March 4, 2009
OUA W-HOCKEY ROUNDUP: ROAD WARRIORS KNOCK OUT NATIONALLY RANKED TEAMS
TORONTO, Ont. - The Brock Badgers women's hockey team knocked off the No. 8 ranked York Lions by the score of 2-0 Tuesday night on the road advancing them to the OUA Semi-Finals.
\"Awesome! Just Awesome,\" proclaimed a thrilled Badgers head coach Todd Erskine following the victory. \"Every player stepped up tonight, a total team effort. This is only the second playoff victory in Brock history, and we earned it.\"
Midway through the first period, the Badgers went on the power play and took the puck deep into the York zone. After cycling the puck for a short time, the puck skipped loose into the neutral zone with York's Courtney Unruh (Fort St. John, B.C.) skating on a partial breakaway. Badger goaltender Beth Clause (Hamilton, Ont.) made the initial save and was immediately greeted by Unruh and Badger's defenceman Melissa Geary (Wasaga Beach, Ont.), whom were both sliding along the ice. This collision jarred the net loose with the puck scooting across the goal line. After a short discussion, the referee unit deemed no-goal was scored, to the disappointment of the Lions fans.
Shortly after, the Badgers took the momentum swing for their first goal of the contest as defenceman Kristy Ashton (Port Perry, Ont.) took a pass from Kelly Walker (Brampton, Ont.) at the point and fired a slap-shot that deflected off the stick of Karolyn McIlmoyle (Newmarket, Ont.).
The game remained that way for the remainder of the first period, despite a number of chances by the Lions, who looked to solve Badgers netminder Clause.
The first period ended with the Badgers down to three skaters on the ice, but not before Clause made one of the finest saves in her OUA career, robbing a York forward with her glove on a wrap-around attempt.
The Badgers were able to escape the penalty kill and the score remained the same throughout the second period.
In the third, defenceman Maja Samborski (Toronto, Ont.) mirrored the first period goal, receiving a pass from McIlmoyle and wound up a slap-shot that deflected off the stick of Walker for a 2-0 lead.
Clause continued her record setting season with an unbelievable performance for the Badgers, as she made 37 saves for the shut-out victory.
\"Beth was there for us tonight and really deserves a lot of credit\" added an ecstatic Michelle Lee of Innisfil, Ont.
Fourth-year captain Ashton was not surprised by the outcome.
\"We had a great week of practice and came into the game with a ton of confidence, the team chemistry was at an all-time high and some credit goes to the team building that we did at practice on Monday night.\"
Defenceman Ann Lavallee (Burlington, Ont.) moved herself into a league of her own on Tuesday night as she became the only player in Badgers history to suit up for both of the two playoff victories.
\"This years team has no quit, that is important in a series; I have always wanted to be a part of a two of three series and I am finally getting a chance.\"
The Badgers will now take on the No. 5 Guelph Gryphons, beginning Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Guelph. They will return home Saturday to host the Gryphons at the Seymour-Hannah Centre at 7:30 p.m.
Source: Brock Badgers Athletics
QUEEN'S 4, NO. 9 TORONTO 2
TORONTO, Ont. - Amanda Morra (Pickering Ont.) had a hat trick as the Queen's Gaels defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues 4-2 in OUA women's hockey playoff action.
Morra, a fifth-year forward with Queen's, scored midway through the first period to opening the games scoring with Megan McNutt (Toronto, Ont.) and Jessica Cone (Winnipeg, Man.) assisting on the goal.
The Varsity Blues battled back taking a 2-1 lead off goals from Annie DelGuidice (Hamilton, Ont.) and Callie Bazak (Peterborough, Ont.). Queen's answered with Morra's second goal of the contest, set up by McNutt, to knot the score at 2-2 heading into the final frame.
Becky Conroy (Pembroke, Ont.) netted the eventual game-winner at 7:48 of the third period while Morra scored her third of the game just over a minute later at 8:31 to cap the scoring. McNutt also added her third assist of the game on Morra's final goal.
Netminder Melissa John (Unionville, Ont.) turned aside 38 chances to secure the playoff win. Queen's was out-shot 40-25 in the victory. Varsity Blues goalie Kendyl Valenta (Brampton, Ont.) made 21 saves and took the loss.
With the win Queen's (14-13-0-1) advances to the OUA semi-final to face the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (26-1-0-0). The best-of-three series begins Thursday evening at the Kingston Memorial Centre. Tickets are available by calling 613-533-2500.
Only the York Lions were successful in edging the Golden Hawks this season in a 3-2 thriller to close the season. Queen's lost all three meetings against the defending champion Golden Hawks in 2008-09, but were one of the few teams in 2007-08 to dump Laurier. This is will be the third straight season Queen's and Laurier have met in the playoffs.
Source: Queen's Gaels Athletics
\"Awesome! Just Awesome,\" proclaimed a thrilled Badgers head coach Todd Erskine following the victory. \"Every player stepped up tonight, a total team effort. This is only the second playoff victory in Brock history, and we earned it.\"
Midway through the first period, the Badgers went on the power play and took the puck deep into the York zone. After cycling the puck for a short time, the puck skipped loose into the neutral zone with York's Courtney Unruh (Fort St. John, B.C.) skating on a partial breakaway. Badger goaltender Beth Clause (Hamilton, Ont.) made the initial save and was immediately greeted by Unruh and Badger's defenceman Melissa Geary (Wasaga Beach, Ont.), whom were both sliding along the ice. This collision jarred the net loose with the puck scooting across the goal line. After a short discussion, the referee unit deemed no-goal was scored, to the disappointment of the Lions fans.
Shortly after, the Badgers took the momentum swing for their first goal of the contest as defenceman Kristy Ashton (Port Perry, Ont.) took a pass from Kelly Walker (Brampton, Ont.) at the point and fired a slap-shot that deflected off the stick of Karolyn McIlmoyle (Newmarket, Ont.).
The game remained that way for the remainder of the first period, despite a number of chances by the Lions, who looked to solve Badgers netminder Clause.
The first period ended with the Badgers down to three skaters on the ice, but not before Clause made one of the finest saves in her OUA career, robbing a York forward with her glove on a wrap-around attempt.
The Badgers were able to escape the penalty kill and the score remained the same throughout the second period.
In the third, defenceman Maja Samborski (Toronto, Ont.) mirrored the first period goal, receiving a pass from McIlmoyle and wound up a slap-shot that deflected off the stick of Walker for a 2-0 lead.
Clause continued her record setting season with an unbelievable performance for the Badgers, as she made 37 saves for the shut-out victory.
\"Beth was there for us tonight and really deserves a lot of credit\" added an ecstatic Michelle Lee of Innisfil, Ont.
Fourth-year captain Ashton was not surprised by the outcome.
\"We had a great week of practice and came into the game with a ton of confidence, the team chemistry was at an all-time high and some credit goes to the team building that we did at practice on Monday night.\"
Defenceman Ann Lavallee (Burlington, Ont.) moved herself into a league of her own on Tuesday night as she became the only player in Badgers history to suit up for both of the two playoff victories.
\"This years team has no quit, that is important in a series; I have always wanted to be a part of a two of three series and I am finally getting a chance.\"
The Badgers will now take on the No. 5 Guelph Gryphons, beginning Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Guelph. They will return home Saturday to host the Gryphons at the Seymour-Hannah Centre at 7:30 p.m.
Source: Brock Badgers Athletics
QUEEN'S 4, NO. 9 TORONTO 2
TORONTO, Ont. - Amanda Morra (Pickering Ont.) had a hat trick as the Queen's Gaels defeated the Toronto Varsity Blues 4-2 in OUA women's hockey playoff action.
Morra, a fifth-year forward with Queen's, scored midway through the first period to opening the games scoring with Megan McNutt (Toronto, Ont.) and Jessica Cone (Winnipeg, Man.) assisting on the goal.
The Varsity Blues battled back taking a 2-1 lead off goals from Annie DelGuidice (Hamilton, Ont.) and Callie Bazak (Peterborough, Ont.). Queen's answered with Morra's second goal of the contest, set up by McNutt, to knot the score at 2-2 heading into the final frame.
Becky Conroy (Pembroke, Ont.) netted the eventual game-winner at 7:48 of the third period while Morra scored her third of the game just over a minute later at 8:31 to cap the scoring. McNutt also added her third assist of the game on Morra's final goal.
Netminder Melissa John (Unionville, Ont.) turned aside 38 chances to secure the playoff win. Queen's was out-shot 40-25 in the victory. Varsity Blues goalie Kendyl Valenta (Brampton, Ont.) made 21 saves and took the loss.
With the win Queen's (14-13-0-1) advances to the OUA semi-final to face the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (26-1-0-0). The best-of-three series begins Thursday evening at the Kingston Memorial Centre. Tickets are available by calling 613-533-2500.
Only the York Lions were successful in edging the Golden Hawks this season in a 3-2 thriller to close the season. Queen's lost all three meetings against the defending champion Golden Hawks in 2008-09, but were one of the few teams in 2007-08 to dump Laurier. This is will be the third straight season Queen's and Laurier have met in the playoffs.
Source: Queen's Gaels Athletics
