Banner Season: Excalibur start title defence with convincing round robin opener
October 22, 2022
Toronto, Ont. - Round robin play got underway during the opening day of the 2022 OUA Lacrosse Championship. The defending champion Trent Excalibur began their title defence with a convincing win, while the host Toronto Varsity Blues split their two tilts on their home Varsity Centre field.
Game 1: Trent Excalibur vs. Ontario Tech Ridgebacks
With their sights set on a three-peat, the Trent Excalibur got off to a strong start at the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship Friday afternoon.
Playing the first game of the day, the Excalibur defeated the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks 24-5 at the University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium.
The Trent attack was led by Avery Di Giorgio who finished the game with seven goals and two assists.
In the opening minutes of the contest, the Excalibur got on the board first with a goal from Mackenzie Manuliak. However, determined to stick with the reigning champions, the Ridgebacks responded quickly when Caitlyn Cote fired home a goal just over three minutes later.
From that point on though, the Excalibur were able to show why they have been so successful over the years.
Going on a 5-0 run, Trent opened up a 6-1 lead through one quarter of play. The team from Peterborough, Ont., then really started to apply the pressure tallying nine second quarter goals for a 15-3 halftime lead.
Another four goals in the third would extend the advantage to 19-4, before Trent tacked on five more goals in the final frame. Ontario Tech's Victoria Solti would net the final goal of the contest with 25 seconds remaining.
Cote served as the main source of offence for the Ridgebacks firing home a pair of goals.
Game 2: Queen's Gaels vs. Toronto Varsity Blues
Beginning play in Pool 'B' at the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship, the Queen's Gaels came into Varsity Stadium and defeated the host Toronto Varsity Blues 14-6.
After Tara Meikle opened the scoring for the Gaels early in the first quarter with her first of four goals, the hometown Blues quickly responded in a big way with four consecutive markers. It was Lily Brooks who tied the game for Toronto before Jessica DiAntonio gave the Blues the lead four minutes into the game.
From there, back-to-back goals from Rylin Cormier extended the Toronto advantage to 4-1.
Despite falling behind, Queen's came storming back scoring three goals in less than three minutes, tying the game shortly before the first quarter expired.
Carrying over that momentum into the second, the Gaels outscored Toronto 3-0 in the quarter to take a 7-4 lead into halftime.
Starting the second half, Jaedyn Smail began to separate Queen's from the Blues. The Toronto product fired home three consecutive goals extending the Gaels lead to 10-4 after three.
After the Blues scored two of the next three goals to start the final quarter and pull within five, the Gaels were able to put the game away with three late goals to round out the scoring.
Smail went on to score a game-high five goals.
Game 3: Western Mustangs vs. Guelph Gryphons
In what was the closest contest so far during the opening day of the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship, the Western Mustangs used a second half surge to pull away from the Guelph Gryphons.
Thanks to a four-point performance from Quinn Kolwich, the Mustangs were able to open up their championship run with a 6-2 victory.
Throughout much of the game, there was very little separating the two sides.
After Western opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on a goal from Timmia Bomberry, the Gryphons were able to respond a little over five minutes later when Jillian Jacques found the back of the net.
Tied at one goal each through 15 minutes of play, the Gryphons were able to take their first lead of contest in the latter stages of the half as Kirsten Sutter put Guelph up 2-1.
Sutter's goal would be the only goal of the quarter giving the Gryphons a slim lead at the break.
Although trailing, the Mustangs made the most of the thirty minutes remaining. Getting two quick goals to start the third, one from Kolwich and the other from Jamie Atkinson, Western all of a sudden went from trailing by one to leading by one.
Up 3-2 after three, the Mustangs would go on to put the game away with three goals in the final quarter. Kolwich would score her second of the game, followed by goals from Melissa Green and Lexie Delisle.
Game 4: Ontario Tech Ridgebacks vs. Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
The offence was rolling early and often for the Laurier Golden Hawks as they opened their run at the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship with a 20-7 victory over the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks Friday afternoon in Toronto.
Hitting the field for their first game of the championship, Laurier got a combined 11 goals from Liz Ilias and Ryleigh Elliott to defeat the Ridgebacks, who fell to 0-2.
The Golden Hawks were able to jump out in front from the very beginning scoring the first four goals of the contest, with three of those coming from Elliott.
Ayden Briggs would get Ontario Tech on the board with a little over five minutes to go in the opening quarter, however, Laurier replied just over a minute later on Ilias' first goal of the game.
With the Golden Hawks out in front 5-1 after one, Laurier scored three of the first four goals in the second, extending their advantage to 8-2. The Ridgebacks were able to battle back though, going on a 3-1 run of their own heading into the half to pull within 9-5.
Pulling away in the second half though, Laurier fired home another four goals in the third, and then added seven more in the final frame.
Caitlyn Cote and Victoria Solti both finished with a team high in goals with two each for the Ridgebacks.
Game 5: Toronto Varsity Blues vs. McMaster Marauders
Playing the final game of the opening day of the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse the Toronto Varsity Blues defeated the McMaster Marauders 15-2 in front of their hometown crowd at Varsity Stadium Friday night.
Coming off a loss to Queen's in their first game, the Blues were looking to get in to the win column. The Marauders were also looking to do the same, however, it was only their first game of the championship.
Once the contest got underway, it was the Blues jumping out to an early lead thanks to two straight goals from Rheanna Swanson. Rylin Cromier and Lily Brooks then added to the Toronto advantage later in the first for a 4-0 lead after one.
Continuing to find the back of the net, the Blues scored four consecutive goals to start the second quarter, highlighted by two more goals from Swanson, to go up 8-0. Late in the opening half, the Marauders would get on the board with a goal from Annika Perrino. However, Alexa Fenton would get the goal back for Toronto, who took a 9-1 lead into the break.
As the third quarter played on, defence quickly became the story with neither team able to muster much in terms of offence. Scoring one goal each, Toronto would carry a 10-2 lead into the final frame.
Getting another goal from Brooks, one from both Jessica DiAntonio and Cromier, as well as two from Giuliana Frizzi, the Blues would tally five goals in the fourth to secure a 15-2 victory.
Game 1: Trent Excalibur vs. Ontario Tech Ridgebacks
With their sights set on a three-peat, the Trent Excalibur got off to a strong start at the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship Friday afternoon.
Playing the first game of the day, the Excalibur defeated the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks 24-5 at the University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium.
The Trent attack was led by Avery Di Giorgio who finished the game with seven goals and two assists.
In the opening minutes of the contest, the Excalibur got on the board first with a goal from Mackenzie Manuliak. However, determined to stick with the reigning champions, the Ridgebacks responded quickly when Caitlyn Cote fired home a goal just over three minutes later.
From that point on though, the Excalibur were able to show why they have been so successful over the years.
Going on a 5-0 run, Trent opened up a 6-1 lead through one quarter of play. The team from Peterborough, Ont., then really started to apply the pressure tallying nine second quarter goals for a 15-3 halftime lead.
Another four goals in the third would extend the advantage to 19-4, before Trent tacked on five more goals in the final frame. Ontario Tech's Victoria Solti would net the final goal of the contest with 25 seconds remaining.
Cote served as the main source of offence for the Ridgebacks firing home a pair of goals.
Game 2: Queen's Gaels vs. Toronto Varsity Blues
Beginning play in Pool 'B' at the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship, the Queen's Gaels came into Varsity Stadium and defeated the host Toronto Varsity Blues 14-6.
After Tara Meikle opened the scoring for the Gaels early in the first quarter with her first of four goals, the hometown Blues quickly responded in a big way with four consecutive markers. It was Lily Brooks who tied the game for Toronto before Jessica DiAntonio gave the Blues the lead four minutes into the game.
From there, back-to-back goals from Rylin Cormier extended the Toronto advantage to 4-1.
Despite falling behind, Queen's came storming back scoring three goals in less than three minutes, tying the game shortly before the first quarter expired.
Carrying over that momentum into the second, the Gaels outscored Toronto 3-0 in the quarter to take a 7-4 lead into halftime.
Starting the second half, Jaedyn Smail began to separate Queen's from the Blues. The Toronto product fired home three consecutive goals extending the Gaels lead to 10-4 after three.
After the Blues scored two of the next three goals to start the final quarter and pull within five, the Gaels were able to put the game away with three late goals to round out the scoring.
Smail went on to score a game-high five goals.
Game 3: Western Mustangs vs. Guelph Gryphons
In what was the closest contest so far during the opening day of the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship, the Western Mustangs used a second half surge to pull away from the Guelph Gryphons.
Thanks to a four-point performance from Quinn Kolwich, the Mustangs were able to open up their championship run with a 6-2 victory.
Throughout much of the game, there was very little separating the two sides.
After Western opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on a goal from Timmia Bomberry, the Gryphons were able to respond a little over five minutes later when Jillian Jacques found the back of the net.
Tied at one goal each through 15 minutes of play, the Gryphons were able to take their first lead of contest in the latter stages of the half as Kirsten Sutter put Guelph up 2-1.
Sutter's goal would be the only goal of the quarter giving the Gryphons a slim lead at the break.
Although trailing, the Mustangs made the most of the thirty minutes remaining. Getting two quick goals to start the third, one from Kolwich and the other from Jamie Atkinson, Western all of a sudden went from trailing by one to leading by one.
Up 3-2 after three, the Mustangs would go on to put the game away with three goals in the final quarter. Kolwich would score her second of the game, followed by goals from Melissa Green and Lexie Delisle.
Game 4: Ontario Tech Ridgebacks vs. Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
The offence was rolling early and often for the Laurier Golden Hawks as they opened their run at the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship with a 20-7 victory over the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks Friday afternoon in Toronto.
Hitting the field for their first game of the championship, Laurier got a combined 11 goals from Liz Ilias and Ryleigh Elliott to defeat the Ridgebacks, who fell to 0-2.
The Golden Hawks were able to jump out in front from the very beginning scoring the first four goals of the contest, with three of those coming from Elliott.
Ayden Briggs would get Ontario Tech on the board with a little over five minutes to go in the opening quarter, however, Laurier replied just over a minute later on Ilias' first goal of the game.
With the Golden Hawks out in front 5-1 after one, Laurier scored three of the first four goals in the second, extending their advantage to 8-2. The Ridgebacks were able to battle back though, going on a 3-1 run of their own heading into the half to pull within 9-5.
Pulling away in the second half though, Laurier fired home another four goals in the third, and then added seven more in the final frame.
Caitlyn Cote and Victoria Solti both finished with a team high in goals with two each for the Ridgebacks.
Game 5: Toronto Varsity Blues vs. McMaster Marauders
Playing the final game of the opening day of the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse the Toronto Varsity Blues defeated the McMaster Marauders 15-2 in front of their hometown crowd at Varsity Stadium Friday night.
Coming off a loss to Queen's in their first game, the Blues were looking to get in to the win column. The Marauders were also looking to do the same, however, it was only their first game of the championship.
Once the contest got underway, it was the Blues jumping out to an early lead thanks to two straight goals from Rheanna Swanson. Rylin Cromier and Lily Brooks then added to the Toronto advantage later in the first for a 4-0 lead after one.
Continuing to find the back of the net, the Blues scored four consecutive goals to start the second quarter, highlighted by two more goals from Swanson, to go up 8-0. Late in the opening half, the Marauders would get on the board with a goal from Annika Perrino. However, Alexa Fenton would get the goal back for Toronto, who took a 9-1 lead into the break.
As the third quarter played on, defence quickly became the story with neither team able to muster much in terms of offence. Scoring one goal each, Toronto would carry a 10-2 lead into the final frame.
Getting another goal from Brooks, one from both Jessica DiAntonio and Cromier, as well as two from Giuliana Frizzi, the Blues would tally five goals in the fourth to secure a 15-2 victory.