De Goede, Desjardins highlight 2018 major award winners and all-stars

Burlington, Ont. – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is pleased to announce the 2018 OUA Women’s Rugby major award winners and all-stars.

Shiels Division Player of the Year – Sophie de Goede, Queen’s Gaels

It has been a successful encore to her Rookie of the Year campaign from a year ago, as Sophie de Goede (Victoria, B.C.) has been named the Shiels Division Player of the Year.

In just her second year with Queen’s, she was named the team’s captain thanks to her maturity, composure, and game understanding that goes well beyond her years. More than these intangibles, however, she also produces on the field at an elite level, scoring eight tries herself and directly setting up eight more. The two-sport star is also rock-solid defensively, putting up an 85% tackle completion rate. Overall, de Goede’s natural talent on the field is undeniable, but all the work she puts in at training, watching video, and individual skill sessions make her a one-of-a-kind talent.

With de Goede leading the way, it’s no surprise that the Gaels are once again in the hunt for an OUA championship, but the MVP doesn’t do it alone. Supporting her and the entire Tricolour’s effort this year has also been a pair of all-stars – Rachel Hickson (Ottawa, Ont.), who had a breakout year as the team’s leading scorer (50 points) and Nadia Popov (Newmarket, Ont.), who had yet another stellar campaign that included 14 conversions (3rd in OUA).

Russell Division Player of the Year – Hayley Desjardins, Laurier Golden Hawks

Checking in with Player of the Year honours for the Russell Division, meanwhile, is another standout player that greatly impacts her team’s success. Laurier’s Hayley Desjardins (Toronto, Ont.) takes the home award this season – the first division MVP for a Golden Hawks’ women’s rugby athlete – after guiding her squad to a successful season on the pitch.

Desjardins finished second in scoring for the purple and gold and 13th in the conference with 25 points in the regular season. She scored tries in three of Laurier’s six games with a pair of multi-try games under her belt. Beyond making a direct impact for the Golden Hawks, she has also made her mark on the opposition, as Desjardins was voted by opposing teams in every game as the player of the match, consistently showcasing her skill, speed, and sportsmanship.

Joining Desjardins as an all-star this season from the Golden Hawks is Lori Musselman (Elora, Ont.), who once again demonstrated her leadership both on and off the pitch. The Laurier captain was key to setting the tone for the team and did so at a consistently high level for the Hawks this year.

Shiels Division Rookie of the Year – Charlie Finlay, Western Mustangs

Like de Goede did a year ago, Western’s Charlie Finlay (Zurich, Ont.) made quite an impact in her first season in the OUA; a debut that has earned her Shiels Division Rookie of the Year honours.

Despite it being her first season, Finlay stepped right in to a starting role with Mustangs and immediately commanded respect on the pitch. She is a vocal organizer on the team, a pivotal component for a successful fly half, while also being a quick learner. Her accuracy and range in the passing game, in addition to her elusive running, have made her a definite one to watch as her OUA career progresses.

Also receiving recognition from the purple and white are a pair of all-stars, with Lexi Smith (Brussels, Ont.) earning the nod at scrum half and Veronica Harrigan (Lucan, Ont.) as prop.

Russell Division Rookie of the Year – Savannah Skeete, Toronto Varsity Blues

First-year standout Savannah Skeete (Markham, Ont.) is the Russell Division Rookie of the Year after leading the Toronto Varsity Blues with four tries this season. The standout rookie put forth her top performance against the Waterloo Warriors, a game that Toronto won 27-12, when she accounted for two tries and a conversion.

Three other Varsity Blues received all-star nods, as prop Lauren Van Dyke (Toronto, Ont.), centre Kashish Arya (Abbotsford, B.C.), and second row Francesca Griffin (Oakville, Ont.) were also recognized. It is the second career all-star selection for Van Dyke, as the third-year co-captain led Toronto with 23 points this season, while Arya and Griffin earn the honours in their first year of eligibility.

Shiels Division Coach of the Year – Colette McAuley, Guelph Gryphons

It has been another sensational year for the Guelph, something that fans have become accustomed to from the Gryphons under the guidance of Colette McAuley. For the second consecutive year, the McAuley has earned Shiels Division Coach of the Year honours, after guiding her team to another undefeated regular season and chance at a provincial banner.

Helping her team to an output of 274 points, while limiting the opposition to just 41 against them, were several all-stars from a talent-laden roster. Julia Schell (Uxbridge, Ont.), the 2016 Player of the Year, earns her third consecutive all-star nod, while second row Emilie Nicholl (Toronto, Ont.) earns the honour in back-to-back years.

Joining her fellow Gryphons all-stars is Alexandra Everett (Brockville, Ont.), and while she makes the team as a back row, she has played three different positions in four games this year for Guelph. Despite the variety of roles, Everett has been a try-scoring threat at each one, aided greatly by her exceptionally strong ball-carrying skills. Teammate Emmanuela Jada (Guelph, Ont.) boasts a dynamic skill set as well with her strength and speed, and the National Senior Women’s Team Fall Tour member has been a key cog in stopping the opposition from racking up the tries.

Prop Brodie Schmidt (Uxbridge, Ont.), who has been instrumental in defending the tight channels and turnover ball for the Gryphs’, and centre Madison Brattan (Guelph, Ont.), who combines attacking and playmaking abilities while also providing strong defence in the middle of the field, round out the Gryphons all-star contingent.

Russell Division Coach of the Year – Stefanie Pavlovich, Brock Badgers

Like her counterpart in the Shiels Division, the Russell Division Coach of the Year has found great success with an all-star worthy lineup. Brock’s Stefanie Pavlovich led her Badgers to an undefeated regular season once again, buoyed by a powerful offence that has steered the St. Catharines squad to success. Powering through for 276 points on the year, while surrendering just 39, Pavlovich was truly able to get the best out of her Badgers this season.

All in all, the Badgers boast seven all-stars among the Russell Division selections, with perhaps none less surprising than Taylor Hurd (Oakville, Ont.). In three games, Hurd put up 67 points (11 tries and 6 conversions), building on her Rookie of the Year campaign as Brock’s primary option for restarts and penalty kicks. Her strong knowledge of how to read the defence, ability to out-run opponents, and versatility to jump in from 9 through 15 make her one of the division’s brightest stars.

Also earning all-star nods for the Badgers is: Kaylah Moehling (Port Colborne, Ont.), who is seen by many in the program as the team’s best all-around player; Taylor Knezevich (Chippawa, Ont.), a key cog in the success of the school’s offensive system; Amarije Barnes (Brampton, Ont.), a two-time OUA all-star that serves as team captain for Brock; Breanna Jeremiah (Brampton, Ont.), whose energy and explosiveness on the pitch go well beyond what can be coached; and Meagan Hart (Brantford, Ont.).

Russell Division Community Service Award – Katelyn Heyens, Brock Badgers

While it is clear that many Badgers made an impact on the field, there is one in particular who also made a significant impact off it as well, and her efforts beyond the sport have helped all-star Katelyn Heyens (Lasalette, Ont.) earn the 2018 Russell Division Community Service Award.

To say that Heyens is greatly involved in the school and community would be an understatement, as the teacher’s college student has generously donated her time in many regards. Among her many efforts to date are: four years volunteering with CIBC Run for the Cure, the Niagara Superhero Run, SNAP, and IMPACT; leading Fit Break at the OPHEA Conference and at first-year orientation; serving as Motionball Coordinator in 2018; as well as taking part in the Brock Women’s Rugby Rookie-Vet Mentorship program for three years and Brock University Athletic Council for four.

She is selfless, hard-working, and has done a great deal to spread her passion for teaching and for helping others lead a healthy lifestyle.

Shiels Division Community Service Award – Mackenzie Wiens, McMaster Marauders

Also making her mark on more than just the rugby pitch is McMaster’s Mackenzie Wiens (Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.), who takes home this year’s Shiels Division Community Service Award.

Wiens has served as the McMaster Athletics and Recreation Think Pink Campaign Coordinator and is an Executive Member of McMaster Athlete’s Care. She volunteers at the Living Rock’s YMCA Healthy Living, Westside Baking Ministry, and more. She has also made significant contributions to several causes via fundraising, having done so to the tune of $10,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society in 2018 and also raising funds for two Hamilton families through the Sponsor a Family Initiative. Wiens also dedicates her time as a member of several groups, including the McMaster Women in Engineering Society, McMaster’s Women’s Athletic Leadership Committee, and Lions Club International.

All these efforts truly help to showcase a strong community spirit from Wiens, as well as a dedicated desire to make a difference as a student-athlete.

On the field, meanwhile, a trio of additional Marauders made their mark for the maroon machine this season, with centre Britni French (Hamilton, Ont.), back row Sara Svoboda (Belleville, Ont.), and second row Monique Sluys (Clinton, Ont.) rounding out the McMaster all-star contingent. French served as captain for the Marauders, earning five tries and two conversions on the year, while Svoboda, the two-time OUA Player of the Year (Shiels Division), has also been selected to NSWT Fall Tour Squad.

Rounding out the all-star selections for the Shiels Division is York Lions’ Natasha Naismith (Orangeville, Ont.). In the Russell Division, a pair of Warriors have played their way onto the all-star squad, with Heather Bews (Whitby, Ont.) and Ben Skinner (Burlington, Ont.) earning recognition, while Maddy Howells (Port Hope, Ont.) from the Trent Excalibur earns a back row nod to complete the talent-filled roster.

The complete list of 2018 Women’s Rugby major award winners and all-stars is as follows:

Shiels Division Major Awards:

Player of the Year – Sophie de Goede, Queen’s
Rookie of the Year – Charlie Finlay, Western
Coach of the Year – Colette McAuley, Guelph
Community Service Award – Mackenzie Wiens, McMaster

Russell Division Major Awards:

Player of the Year – Hayley Desjardins, Laurier
Rookie of the Year – Savannah Skeete, Toronto
Coach of the Year – Stefanie Pavlovich, Brock
Community Service Award – Katelyn Heyens, Brock

Shiels Division All-Stars

Fly Half – Julia Schell, Guelph
Scrum Half – Lexi Smith, Western
Prop – Brodie Schmidt, Guelph
Prop - Veronica Harrigan, Western
Centre – Britni French, McMaster
Centre – Madison Brattan, Guelph
Back Three – Emmanuela Jada, Guelph
Back Three – Rachel Hickson, Queen's
Back Three - Nadia Popov, Queen's
Back Row – Sophie de Goede, Queen's
Back Row – Sara Svoboda, McMaster
Back Row – Alexandra Everett, Guelph
Hooker – Natasha Naismith, York
Second Row – Emilie Nicholl, Guelph
Second Row – Monique Sluys, McMaster

Russell Division All-Stars

Fly Half - Taylor Knezevich, Brock
Scrum Half – Meagan Hart, Brock
Prop – Lauren Van Dyke, Toronto
Prop – Heather Bews, Waterloo
Centre – Kaylah Moehling, Brock
Centre – Kashish Arya, Toronto
Back Three – Taylor Hurd, Brock
Back Three - Hayley Desjardins, Laurier
Back Three – Katelyn Heyens, Brock
Back Row - Amarije Barnes, Brock
Back Row – Maddy Howells, Trent
Back Row – Lori Musselman, Laurier
Hooker – Ben Skinner, Waterloo
Second Row - Francesca Griffin, Toronto
Second Row – Breanna Jeremiah, Brock