Women’s Cross Country News

Welcome to Monday Morning Quarterback, recapping the best U SPORTS stories from the week across CW, OUA, RSEQ, and the AUS during the 2021-22 season

Women’s Soccer

Trinity Western Spartans, UBC Thunderbirds and MacEwan Griffins to join at U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Championship

No. 1 ranked Trinity Western became nine-time Canada West champions on Saturday, defeating the No. 4 ranked UBC Thunderbirds 1-0.
 
With both the Spartans (3-0-0) and the Thunderbirds (2-1-0) putting all their chips in the middle for Saturday's match, neither team wanted to surrender any chances from either end.

In a closely contested battle, a 0-0 score loomed until late in regulation. Kathryn Harvey would find the back of the net in the 88th minute off a pass from Sierra Halldorson, sneaking a shot past UBC goalkeeper Emily Moore. Harvey's goal was not only the final nail in the coffin needed to take down UBC, but her goal stands as the only goal scored by the Spartans as the game came to a 1-0 close.

Trinity Western will be joined in the U SPORTS Women’s Soccer Championship alongside UBC and MacEwan Griffins from the Canada West conference.

MacEwan made history taking bronze with a 2-0 victory over the Saskatchewan Huskies, booking their first berth in the Championship in program history.

Men’s Soccer

Cape Breton Capers capture fifth consecutive AUS Men’s Soccer title

With a dominating performance on Sunday afternoon—on home turf—the No. 1 Cape Breton University Capers captured the 2021 AUS Men’s Soccer Championship with a 4-0 victory over the Saint Mary’s Huskies. 

It is the fifth consecutive conference crown for the CBU men’s program. 

Cape Breton’s Kairo Coore scored two goals in the match, including the game-winner to push the Capers to victory. The Whitby, ON native, is an AUS first-team all-star and was the league leader in goals during the regular season.

Coore’s first goal came in the 39th minute and capped off the stellar season with the fourth and final goal in the 76th minute. Coore was named AUS tournament MVP for his stellar play.

Charlie Waters and Jose Maria Rebeiro de Cunha also scored early in the second half for the Capers.

The Capers and Huskies will compete in the 2021 U SPORTS Men’s Soccer Championships—from Nov. 18 to 21—which will be hosted by Carleton University in Ottawa. 

Cross Country

Guelph Gryphons sweep Men’s and Women’s Conference titles

One of the most decorated programs in U SPORTS history continued to add even more allure to its name Saturday afternoon (Nov. 6) in London. In what was an incredible day of racing full of strong individual runs, the Guelph Gryphons claimed a conference banner sweep of both men's and women's cross country gold.

Starting the day with the women's 8km race, the Gryphons could hardly have scripted a better result. Winning their first OUA championship since 2016, while also setting a new OUA team scoring record, Guelph had five runners finish in the top seven of the race, with two of those five being the first ones to cross the finish line. Claiming the top two spots on the podium, 4th-year Kiana Gibson (29:40) continued her dominant 2021 season winning gold, while teammate Olivia Roussel (29:47) followed in behind her just seven seconds later to win OUA silver. 

On the men's side, the Gryphons ran to a second straight OUA banner and their 18th in the last 22 seasons. Much like their female counterparts, the men's team also dominated the top 10 of their race. With 2019-20 OUA MVP and U SPORTS 1st-Team All-Canadian, Mitchell Ubene (24:48) leading the way with an individual silver medal performance, the Gryphons ultimately had five of their male student-athletes finish in the top nine of the competition.

Guelph had four runners cross the finish line in a row with John Perrier (25:15), Nicholas Bannon (25:16), Gavin Hughes (25:20) and Alex Purnell (25:24) finishing 6th through 9th.

Having to sit out all of last year because of the pandemic canceled season, the Gryphons were able to return to the OUA Championship with a bang, sweeping the men's and women's race for the first time since 2015. 2015 was the final year of an unthinkable eleven-year run that saw the Gryphons win both the men's and women's OUA titles every season from 2005 - 2015.

Women’s Rugby

No. 6 Gryphons upset No. 2 Gaels for OUA conference title

The No.6 Guelph Gryphons defeated the No. 2 Queen’s Gaels 32-23 to win the OUA Women’s Rugby Championship on Saturday at Nixon Field.

Queen’s held the lead for most of the first half before Talia Hoffman and Hannah Beaumont scored back-to-back tries within three minutes to give the Gryphons a 15-13 lead heading into the break.

After the Gaels retook the lead on a Maggie Banks try early in the second half, Guelph scored three straight tries to build a 14-point lead. Queen’s would get one back late, but it wasn’t enough, as the Gryphons held on for a nine-point win to capture the OUA championship.

Hoffman led Guelph with two tries in the championship win with Amara Cavadias, Aliesha Lewis and Maddie Gundy also scoring for the Gryphons. Kendra Cousineau added a convert for Guelph in the win.

Along with Banks, Jaden Walker and Riley Rewakoski scored tries for the Gaels, while Amelia Stapley added three converts in the loss.

Guelph will be back in Kingston for the U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship from Nov. 10-14, looking to add to their OUA banner. Queen’s will also compete in the national event as hosts and OUA finalists.

Women’s Basketball

McMaster’s Sarah Gates reaches 1,000-point milestone in victory over Lakehead

In McMaster’s first game in over 600 days, fourth-year guard Sarah Gates dropped 32 points for the Marauders to claim their first victory of the season over the Lakehead Thunderwolves. In doing so, the OUA All-Star Gates was able to break into the record books, reaching the 1000-point milestone for regular season play.

By going five for seven from deep and 10 for 13 from the field, Gates led the Marauders to a 74-65 victory over the Thunderbirds.

In the second of a home and home against the Thunderwolves, Gates scored 25 to beat Lake head by a score of 63-47.

In the victory, Jenna Button of the Marauders put up a solid stat line, picking up nine points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.

McMaster, led by coach Theresa Burns took home the Bronze Baby in 2019, winning the U SPORTS Women’s Basketball Championship.

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