Cambridge Women secure commanding 5-1 victory over Rush in blistering summer scorcher
Saturday, July 12th 2025
Oakville, ON—A hot summer afternoon played the backdrop for the second meeting
between Cambridge United and Rush Canada Academy on the campus of Sheridan
College.
Team
Cambridge United Starting XI: Mitchell, Hunt (Voutour 28’), Mackie (Menjhart 79’),
Halley (Lunshof 62’), Harris, Owen, Kraja (Fraga 45’), Derry, McCall (Desouza 45’
[Richards 66’]), Lariviere (Schade 85’), Heyes
Unused subs: Townes, Elliott
First Half
Rush got the opener in the 14th minute on an unlucky defensive mishap for
Cambridge to put the home side up 1-0.
Cambridge responded quickly, Katie Halley finding it and roofing it back post to bring
the game even at one apiece in the 23rd minute.
Megan Voutour entered the field for Cassidy Hunt in the 28th minute to ramp up
Cambridge’s offensive pressure to bring the score in the visitor’s favour before the
half would end.
Both sides battled through the heat, digging in late in the half with Rush pushing for
their second and Cambridge rallying to keep the score level. Despite their efforts the
score would remain 1-1 at the half’s culmination.
Second Half
Cambridge made two substitutions at half, Ava Fraga coming in for Anastasia Kraja
and Sam Desouza for Kay-Lynn McCall.
Sensing Rush’s exhaustion at the end of the first half, Cambridge pushed early in the
second to capitalize and turn the game’s momentum in their favour.
Early back-to-back corners proved fruitful for Cambridge when Cassidy Derry found
herself on the receiving end of a perfect corner by Molly Owen and heading it up
under the bar to give Cambridge the 2-1 lead in the 47th minute.
From that moment on Cambridge commanded the game, Halley extending their lead
to 3-1 with her second of the game in the 58th minute.
With a two-goal lead and looking extremely comfortable in possession, the visiting
team began to put in new bodies to battle the heat, Halley ending her afternoon with
two goals made way for Jordan Lunshof in the 62nd minute.
Sam Desouza went down with a knee injury with 66 on the clock, Shenasia Richards
coming in to replace her.
Ava Fraga furthered Cambridge’s lead, beating her man to drive back post and tuck
the ball far side in the 77th minute to make it 4-1 in Cambridge’s favour.
With time winding down, the visitors brought in Natalia Menjhart for Hayley Mackie in
the 79th minute, and Tayler Schade for Annick Lariviere.
Schade, making her season debut after returning from injury, had an immediate
impact, running the ball all the way down the right flank and slotting it inside the near
post to culminate Cambridge’s win 5-1.