Mustangs, Warriors rock OUA championship

WATERLOO, Ont. - It was an exciting finish to the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) curling season on Sunday, as an extra end was needed in both gold medal games to determine the 2010 OUA champions. The Western Mustangs successfully defended their men's crown, while the Waterloo Warriors won the women's title for the first time in three seasons.

The Mustangs required a ninth end to defeat the Toronto Varsity Blues 9-8 in the championship finale. Western gained a measure of revenge, as it fell to Toronto 5-2 in the round robin on Saturday, ending what had been a perfect OUA season for the Mustangs to that point. Western had an 8-0 record in the regular season, and went 2-1 in the round robin, earning a berth to the semifinal. Toronto also had a 2-1 record in the round robin, but advanced directly to the gold medal game as a result of its win against Western.

Western was led by skip Evan Lilly (Sudbury, Ont.), vice Mickey Lizmore (London, Ont.) and second Joey Lanthier (Lively, Ont.), all three of whom are 2010 OUA all-stars.

The Laurentian Voyageurs and Trent Excalibur were 1-2 in the round robin and played a tiebreaker to determine the other semifinalist. Laurentian won 6-5 after defeating Trent by the same score in the round robin. The Voyageurs championship hopes were dashed by Western in the semifinal, losing 6-4.

The Warriors, who had a 5-3 regular season record, got hot at the right time, winning all three round robin games to earn a spot in Sunday's final. In the final game of the round robin, Waterloo stole a pair against the defending Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) champion Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in the eighth end to win 6-5. The Golden Hawks settled for a semifinal berth against the defending OUA women's champion Western Mustangs.

After going undefeated in the regular season, the Brock Badgers were looking to cap off 2010 with a championship banner. The Badgers lost all three round robin games, eliminating them from the competition.

The Golden Hawks, led by skip Danielle Inglis (Kleinburg, Ont.), defeated the Mustangs 9-5 to advance to the final. The Mustangs were led by former Golden Hawks skip Hollie Nicol (Markham, Ont.). Laurier then held a lead against the Warriors in the gold medal game, but Waterloo stole one in the 8th end and another in the extra end to win 6-5. The Warriors are led by skip Katie Pringle (Orillia, Ont.).

2010 OUA CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

MEN'S RESULTS

GOLD MEDAL GAME
Western 9, Toronto 8

SEMIFINAL
Western 6, Laurentian 4

TIE-BREAKER
Laurentian 6, Trent 5

ROUND ROBIN
Western 6, Trent 3
Toronto 7, Laurentian 2
Toronto 5, Western 2
Laurentian 6, Trent 5
Western 7, Laurentian 5
Trent 3, Toronto 2

WOMEN'S RESULTS

GOLD MEDAL GAME
Waterloo 6, Laurier 5

SEMIFINAL
Laurier 9, Western 5

ROUND ROBIN
Laurier 5, Brock 4
Waterloo 6, Western 4
Waterloo 9, Brock 4
Laurier 7, Western 4
Western 5, Brock 4
Waterloo 6, Laurier 5

- OUA -