OUA field hockey championships preview
Dalhousie takes on Waterloo in quater-finals
Courtesy of Ontario University Athletics website - October 29, 2010
(Photo credit: Nick Pearce) HAMILTON, Ont. – Field hockey has been a long standing tradition in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) dating back almost 40 years.
The title is on the line for the 2010 season and five OUA teams will compete for the Championship this weekend at Downsview Park, hosted by the York Lions.
The Guelph Gryphons are last year's champions and will defend their title against OUA’s other top teams including Toronto, who were the 2008 champions, Western, York and Waterloo.
In the quarter-finals, the Western Mustangs are up against the host York Lions at 12:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams won a game apiece when they met in the regular season. York defeated Western 3-2 at the beginning of October and the second time they met the Mustangs came out on top with a score of 2-1. With two tight matches, this quarterfinal is sure to be a tight race for a spot in the semis.
Lions midfielder Effie Petrou (Oakville, Ont.) will try to carry her team to the semifinals against Guelph. The fifth-year has been named to an All-Star team in all five years of her OUA career. The former CIS First-Team All-Canadian led York in scoring with seven goals this year.
The Western Mustangs boast the T. Litzen rookie of the year, Alli Nelson (Erin, Ont.). The first-year scored seven goals in her first season as a Mustang. Western’s only All-Star this season was third-year Megan Scraper (West Vancouver, B.C.). She scored 12 goals in the 2010 regular season, third overall. Both players will be looked upon to breaking down York’s defence.
In the other quarter-final, Waterloo will face off against the Atlantic University Sports (AUS) league champions, the Dalhousie Tigers. As winners of AUS, the Tigers will have a chance to compete for a berth in the CIS championships by competing with OUA teams. Although they will not be eligible to win OUA gold, if they place first or second in the OUA Championships, they will earn a place at the CIS Championships hosted by the Guelph Gryphons this year.
The Warriors earned third place in OUA with a record of 8-6, sitting behind the leagues powerhouses. Waterloo’s standout athlete is All-Star Kara Moro (Port Moody, B.C.). The third-year midfielder has been named an All-Star for the second time in her career. She is tied for fourth in OUA with 11 goals in the 2010 season and will be the driving offensive force for the Warriors on Friday at 2:00 p.m. against the Tigers.
Guelph and Toronto earned a first-round bye and will take their 13-1 record straight to the semifinals on Saturday. Each team’s loss came to each other. Guelph was the first and only team to defeat the Blues and that came on October 2 with a tight score of 4-2. In their second match up, Toronto took a perfect season away from the Gryphons with a win. Both teams have high expectations to win the title this year, but there can only be one OUA Champion.
OUA SCHEDULE
October 29 – Quarter-finals
12:00pm - Game 1: Western @ York
2:00pm - Game 2: Waterloo @ Dalhousie
October 30 - Semifinals
10:00am - Fifth place: Loser G1 @ Loser G2
12:00pm - SF A: Guelph @ Winner G1
2:00pm - SF B: Toronto @ Winner G2
October 31 - Finals
10:00am – Bronze: Loser SF A @ Loser SF B
12:00pm – Championship: Winner SF A @ Winner SF B
