October 22, 2022
Banner Season: Queen's captures top seed for Sunday's semifinal slate
Toronto, Ont. - Both the Queen's Gaels and Trent Excalibur, last year's gold medal combatants, finished off round robin play with 2-0 records following Saturday's championship action at the University of Toronto's Varsity Centre, wrapping up as the top two teams heading into Sunday's semifinal matchups.
Game 1: Guelph Gryphons vs. Brock Badgers
Getting the second day of the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship underway Saturday morning, the Guelph Gryphons took down the Brock Badgers to secure their first win in pool play at Varsity Stadium.
Behind six goals from Rachel McConvey, the Gryphons went on to defeat the Badgers, who were playing their first game of the championship, 18-0
Getting the scoring started, it was McConvey finding the back of the net just over two minutes into the contest. From there, five more Gryphons found the back of the net in the opening quarter to give Guelph 6-0 lead after one.
Continuing to push the pace throughout the second, Guelph was able to add to their lead in a big way, getting seven more goals, highlighted by three in a row from McConvey. Meanwhile, Kirsten Sutter, Megan Latoski and Esmee Hotson all scored their second goals of the contest to give Guelph a 13-0 lead at the break.
Despite Brock's efforts to tilt the field back towards Guelph's end, the Badgers were unable to break through. Instead, the Gryphons would tack on three goals in the third and two more in the fourth to round out the scoring.
Game 2: Trent Excalibur vs. Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
With a guaranteed berth in the semifinals on the line, the Trent Excalibur and Laurier Golden Hawks squared off in the final game of Pool 'A' at the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship hosted by the University of Toronto.
Despite a valiant effort from the Golden Hawks, that saw them lead the two-time defending OUA champions into the third quarter, the Excalibur found their groove in the second half and pulled away for a 16-8 win.
In the early stages, it was Trent initially jumping out in front to a 2-0 lead on goals from Avery Di Giorgio and Grace Shaugnessy. Not to be outdone though, Laurier responded with two goals of their own, with Ryleigh Elliott and Liz Ilias tying the game 2-2. Trent would regain the lead late in the opening quarter to carry a 3-2 advantage after one.
Seizing momentum, the Golden Hawks came out flying in the second. Getting goals from Ilias, Delaney Keen and two from Elliott, Laurier posted four straight goals to go up 6-3. Showing their resiliency though, the Excalibur made a late push to end the half with a pair of goals, pulling within one at the break.
Once the second half began, it was all Trent. Scoring five goals in the third quarter and six more in the fourth, the Excalibur took control of the contest.
Di Giorgio, Shaugnessy and Mackenzie Manuliak each finished the game with the hat-trick for Trent, while Ilias led the Golden Hawks with three goals of her own.
Game 3: Queen's Gaels vs. McMaster Marauders
Securing their place in the semifinals, the Queen's Gaels rolled to a 19-2 victory Saturday afternoon at Varsity Stadium over the McMaster Marauders.
Getting 11 goals from the trio of Tara Meikle, Charlotte Sawicki and Abby Lee, the Gaels improved their pool play record to 2-0, while McMaster finished 0-2.
Coming out of the gates quick, Queen's tallied seven first quarter goals from seven different goal scorers.
After Meikle netted a pair of goals for the Gaels to extend their lead, McMaster was able to get on the board when Kierra McDougall found the back of the net for her first of two goals in the game.
Leading 10-1 at the half, the Gaels continued to roll with four third quarter goals and five more in the fourth.
McDougall would go on to score her second goal for the Marauders early in the fourth quarter, but that was as much as the team from Hamilton would muster.
Game 4: Western Mustangs vs. Brock Badgers
In what was the final pool game of the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship, hosted by the University of Toronto, the Western Mustangs galloped out of the gate en route to a 24-0 victory over the Brock Badgers.
Knowing a win would secure their spot in Sunday's semifinals, the Mustangs had 10 different student-athletes find the back of the net to solidify their playoff spot.
Pacing the Western offence, MacKenzie Deleary, Quinn Kolwich and Jamie Atkinson each scored four goals.
Despite the final score, the Badgers were able to keep the contest close through 15 minutes, trailing only 2-0 after one quarter of play.
However, with seven goals in the second, Western was able to create some breathing room, before fully taking control in the second half with an eight goal third quarter.
To round out the scoring, the Mustangs would find the back of the net seven more times in the fourth.
With a 2-0 pool play record, the Mustangs will head into the playoffs as the third-seed, which means they will take on the second-seed Trent Excalibur in the second of Sunday's semifinals.
The other semifinal will see the top-seeded Queen's Gaels take on the number four Guelph Gryphons.
Game 1: Guelph Gryphons vs. Brock Badgers
Getting the second day of the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship underway Saturday morning, the Guelph Gryphons took down the Brock Badgers to secure their first win in pool play at Varsity Stadium.
Behind six goals from Rachel McConvey, the Gryphons went on to defeat the Badgers, who were playing their first game of the championship, 18-0
Getting the scoring started, it was McConvey finding the back of the net just over two minutes into the contest. From there, five more Gryphons found the back of the net in the opening quarter to give Guelph 6-0 lead after one.
Continuing to push the pace throughout the second, Guelph was able to add to their lead in a big way, getting seven more goals, highlighted by three in a row from McConvey. Meanwhile, Kirsten Sutter, Megan Latoski and Esmee Hotson all scored their second goals of the contest to give Guelph a 13-0 lead at the break.
Despite Brock's efforts to tilt the field back towards Guelph's end, the Badgers were unable to break through. Instead, the Gryphons would tack on three goals in the third and two more in the fourth to round out the scoring.
Game 2: Trent Excalibur vs. Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
With a guaranteed berth in the semifinals on the line, the Trent Excalibur and Laurier Golden Hawks squared off in the final game of Pool 'A' at the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship hosted by the University of Toronto.
Despite a valiant effort from the Golden Hawks, that saw them lead the two-time defending OUA champions into the third quarter, the Excalibur found their groove in the second half and pulled away for a 16-8 win.
In the early stages, it was Trent initially jumping out in front to a 2-0 lead on goals from Avery Di Giorgio and Grace Shaugnessy. Not to be outdone though, Laurier responded with two goals of their own, with Ryleigh Elliott and Liz Ilias tying the game 2-2. Trent would regain the lead late in the opening quarter to carry a 3-2 advantage after one.
Seizing momentum, the Golden Hawks came out flying in the second. Getting goals from Ilias, Delaney Keen and two from Elliott, Laurier posted four straight goals to go up 6-3. Showing their resiliency though, the Excalibur made a late push to end the half with a pair of goals, pulling within one at the break.
Once the second half began, it was all Trent. Scoring five goals in the third quarter and six more in the fourth, the Excalibur took control of the contest.
Di Giorgio, Shaugnessy and Mackenzie Manuliak each finished the game with the hat-trick for Trent, while Ilias led the Golden Hawks with three goals of her own.
Game 3: Queen's Gaels vs. McMaster Marauders
Securing their place in the semifinals, the Queen's Gaels rolled to a 19-2 victory Saturday afternoon at Varsity Stadium over the McMaster Marauders.
Getting 11 goals from the trio of Tara Meikle, Charlotte Sawicki and Abby Lee, the Gaels improved their pool play record to 2-0, while McMaster finished 0-2.
Coming out of the gates quick, Queen's tallied seven first quarter goals from seven different goal scorers.
After Meikle netted a pair of goals for the Gaels to extend their lead, McMaster was able to get on the board when Kierra McDougall found the back of the net for her first of two goals in the game.
Leading 10-1 at the half, the Gaels continued to roll with four third quarter goals and five more in the fourth.
McDougall would go on to score her second goal for the Marauders early in the fourth quarter, but that was as much as the team from Hamilton would muster.
Game 4: Western Mustangs vs. Brock Badgers
In what was the final pool game of the 2022 OUA women's lacrosse championship, hosted by the University of Toronto, the Western Mustangs galloped out of the gate en route to a 24-0 victory over the Brock Badgers.
Knowing a win would secure their spot in Sunday's semifinals, the Mustangs had 10 different student-athletes find the back of the net to solidify their playoff spot.
Pacing the Western offence, MacKenzie Deleary, Quinn Kolwich and Jamie Atkinson each scored four goals.
Despite the final score, the Badgers were able to keep the contest close through 15 minutes, trailing only 2-0 after one quarter of play.
However, with seven goals in the second, Western was able to create some breathing room, before fully taking control in the second half with an eight goal third quarter.
To round out the scoring, the Mustangs would find the back of the net seven more times in the fourth.
With a 2-0 pool play record, the Mustangs will head into the playoffs as the third-seed, which means they will take on the second-seed Trent Excalibur in the second of Sunday's semifinals.
The other semifinal will see the top-seeded Queen's Gaels take on the number four Guelph Gryphons.
