the rest of the match. Both teams played inspired soccer as it was a back-and-forth affair yet PUC being aggressive paid off in the final 45. 

"We kept working and started to convert our chances in the second half," commented 2022 WSOC Coach of the Year Tory Walker. "We are excited to be in the final and USB is a the number one seed for a reason and look forward to playing against them." 

The Pilots now seek to add to their collection of MCAC championships that they have won in 2008 and from 2012-14. 

Player of the Match for PUC was defender Paige Heide while midfielder Keashae Masters was named for Brandon. 

The 2022 MCAC Women's Soccer Championship Final, Université de Saint-Boniface versus Providence University College at 2:30 p.m. CT on Sunday, October 30 at the Sportsplex Field in Brandon. The MCAC champion also earns a berth into the 2022 CCAC Women's Soccer Championships hosted by Champlain College Saint-Lambert in Saint-Lambert, QC) running from November 9-12.

2022 Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference Soccer Championship

Hosted by: Assiniboine Community College; Central Time listed

Saturday, October 29

12 p.m.            MSOC: #1 seed BU Bobcats 2  #4 seed CMU Blazers 0

12 p.m.            MSOC: #3 seed USB Les Rouges 4  #2 seed PUC Pilots 0

2:30 p.m.         WSOC: #1 seed USB Les Rouges 4  #4 seed CMU Blazers 0

2:30 p.m.         WSOC: #2 seed PUC Pilots 3  #2 seed BU 0

Sunday, October 30

12 p.m.            Men's Championship Final: #1 seed BU Bobcats vs. #3 seed USB Les Rouges

2:30 p.m.         Women's Championship Final: #1 seed USB Les Rouges vs. #2 seed PUC Pilots