A familiar foot was responsible for the women’s soccer team’s first loss of the season on Saturday. Former Gael Eilish McConville scored to seal a 1-0 win for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues.

McConville, in her fifth year of eligibility, last played for the Gaels in 2006 when she led the nation with 22 goals, took the team to the national championship game and was named CIS player of the year. She’s at the University of Toronto to study medicine. On Saturday, she scored in the 11th minute.

“Our former player was very good for their team and certainly made a big difference,” head coach Dave McDowell said.

The match was the Gaels’ fourth in ten days. McDowell said his team suffered from tired legs and sore bodies. Captain Kelli Chamberlain, winger Riley Filion and defender Mikyla Kay all played through minor injuries and defender Melissa Jung sat the weekend out.

“It was just one of those games,” McDowell said.

On Sunday, Chamberlain and forward Jackie Tessier both scored in a 2-0 win over the Ryerson Rams. Tessier now leads the OUA with nine goals.

The Gaels are 10-1 and lead the OUA East division. Playoffs begin Oct. 26.

“The weekend was disappointing if you count points,” McDowell said, “but we knew we had this tough stretch.”

The Gaels travel to Northern Ontario this weekend to face the Laurentian Lady Vees and the Nipissing Lakers.