The Lakers women's soccer team aims for provincial gold this ...
The Nipissing Lakers women's soccer team went 11-3 in the regular season and has won both playoff games to move to the OUA title game. The biggest game remains.
Published Oct 31, 2024 • Last updated 9 hours ago • 3 minute read
The Nipissing Lakers have had an elite women’s soccer program for years and this weekend they can reach the top of the mountain.
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On Saturday at noon the Lakers women play the Ottawa Gee Gees for the Ontario University Soccer title.
The Lakers have made an incredible run to the title game this weekend in Ottawa.
They rallied from two goals down to beat Queen’s 6-4 in extra time in the quarter-final. A week later a goal by first team all-star Cassidy Brooks in the final minute gave Nipissing a 2-1 win over York in the semi-final.
Now comes Ottawa, the 2nd-ranked team in the nation and a side that has two wins over the Lakers already this year.
Brooks, via email, discussed the season and what is at stake this weekend.
Our team has physically and mentally prepared for this moment. We have used our experiences this season and in the past seasons to drive us to be prepared to achieve more of our team goals. Our team is dynamic, versatile and resilient when it comes to adversity we face in games. We have developed this culture as a result of the previous players who have come through this program. We will take these strengths to propel us forward in the OUA Finals this Saturday,” says Brooks.
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Two years ago, a painful semi-final loss to Western ended the Lakers season and it’s a match that Brooks can’t forget.
“A few of our current players including myself have had that playoff experience against Western a few years ago in the semi-finals. It proved to be a defining moment for our program as the penalty shoot-outs after overtime play cost us an opportunity to advance to the OUA Finals,” says Brooks.
The veteran striker is philosophical about the coming game this Saturday at noon.
“We are ready and prepared to continue to make history for the Nipissing Lakers Women’s Soccer Program, and leave a Legacy that will allow for future athletes to develop to their fullest potential,” says Brooks.
Courtney Poelman is one of the star recruits for the Lakers.
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“I can’t speak for the whole team but I can tell you that heading into this weekend against Ottawa we’re really focused on staying strong as a team. Our roster has a lot of depth and experience and we each have a role to play both on and off the pitch, and we need to be prepared to compete when called upon,” says Poelman.
Poelman is an elite two-sport athlete who knows what it like to win a national title.
“In 2022, I competed on the Durham West Lightning U18 Women’s (hockey) team representing Ontario that won the Esso Cup. It was a grind that can be both mentally and physically taxing, especially when the championship is at the tail end of the season. But all the teams are in the same situation. While the sports are different, I think a lot of the same preparation goes into competing at that level. You need to be focused on the task at hand, firstly, and you need to be prepared to compete and leave it all on the playing surface. You want to know, when that tournament ends, that you and your team played your hardest, and to the best of our ability,” says Poelman.
Win or lose, the Lakers are off to the National Women’s Final tournament from November 7-10th at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia.
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