March 4, 2009
OUA PLAYOFF PUSH: WOMEN'S HOCKEY
HAMILTON, Ont. - Two underdogs came through on Tuesday night in their sudden-death quarter-final games, knocking off two nationally-ranked teams. But David now tangles with Goliath as the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) women's hockey season is down to the semi-finals.
The No. 2 ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (26-1-0-0) will encounter the Queen's Gaels (14-13-1-0) in one best-of-three semi-final. The Golden Hawks were the class of OUA for most of the season, beginning the season with a 26-game win streak before losing their season finale to the York Lions on the road. During its streak, Laurier defeated the Gaels on three separate occasions by a combined score of 13-1.
The Golden Hawks feature one of OUA's best one-two offensive punches in left wings Andrea Ironside (Collingwood, Ont.) and Kaley Powers (Kingston, Ont.). Both players led the team in goals with 15. They are also the top scoring threats on the Laurier power play, combining for 13 goals with the man-advantage. Ironside was the OUA co-leader in points with 33.
Other notables in the Golden Hawks line-up include fourth-year centre Lauren Barch (Burlington, Ont.) who earned 32 points on 13 goals and 19 helpers. Another centre, Heather Fortuna (Kitchener, Ont.) also cracked double digits in goals with 13 markers and four assists. Third-year goaltender Liz Knox (Stouffville, Ont.) was guarding the mesh in all 180 minutes against the Gaels this season, earning two shutouts while stopping 41 of 42 shots. She is the OUA leader in shutouts in the regular season with 10 to her credit. Her goals against average is an incredible 0.93 while her save percentage is .953.
Queen's fifth-year right wing Amanda Morra (Pickering, Ont.) came out of nowhere in a 4-2 victory over the No. 9 Toronto Varsity Blues in an OUA quarter-final on Tuesday, netting a hat trick and almost matching her regular season total of four goals. Third-year left wing Kelsey Thomson (Martintown, Ont.) is one of the top scorers in OUA, with 16 goals on the season to lead the Gaels. Third-year centre Becky Conroy (Pembroke, Ont.) also knows a thing or two about scoring goals, with 14 to her credit. The Golden Hawks were able to contain both during the regular season.
In the other best-of-three semi-final, the No. 5 Guelph Gryphons (19-6-1-1) will battle the Brock Badgers (14-10-0-4). The Gryphons may not have been as flashy as the Golden Hawks, but they have enjoyed tremendous success, including victories in each of their three games against the Badgers by a combined 11-3 margin.
The Gryphons ended the season with four consecutive shutouts, courtesy of first-year goaltender Cassandra McNichol (Unionville, Ont.) who was between the pipes in all four games, including a 4-0 win over Brock on Feb. 21. McNichol was the top goaltender statistically this side of Knox with six shutouts during the regular season, a 1.62 GAA and a save percentage of .947.
Guelph features OUA co-scoring champion Tamara Bell (Guelph, Ont.) who scored 13 goals and helped out on 20 others for 33 points in her rookie season. Third-year centre Jessica Zerafa (Mississauga, Ont.) was the OUA leader in goals during the 2008-09 campaign with 17.
The Brock Badgers also have a strong netminder between the pipes as Beth Clause (Hamilton, Ont.) earned a 2-0 shutout victory against the No. 8 York Lions in an OUA quarter-final on Tuesday, stopping 37 shots. She earned four shutouts during the regular season to go along with her 1.79 GAA and .942 save percentage.
Third-year centre Kelly Walker (Brampton, Ont.) is the top offensive threat on the Badgers with 12 goals and 12 assists on the season. She, along with second-year right wing Karolyn Mcllmoyle (Newmarket, Ont.) scored against York.
The winners of the best-of-three semi-finals advance to the OUA Women's Hockey Championship, another best-of-three series schedule to begin March 12.
OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY QUARTER-FINALS
Thurs., March 5
7 p.m. – Laurier @ Queen's (Game 1)
7:30 p.m. – Brock @ Guelph (Game 1)
Sat., March 7
3 p.m. – Queen's @ Laurier (Game 2)
7:30 p.m. – Guelph @ Brock (Game 2)
Sun., March 8
2 p.m. – Brock @ Guelph (Game 3, if necessary)
3 p.m. – Queen's @ Laurier (Game 3, if necessary)
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
The No. 2 ranked Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks (26-1-0-0) will encounter the Queen's Gaels (14-13-1-0) in one best-of-three semi-final. The Golden Hawks were the class of OUA for most of the season, beginning the season with a 26-game win streak before losing their season finale to the York Lions on the road. During its streak, Laurier defeated the Gaels on three separate occasions by a combined score of 13-1.
The Golden Hawks feature one of OUA's best one-two offensive punches in left wings Andrea Ironside (Collingwood, Ont.) and Kaley Powers (Kingston, Ont.). Both players led the team in goals with 15. They are also the top scoring threats on the Laurier power play, combining for 13 goals with the man-advantage. Ironside was the OUA co-leader in points with 33.
Other notables in the Golden Hawks line-up include fourth-year centre Lauren Barch (Burlington, Ont.) who earned 32 points on 13 goals and 19 helpers. Another centre, Heather Fortuna (Kitchener, Ont.) also cracked double digits in goals with 13 markers and four assists. Third-year goaltender Liz Knox (Stouffville, Ont.) was guarding the mesh in all 180 minutes against the Gaels this season, earning two shutouts while stopping 41 of 42 shots. She is the OUA leader in shutouts in the regular season with 10 to her credit. Her goals against average is an incredible 0.93 while her save percentage is .953.
Queen's fifth-year right wing Amanda Morra (Pickering, Ont.) came out of nowhere in a 4-2 victory over the No. 9 Toronto Varsity Blues in an OUA quarter-final on Tuesday, netting a hat trick and almost matching her regular season total of four goals. Third-year left wing Kelsey Thomson (Martintown, Ont.) is one of the top scorers in OUA, with 16 goals on the season to lead the Gaels. Third-year centre Becky Conroy (Pembroke, Ont.) also knows a thing or two about scoring goals, with 14 to her credit. The Golden Hawks were able to contain both during the regular season.
In the other best-of-three semi-final, the No. 5 Guelph Gryphons (19-6-1-1) will battle the Brock Badgers (14-10-0-4). The Gryphons may not have been as flashy as the Golden Hawks, but they have enjoyed tremendous success, including victories in each of their three games against the Badgers by a combined 11-3 margin.
The Gryphons ended the season with four consecutive shutouts, courtesy of first-year goaltender Cassandra McNichol (Unionville, Ont.) who was between the pipes in all four games, including a 4-0 win over Brock on Feb. 21. McNichol was the top goaltender statistically this side of Knox with six shutouts during the regular season, a 1.62 GAA and a save percentage of .947.
Guelph features OUA co-scoring champion Tamara Bell (Guelph, Ont.) who scored 13 goals and helped out on 20 others for 33 points in her rookie season. Third-year centre Jessica Zerafa (Mississauga, Ont.) was the OUA leader in goals during the 2008-09 campaign with 17.
The Brock Badgers also have a strong netminder between the pipes as Beth Clause (Hamilton, Ont.) earned a 2-0 shutout victory against the No. 8 York Lions in an OUA quarter-final on Tuesday, stopping 37 shots. She earned four shutouts during the regular season to go along with her 1.79 GAA and .942 save percentage.
Third-year centre Kelly Walker (Brampton, Ont.) is the top offensive threat on the Badgers with 12 goals and 12 assists on the season. She, along with second-year right wing Karolyn Mcllmoyle (Newmarket, Ont.) scored against York.
The winners of the best-of-three semi-finals advance to the OUA Women's Hockey Championship, another best-of-three series schedule to begin March 12.
OUA WOMEN'S HOCKEY QUARTER-FINALS
Thurs., March 5
7 p.m. – Laurier @ Queen's (Game 1)
7:30 p.m. – Brock @ Guelph (Game 1)
Sat., March 7
3 p.m. – Queen's @ Laurier (Game 2)
7:30 p.m. – Guelph @ Brock (Game 2)
Sun., March 8
2 p.m. – Brock @ Guelph (Game 3, if necessary)
3 p.m. – Queen's @ Laurier (Game 3, if necessary)
– OUA –
ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.
