Banner Season: Queen's knocks off Laurier to win their first Patterson Cup in almost two decades
Peterborough, Ont. - What a weekend it was at Trent University as the top women’s lacrosse players in the province came together to compete for the Patterson Cup.
The final four matches of the Ontario University Athletics lacrosse season brought excitement across the board, with a mix of high-octane offense, great coaching and execution in all three zones of the field, and tremendous heart shown by all the athletes. In the end, the Queen’s Gaels came away with the 2018 OUA Championship title, topping the Laurier Golden Hawks.
Game 1 – McMaster vs Brock
Two familiar foes faced off in the first match of the day as the Hamilton based McMaster Marauders took the field against the Brock Badgers. These teams were very evenly matched, with ball control and tremendous goaltending being the themes of the game.
A few penalties meant these teams both had some chances to attack their opposing goals, but goaltenders Sabrina Schindel (McMaster) and Alyssa Godin (Brock) ensured neither team would run away with the game. The tight affair ended up with the McMaster taking the 5-4 victory.
Game 2 – Guelph vs Western
The second West vs West matchup of the day also proved that familiarity can lead to a great matchup. The first half saw lots of action at both ends of the field, with big saves balanced by great goals. Guelph would grab the first goal through Kristine Webber only 15 seconds in, only to see Western grab two in two minutes to take the lead. Two more goals for Western were countered by three from the Gryphons to close the first half, meaning the score was all tied at 4s.
In the second half, the action continued, but it was the purple of the Western Mustangs that managed to capitalize. Team standout Katy De Snoo would score her third goal of the game for the Mustangs on route to a 7-5 win.
Game 3 – Bronze Medal Game – Trent vs Toronto
After a heartbreaking loss in the semi-finals on home turf, the host Trent Excalibur took on the Toronto Varsity Blues in an all-East division Bronze medal game at Justin Chiu Stadium Sunday afternoon. The matchup ended up being fantastic in all areas of the field, with both teams adapting to the other’s game plan.
The Blues would come out with a jump in their step, taking a 3-0 lead over the Green & White within the first 10 minutes of the game. Trent would settle down and grab one back through offensive dynamo Leah Michel’s goal in the 18th minute. The Excalibur would add two more to go into the break tied at three.
The second half was equally tight as both teams would put way two each. The Excalibur would get theirs from Mackenzie Robinson and Donna Ward, while Toronto would see Heather McDougall and Brynn Yarranton each score their second goals of the game, meaning we were heading to extra time.
Trent’s Donna Ward would complete her hat-trick in the first half of the extra frame, leading to the Excalibur switching gears to slow down the pace of the game. Some smart movement and clean passing would see the Excalibur close out the game with the 6-5 victory.
Game 4 – Gold Medal Game – Queen’s vs Laurier
And then there were two. The Queen’s Gaels and the Laurier Golden Hawks. It’s always amazing to see the focus that comes with knowing 60 minutes will decide the outcome of 2 months of competition.
While both teams led their respective divisions through the season, it was the Gaels who came into the Championship tournament without a loss on the season, and they certainly did not look like they intended on tarnishing that record. The two teams faced off just a week earlier, with the Gaels topping the Hawks through an 11-10 victory.
Today it would be the Gaels victorious again, although in much more convincing fashion. Four players would have multi-goal games for the Gaels, including a hat trick for Annie Lloyd and two-goal performances from Molly Fisher, Kiah Shanks and Brittany Schwende. That vaunted attack proved too much for the Hawks, even though they got two goal games from both Katie Milligan and Rose Williams, and a tremendous performance for the defense and goaltender Alanna MacDonald.
A wonderful weekend was wrapped up with a tremendous performance by a deserving champion. Congratulations to the Queen’s Gaels on winning the Patterson Cup for their first OUA Championship since 1999.