Banner Season: Varsity Blues, Lions feature in all-GTA field hockey finale
October 26, 2022
Burlington, Ont. - It will be an all-GTA affair when the final two field hockey teams compete for the latest Ontario University Athletics (OUA) title. The Toronto Varsity Blues, who will host the festivities on October 29 at 1:00pm, set their sights on a second consecutive banner when they welcome the 2018 champion York Lions to the Back Campus Fields for the 2022 OUA Field Hockey Championship.
Championship Details
When: Saturday, October 29 (1:00pm)
Where: Back Campus Fields (University of Toronto)
Participating Schools (9): Toronto Varsity Blues (host), York Lions
Defending Champions: Toronto Varsity Blues | ALL PAST CHAMPIONS
Student-Athletes to Watch:
Rebecca Carvalho, Toronto Varsity Blues | The former OUA rookie of the year, Carvalho was also named an all-star just a season ago, and has been a key cog in the Varsity Blues machine throughout her tenure. The fourth-year standout from Brampton, Ont. may not be lighting the lamp for Toronto game in and game out like some of her teammates, but her contributions, specifically her control of the game from the backfield, are critical to the team's success.
Deepi Gill, Toronto Varsity Blues | The Blues netminder continues to be the rock as the team's last line of defence. She has been a brick wall for the undefeated squad throughout the season and into the playoffs, starting all 11 games during that stretch and recording six clean sheets along the way. The dynamic third-year goalkeeper from Brampton, Ont. has limited the opposition to just seven goals all season and will look to be just as stingy in her final OUA game of the season.
Sam McCrory, Toronto Varsity Blues | Last year's OUA goal-scoring leader was able to find that same form in 2022, once again topping the conference offensively. Finding the back of the net 20 times heading into this weekend's finale, the third-year forward's offensive touch was integral to Toronto turning in an undefeated regular season. The kinesiology major continued that incredible pace with a hat trick in the team's semifinal against Western and will hope that she is able to find similar success against York on Saturday.
Frankie St. Louis, York Lions | In her final year of eligibility, St. Louis enjoyed a breakout season for the Lions. The kinesiology and health science major netted 10 goals for York, good for second in the OUA. That mark doubled her previous career high, which she set in her rookie season in 2017. Beyond her impact on the scoresheet and her reliable defensive presence, the fifth-year senior also provided some much-needed veteran leadership to the team.
Serena Vilde, York Lions | No stranger to play between the pipes as a multi-sport student-athlete, Vilde has stood out as the Lions goalie in both field hockey and ice hockey. On the field, she posted a 4-2-1 record and a 1.73 goals-against average, which was good for fifth in the OUA. It will be a stiff test for the third-year native of Toronto, Ont. in her first OUA Field Hockey Championship, but she will surely rely on her two-sport experience overall to guide her banner season performance this weekend.
Natalie Winter, York Lions | The senior midfielder from Coquitlam, B.C. scored three goals for the Lions this season, but her biggest claim to fame has been her playmaking prowess. Winter posted seven assists on the year to lead the team, an impressive feat given that she hadn't posted a helper in her 31 previous conference games. She was a difference-maker both with and without the ball for York and her leadership on the field will be called upon once again in Saturday's OUA finale.
Storylines to Keep an Eye On:
The Lions entered 2022 as a very young team, but that has not stopped them from being among the final two contenders for the OUA title. York still featured a strong leadership group of four graduating seniors and a confidence that head coach Zeeshan Minhas had in his players. Heading into the preseason, the Lions coach mentioned that, in addition to being a young group, they were also ambitious, and after re-tooling for the 2022 season, the club's ambitions have led them to a chance at the OUA title for the first time since 2018.
The defending OUA champion Blues are eyeing their second straight banner this year, and in setting themselves up with just such an opportunity, they have built up plenty of positive momentum. Following a season-opening tie to Western, Toronto has been on a roll and reeled off nine consecutive wins to cap off their regular season and their 10th straight with the 5-0 semifinal victory over Western last weekend. Extending that streak to 11 on Saturday would also help them claim their 34th OUA field hockey title on their home turf at the Back Campus Fields.
When the two championship combatants met earlier in the season, it was Toronto that prevailed on both occasions. The first came on the heels of a two-goal game from Molly Koop, who followed up on McCrory's 35th minute opening goal with a pair of tallies. While York was able to put one past Gill in their encore, the Blues once again used a three-goal performance to come away victorious, as Emily Ziraldo (2) and Sam McCrory (1) each found the back of the net to help secure Toronto's fifth-straight win at the time.
What They're Saying:
"The girls have worked extremely hard all season, and it should be an exciting final. York is a tough opponent; we need to come mentally prepared to compete and play Varsity Blues field hockey." - Louis Mendonca, Toronto Varsity Blues, Acting Head Coach
"I believe playing in a championship game is something we need to respect and be proud of. Not everyone gets this opportunity." - Zeeshan Minhas, York Lions, Head Coach
Championship Details
When: Saturday, October 29 (1:00pm)
Where: Back Campus Fields (University of Toronto)
Participating Schools (9): Toronto Varsity Blues (host), York Lions
Defending Champions: Toronto Varsity Blues | ALL PAST CHAMPIONS
Student-Athletes to Watch:
Rebecca Carvalho, Toronto Varsity Blues | The former OUA rookie of the year, Carvalho was also named an all-star just a season ago, and has been a key cog in the Varsity Blues machine throughout her tenure. The fourth-year standout from Brampton, Ont. may not be lighting the lamp for Toronto game in and game out like some of her teammates, but her contributions, specifically her control of the game from the backfield, are critical to the team's success.
Deepi Gill, Toronto Varsity Blues | The Blues netminder continues to be the rock as the team's last line of defence. She has been a brick wall for the undefeated squad throughout the season and into the playoffs, starting all 11 games during that stretch and recording six clean sheets along the way. The dynamic third-year goalkeeper from Brampton, Ont. has limited the opposition to just seven goals all season and will look to be just as stingy in her final OUA game of the season.
Sam McCrory, Toronto Varsity Blues | Last year's OUA goal-scoring leader was able to find that same form in 2022, once again topping the conference offensively. Finding the back of the net 20 times heading into this weekend's finale, the third-year forward's offensive touch was integral to Toronto turning in an undefeated regular season. The kinesiology major continued that incredible pace with a hat trick in the team's semifinal against Western and will hope that she is able to find similar success against York on Saturday.
Frankie St. Louis, York Lions | In her final year of eligibility, St. Louis enjoyed a breakout season for the Lions. The kinesiology and health science major netted 10 goals for York, good for second in the OUA. That mark doubled her previous career high, which she set in her rookie season in 2017. Beyond her impact on the scoresheet and her reliable defensive presence, the fifth-year senior also provided some much-needed veteran leadership to the team.
Serena Vilde, York Lions | No stranger to play between the pipes as a multi-sport student-athlete, Vilde has stood out as the Lions goalie in both field hockey and ice hockey. On the field, she posted a 4-2-1 record and a 1.73 goals-against average, which was good for fifth in the OUA. It will be a stiff test for the third-year native of Toronto, Ont. in her first OUA Field Hockey Championship, but she will surely rely on her two-sport experience overall to guide her banner season performance this weekend.
Natalie Winter, York Lions | The senior midfielder from Coquitlam, B.C. scored three goals for the Lions this season, but her biggest claim to fame has been her playmaking prowess. Winter posted seven assists on the year to lead the team, an impressive feat given that she hadn't posted a helper in her 31 previous conference games. She was a difference-maker both with and without the ball for York and her leadership on the field will be called upon once again in Saturday's OUA finale.
Storylines to Keep an Eye On:
The Lions entered 2022 as a very young team, but that has not stopped them from being among the final two contenders for the OUA title. York still featured a strong leadership group of four graduating seniors and a confidence that head coach Zeeshan Minhas had in his players. Heading into the preseason, the Lions coach mentioned that, in addition to being a young group, they were also ambitious, and after re-tooling for the 2022 season, the club's ambitions have led them to a chance at the OUA title for the first time since 2018.
The defending OUA champion Blues are eyeing their second straight banner this year, and in setting themselves up with just such an opportunity, they have built up plenty of positive momentum. Following a season-opening tie to Western, Toronto has been on a roll and reeled off nine consecutive wins to cap off their regular season and their 10th straight with the 5-0 semifinal victory over Western last weekend. Extending that streak to 11 on Saturday would also help them claim their 34th OUA field hockey title on their home turf at the Back Campus Fields.
When the two championship combatants met earlier in the season, it was Toronto that prevailed on both occasions. The first came on the heels of a two-goal game from Molly Koop, who followed up on McCrory's 35th minute opening goal with a pair of tallies. While York was able to put one past Gill in their encore, the Blues once again used a three-goal performance to come away victorious, as Emily Ziraldo (2) and Sam McCrory (1) each found the back of the net to help secure Toronto's fifth-straight win at the time.
What They're Saying:
"The girls have worked extremely hard all season, and it should be an exciting final. York is a tough opponent; we need to come mentally prepared to compete and play Varsity Blues field hockey." - Louis Mendonca, Toronto Varsity Blues, Acting Head Coach
"I believe playing in a championship game is something we need to respect and be proud of. Not everyone gets this opportunity." - Zeeshan Minhas, York Lions, Head Coach