NDC Ontario 1-1 CS Mont-Royal Outremont (CSMRO win on penalties 5-4)

Goalkeeper Lea Palacio-Tellier was the hero for CSMRO as she made some crucial saves to help the League1 Québec champions through to the Women’s Inter-Provincial Championship Final.

After an inspired showing in the first 90 minutes, a diving save to her left thwarted Emma Donnelly’s penalty in the shootout to give CSMRO an advantage, before Rose Hughes stepped up later to bury the winning spot-kick.

Like its conclusion, the match also started with plenty of drama with two goals in the first five minutes. Bryana Gaynor made herself a nuisance in the CSMRO box and bundled home a cross from the right, giving the League1 Ontario champions NDC Ontario the lead in the first three minutes.

But Joëlle Gosselin made sure she was in the right place at the right time to put CSMRO level two minutes after NDC’s opener, finding the bottom corner to finish off a swift counter attack.

CSMRO then had goalkeeper Palacio-Tellier to thank after she made two crucial saves before the half-hour mark to deny NDC retaking the lead. When the home team thought they had finally beaten the resolute shot-stopper, the referee ruled that the ball did not cross the line after crashing down off the crossbar.

Moments before half-time, Gaynor was tripped in the CSMRO box and Reese Kay took in on our shoulders to give NDC Ontario the lead from the penalty spot, but she smashed the ball off the post.

A quieter second half prevailed and the scores remained level going into the shootout, where Palacio-Tellier’s penalty save was the key difference.

Whitecaps FC Girls Elite Academy 2-0 Calgary Blizzard

Jessica de Filippo was the hero for Whitecaps FC Girls Elite as she netted a brace from the bench to hand the invincible League1 BC champions another victory and a place in the WIPC Final on Sunday.

The forward, who played just twice for Whitecaps in the League1 BC this year, saw her opportunity in the 53rd-minute and took it with aplomb. She collected the ball approximately 25 yards out and whipped her shot past Calgary Blizzard goalkeeper Aliya Coy who was standing off her line.

Just three minutes later, she latched onto a long through-ball that broke the Blizzard’s backline and coolly slotted past the on-rushing goalkeeper to give the Whitecaps a two-goal advantage.

The lead was also testament to Whitecaps’ Emily Wong, who continually won possession for her side in the first half and extinguished Calgary’s attempts to attack. Even after her substitution in the 67th-minute, Whitecaps stayed strong to seal their place in the final.

The result means that the WIPC reigning champions need to beat CSMRO – who won L1QC after securing the fourth and final spot for their divisional playoffs – to retain their title. They have also continued their unbeaten streak in 2024.