October 29, 2010
OUA LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIPS: Western and Laurier to meet in OUA Championship
LONDON, Ont. - The Western Mustangs and Laurier Golden Hawks will meet in Saturday night's OUA women's lacrosse championship final at 8 p.m. after both teams won their semifinal games at City Wide Fields on Friday afternoon.
The Mustangs disposed of the Queen's Gaels, led by a four-goal effort from Nicole Pullen. Emmi Morris added two goals and one helper. Remaining goals came from Kristen Stafford (1G, 1A), Larissa Boychuk (1G), Lauren Crape (1G) and Carrie White (1G). Cait Mancuso was terrific in net for the win.
"Cait was once again amazing for us," said Mustangs head coach Dave Hastings. "And Laura Robinson had an amazing game on defence. Kristin and Nicole were solid up front. Across the board I'm pretty happy."
Robinson was particularly effective in transition as Western used their speed and strength and solid defensive play to advance to the final. Queen's had two goals each from Jackie Byers and Lisa McLaughlin, while singles came from Marsha Cryderman and Chelsea Craig. The Gaels scored using patience but were ineffective in transition and the Mustangs defence did a good job of getting back into position.
Western will look to repeat as OUA champions when they face the first-place Golden Hawks (8 p.m., City Wide Fields).
Laurier advanced to the final after holding off several runs from the Toronto Varsity Blues to win 12-11 in a physical affair that featured seven cards.
Toronto tried to use a zone-defence to hold off the Hawks in the first half, but the depth of Laurier proved to be too much to handle. Amanda Groothuis and Ashley Rutz had three goals each, Megan Austriaco and Jen Taylor netted two apiece, and singles came from Allie Brogan and Sarah Stanley.
Hanna Burnett was solid in net making several saves off penalty shots and two off point-blank Toronto opportunities.
The Golden Hawks, winners of five of the past six OUA championships, controlled the ball well and used set pieces and patience to help them to victory.
Toronto never gave up and made several runs in the second half to stay close.
Former Mustang Kristin Smart and teammate Breanne Gillie had three goals each for Toronto, Taryn Grieder tallied twice, and Tori Wasson, Lisa Smid and Susan Tung scored once each.
In the end, Rutz scored timely, momentum-changing goals to help Laurier advance to the final.
Toronto and Queen's will play Saturday at 4 p.m. for bronze.
OUA WOMEN'S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Oct. 29
Quarter-Finals
Western 18 UOIT 6
Queen's 15 McMaster 3
Toronto 10 Guelph 6
Laurier - bye
Semifinals
Western 10 Queen's 6
Laurier 12 Toronto 11
Oct. 30
CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL: UOIT vs. McMaster, 2 p.m.
BRONZE-MEDAL GAME: Toronto vs. Queen's, 4 p.m.
CONSOLATION FINAL: UOIT-McMaster winner vs. Guelph, 6 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: Western vs. Laurier, 8 p.m.
Source: Andy Watson, Western Mustangs
The Mustangs disposed of the Queen's Gaels, led by a four-goal effort from Nicole Pullen. Emmi Morris added two goals and one helper. Remaining goals came from Kristen Stafford (1G, 1A), Larissa Boychuk (1G), Lauren Crape (1G) and Carrie White (1G). Cait Mancuso was terrific in net for the win.
"Cait was once again amazing for us," said Mustangs head coach Dave Hastings. "And Laura Robinson had an amazing game on defence. Kristin and Nicole were solid up front. Across the board I'm pretty happy."
Robinson was particularly effective in transition as Western used their speed and strength and solid defensive play to advance to the final. Queen's had two goals each from Jackie Byers and Lisa McLaughlin, while singles came from Marsha Cryderman and Chelsea Craig. The Gaels scored using patience but were ineffective in transition and the Mustangs defence did a good job of getting back into position.
Western will look to repeat as OUA champions when they face the first-place Golden Hawks (8 p.m., City Wide Fields).
Laurier advanced to the final after holding off several runs from the Toronto Varsity Blues to win 12-11 in a physical affair that featured seven cards.
Toronto tried to use a zone-defence to hold off the Hawks in the first half, but the depth of Laurier proved to be too much to handle. Amanda Groothuis and Ashley Rutz had three goals each, Megan Austriaco and Jen Taylor netted two apiece, and singles came from Allie Brogan and Sarah Stanley.
Hanna Burnett was solid in net making several saves off penalty shots and two off point-blank Toronto opportunities.
The Golden Hawks, winners of five of the past six OUA championships, controlled the ball well and used set pieces and patience to help them to victory.
Toronto never gave up and made several runs in the second half to stay close.
Former Mustang Kristin Smart and teammate Breanne Gillie had three goals each for Toronto, Taryn Grieder tallied twice, and Tori Wasson, Lisa Smid and Susan Tung scored once each.
In the end, Rutz scored timely, momentum-changing goals to help Laurier advance to the final.
Toronto and Queen's will play Saturday at 4 p.m. for bronze.
OUA WOMEN'S LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Oct. 29
Quarter-Finals
Western 18 UOIT 6
Queen's 15 McMaster 3
Toronto 10 Guelph 6
Laurier - bye
Semifinals
Western 10 Queen's 6
Laurier 12 Toronto 11
Oct. 30
CONSOLATION SEMIFINAL: UOIT vs. McMaster, 2 p.m.
BRONZE-MEDAL GAME: Toronto vs. Queen's, 4 p.m.
CONSOLATION FINAL: UOIT-McMaster winner vs. Guelph, 6 p.m.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: Western vs. Laurier, 8 p.m.
Source: Andy Watson, Western Mustangs