Whitecaps Girls Elite Reign Supreme: A League1BC Women’s 2024 Inter-Provincial Championship review

(Photo Credit: League1 Canada)

With the Northern Super League (NSL) on the horizon, there seemed to be many more eyes on the 2024 Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship in Hamilton, Ontario this past weekend, with the next generation of women’s soccer on display. Four teams came into the tournament with the hopes of earning a spot for the 2025 Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup, but only one team raised the trophy come the end, so read on to find out all that happened in this year’s WIPC.

Upset On One End, Usual Business On The Other

With NDC Ontario and the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy on either side of the bracket, it seemed fated that two out of the three National Development Sides (NDC) would face in the final of this year’s WIPC. However, for NDC Ontario, they were subjected to an upset at the hands of punchy side CS Mont-Royal Outremont (MRO).

After having already defeated last years runners-up PEF Quebec in the Ligue1 Quebec playoffs, CS MRO came into this first semi-final match on Friday with all the confidence in the world. That confidence could have been quickly snuffed out after NDC Ontario opened the scoring in the 3rd minute through Bryana Gaynor, but instead they went right up the other side of the pitch and scored through Joëlle Gosselin.

CS MRO then held off NDC Ontario for much of the rest of the game. NDC had more quality chances, but were unable to convert on their momentum. One moment of controversy in the first half will stand out for NDC, as they had a shot from distance hit the crossbar and cross the goalline, only to be denied the ghost goal a la Frank Lampard in the 2010 World Cup. They looked to get karmic justice afterwards when they were awarded a penalty, but midfielder Reece Kay missed her penalty after slamming it against the left post. From there, MRO was able to gain their own momentum with some decent counter-attacking opportunities to keep the scoreline level come the end of the match.

Much of that fight came from MRO’s ‘keeper, Lea Palacio-Tellier, who seemed to stand on her head in the match. She then solidified herself as the hero after saving NDC’s Emma Donnelly penalty to earn the Quebec side a place in the final and prove MRO giantkillers once more.

Meanwhile, it ended up being business as usual for Whitecaps FC, as they defeated Calgary Blizzard 2-0 in the other semi-final, although it did not begin that way. The ‘Caps went goalless in the first half, after some disconnected passing in the attack and some solid compact defending from the Blizzard. Josie Longhurst did come close to giving the Whitecaps the lead right at the stroke of half-time, but was denied by the crossbar.

Head Coach Katie Collar decided to make some changes at half time and brought in the highly-rated Jessica De Filippo. The Mississauga-native came on and utilized that experience she earned in Germany and Spain to get a quick-fire brace, including an audacious chipped first goal from some 25-yards out.

After that, the Whitecaps went into cruise control and saw out the rest of the game with relative ease and Chloe Taylor almost made it 3-0 halfway through the second after also smashing a close-range effort against the woodwork. With the result secured, the Whitecaps were ready to move on to the final on Sunday.

Tepid Third Place Match, Thrilling Final

In the third place match, NDC Ontario had the chance to set things right after arguably losing a match they should have won in the semi-final. Calgary Blizzard came out with hopes of coming away with a bronze medal, and did their best, but ultimately came out second-best once again.

In what was a rather quiet game, only NDC’s early goal through Adriana Bianchin was of any real note. That is until the 87th minute, when Blizzard player Mykena Walker got sent off after a second yellow card for a rough tackle, having received her first yellow just 14 minutes earlier for a delay of restart. NDC Ontario will feel vindicated finishing on a high, while Blizzard will take some good lessons from their two matches against two of the best sides in the country.

But that match then set-up an exhilarating final. With the Whitecaps heavy favourites, it was all on CS MRO to showcase themselves once more and provide another upset, to which they very nearly did. Coach Collar made some pretty big changes for this final, benching the likes of Jeneva Hernandez-Gray, Emily Wong, Jade Mitchell, and Jessica De Filippo, perhaps with one eye on this week’s Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup match in El Salvador. That allowed MRO to take advantage, and draw first blood in the 22nd minute. Anais Naila Oularbi, who has been one of the crown jewels for CS MRO, opened the scoring after a deft finish inside the box.

The Whitecaps bounced back after that early shock and equalized through the ever-talented Kaylee Hunter in the 37th minute. Hunter stepped up for a penalty after Quinn Johnson was adjudged to have been brought down in the box, giving the ‘Caps parity in the first half.

The second half saw the Whitecaps bring on some extra-firepower in Wong and De Filippo, but it was once again CS MRO that got the next goal, as Joëlle Gosselin proved herself clinical once more after curling her shot into the side netting from just inside the box. The ‘Caps shifted into high-gear after conceding, and did not have to wait long to equalize once more. Hunter got her brace just six minutes after MRO’s goal, picking up on a loose ball in the box and lacing a shot into the back of the next

Both sides fought to get the game-winner, with the Whitecaps coming the closest after Hunter missed a one-on-one and De Filippo struck the post, but with everything on the line, the game was to be decided on penalties.

Both teams missed two penalties in the opening four, meaning that the game hung in the balance as it went into the sudden death fifth round. Jaime Perrault dispatched a cool penalty to pile on the pressure for Rose Hughes. Hughes stepped up and fired her shot against the bottom of the crossbar. Time seemed to stand still as the ball ricocheted off the bar, but it ended up hitting the ground on the wrong side of the goalline for Hughes, giving the Whitecaps the victory and the championship in the most heart-breaking and heart-palpating way.

It was all smiles afterwards for the Whitecaps, as Kiera Martin lifted the golden trophy to cap off another wonderful season for the Girls Elite team. With domestic duty now wrapped up, the team will switch their focus onto the continental challenge at hand, with their first match against Alianza taking place tomorrow in El Salvador.