October 31, 2015

Varsity Blues score 4 unanswered to win second straight OUA championship

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey team successfully defended their OUA title on home turf, coming from behind to defeat the Guelph Gryphons 4-3 in the OUA gold-medal match Sunday afternoon at Back Campus Fields.

Waterloo 1-1, 1-1

York 0-2, 0-2

Final

Waterloo (1-1, 1-1)

York (0-2, 0-2)

Toronto 2-0, 2-0

Guelph 1-1, 1-1

Final

Toronto (2-0, 2-0)

Guelph (1-1, 1-1)

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey team successfully defended their OUA title on home turf, coming from behind to defeat the Guelph Gryphons 4-3 in the OUA gold-medal match Saturday afternoon at Back Campus Fields.

Both Toronto and Guelph advance to the upcoming CIS championship, November 5-8, at the University of Victoria. Toronto defeated the York Lions, 3-0, and Guelph topped the Waterloo Warriors, 4-0, in semi-final action yesterday.

Toronto claimed their OUA-leading 31st provincial banner since 1971 in thrilling fashion, overcoming a 3-0 first half deficit. Fifth-year forward and OUA all-star Amanda Woodcroft scored the game-tying and game-winner in the 51st and 55th minutes to secure the victory.

The Gryphons got out to an early lead as fourth-year forward Allison Chute found the back of the net in the 6th minute and sophomore standout Olivia Lane put Guelph up by two one minute later

Chute put the Gryphons up 3-0 in the 15th minute but the Blues got on the board two minutes later as third-year forward Lauren Sudac found the back of the net. Rookie forward Sarah Pendreigh was able to cut the deficit to just one and Guelph took a 3-2 advantage into halftime.

Both teams went back and forth in the second half until Woodcroft's heroics sealed the win and U of T's fourth OUA banner in the past five seasons. It marked the ninth time in the past 11 years that U of T and Guelph have met in the OUA final.

The Waterloo Warriors claimed the bronze medal with a narrow 1-0 victory over the York Lions.

First-year midfielder Tara Burke scored the lone goal of the game in the 24th minute.

Both goalies, Waterloo's Hilary Neeb and York's Alycia Gray, came up with numerous saves to keep the game close.

2015 OUA Field Hockey Championship
University of Toronto Back Campus

Friday, October 30
Semifinal A: Guelph 4, Waterloo 0
Semifinal B: Toronto 3, York 0

Saturday, October 31
Bronze: Waterloo 1, York 0
Championship: Toronto 4, Guelph 3