Varsity Blues win third consecutive OUA Field Hockey Championship
LONDON, Ont. – The University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey team won their third consecutive OUA banner on Sunday, defeating the Guelph Gryphons 3-2 in the gold medal match at the OUA Field Hockey Championship.
LONDON, Ont. – The University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey team won their third consecutive OUA banner on Sunday, defeating the Guelph Gryphons 3-2 in the gold medal match at the OUA Field Hockey Championship.
Both Toronto and Guelph advance to the upcoming CIS championship, November 3-6, at the University of Toronto. Toronto automatically qualifies as host, and Guelph earned their berth following a 1-0 victory over Western in semi-final action yesterday.
Toronto claimed their OUA-leading 32nd provincial banner since 1971 in thrilling fashion as first-year defender Emily Ziraldo scored with three minutes remaining to break the 2-2 deadlock.
Fourth-year midfielder and 2016 OUA all-star Emma Wingrave opened the scoring for the Blues in the fourth minute of the match, but the Gryphons responded four minutes later as veteran Nicole Paola scored to even the match at 1-1.
Four-time OUA all-star and Mississauga native Alison Lee put the Blues up just before half, scoring off a long shot in the 33rd minute.
Both teams had great chances to score in the second but it would be Guelph who would strike first as 2016 OUA MVP Olivia Lane scored off a penalty corner to even the game at 2-2 with 14 minutes remaining.
Toronto dominated possession in the final minutes and Ziraldo was able to net the winner before time ran out.
Earlier in the day the host Western Mustangs captured the bronze medal, with a 1-0 win over the Waterloo Warriors. Tamara Evans got the winner for Western, scoring in the 55th minute to secure the bronze for the Mustangs.
Also on Sunday, the McGill Martlets took seventh place with a penalty shootout win over McMaster, while the York Lions claimed fourth after a 4-0 victory against Queen's.
The Varsity Blues will now welcome the Canada West champion UBC Thunderbirds, silver medalists Victoria Vikes and OUA silver medalist Guelph Gryphons to Toronto for the 2016 CIS championships, November 3-6, at Back Campus Fields.
Day Three Results
Gold Medal Game: Toronto 3 – Guelph 2
Bronze Medal Game: Western 1 – Waterloo 0
Fifth Place Game: York 4 – Queen's 0
Seventh Place Game: McGill 1 – McMaster 0 (Penalty Shootout)
