Roberts, Custovic named IG Wealth Management Athletes of the Week, powered by Planters
Burlington, Ont. – Stephanie Roberts and Mirza Custovic have been named IG Wealth Management Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Athletes of the Week, powered by Planters, for the period ending October 28, 2018.
Female Athlete of the Week – Stephanie Roberts (Ottawa, Ont.) – 4th Year – McMaster Marauders
After finding the back of the net five times in the final weekend of the regular season to buoy her into top spot of the OUA’s scoring race, Stephanie Roberts continued her torrid pace into McMaster’s first two playoff games.
The team’s first postseason match saw them take the field against the Brock Badgers; a game which they won 2-0. Roberts provided all the offence for the Marauders on the day netting two second half tallies; the first coming unassisted in the 67th minute and the second in the 85th on a pass from teammate Jade Smith. The win set up a quarterfinal meeting with the Guelph Gryphons, a team that is well known for keeping the ball out of the net. Despite their defensive prowess, the fourth-year forward once again found a way to get on the scoreboard, scoring the deciding goal in the 90th minute to give McMaster the 2-1 win in stoppage time.
Roberts’ heroics have helped her Marauders book their place in the OUA Final Four for the first time since 2012. It is her second OUA Athlete of the Week honour of the year.
Male Athlete of the Week – Mirza Custovic (Toronto, Ont.) – 1st Year – Ryerson Rams
The postseason brings with it the opportunity for heroics and the chance to make a name for yourself; something that Ryerson Rams striker Mirza Custovic took full advantage of in his team’s quarterfinal clash with cross-town rival Toronto.
The first-year player opened the scoring in the Rams' first postseason game, giving Ryerson a 1-0 lead over Toronto on Sunday night in the opening minute of the second half. In typical fashion between the two GTA squads, however, one goal wasn’t enough to give either side the win and the game required extra time to find a victor. After Ryerson regained the one-goal cushion three minutes in to the extra frame, it was Custovic again who found the back of the net and gave Ryerson the two-goal cushion they needed to seal the win.
Custovic’s clutch performance helped send Ryerson back to the Final Four for the sixth straight year.
