OUA LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
The undefeated and five time reigning OUA champion Laurier Golden Hawks (12-0) look to win their sixth consecutive Patterson Cup. The Hawks arsenal includes the league's top three point scorers; Braedyn O'Rahilly (Whitby, Ont.) with 60 and OUA All-Stars Heather McHardy (Whitby, Ont.) with 57 and Kirsten Gerrie (Orillia, Ont.) with 54. The three will surely make an impact in their semi-final match Sat., Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. against the fourth seeded Toronto Varsity Blues (7-5).
Veteran Blue Tory Merrill (Orangeville, Ont.) is the biggest offensive threat. The All-Star leads OUA in goals, recording 43 and eight assists in 12 games this season. She is one part of Toronto's triple threat, along with teammates and Second Team All-Stars Yoko Murphy (Toronto, Ont.) and Jen Held (Brampton, Ont.), who is also OUA's Most Sportsmanlike Player. Before Laurier's win streak, Toronto won gold in two consecutive lacrosse championships dating back to 2001 and 2002.
The Queen's Gaels (9-3) face the Western Mustangs (7-5) in the opening game of the tournament. Second-seeded Queen's is led by OUA Most Valuable Players Lisa McLaughlin (Whitby, Ont.), the offensive winner, and top defensive player Ruth McArthur (Brampton, Ont.). Queen's has not won the title since their back-to-back crowns in 1998 and 1999. The last three seasons they have been awarded the silver medal, losing to Laurier in the finals. The Gaels hope to triumph this weekend to claim their third championship banner.
The Mustangs will be headed by rookie coach Dave Hastings. Named Coach of the Year, Hastings, a former men's field lacrosse player at Western, inherited a team with a lot of new faces. The Mustangs look to improve on last year's fourth place finish after falling to Toronto 13-11 in the bronze medal match. Larissa Boychuk (Mississauga, Ont.) is top Mustang with 27 goals and five assists through 11 games.
Watch the OUA gold medal game on Sun., Oct. 26 live on webcast at http://www.laurierathletics.com/live/ with colour commentator Louie Verardi and play-by-play announcer Paul Gilkinson at 3 p.m.
OUA CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday, October 25, 2008 -- Semi-Finals @ Wilfrid Laurier
6 p.m. Queen's vs. Western
8 p.m. Laurier vs. Toronto
Sunday, October 26, 2008 -- Finals @ Wilfrid Laurier
1 p.m. Semi-Final Losers (Bronze Medal)
3 p.m. Semi-Final Winners (OUA Final)
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
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