Blues go 3-0 in final weekend, earn bye in OUA championship

The University of Toronto Varsity Blues field hockey team won their final three games of the season this past weekend (Oct. 24-25), finishing in second place and earning a bye into the OUA final four championship.

The Varsity Blues travelled to Waterloo, Ont. to take on the Warriors in their first of two games on Saturday. After tying the Warriors previously in the year, the Blues found their finishing touch, soundly defeating the Warriors 5-0. Kristen Shier (North Vancouver, B.C.) led the way for Toronto, scoring a fabulous drag flick goal off a short corner and adding another on a hard hit to the corner. 

The win would set the Blues up well for their final game of the day against McGill.

Toronto continued to find the net against McGill, winning by a count of 7-0 in their afternoon match. Rianna Sterk (Embro, Ont.) led the way with two goals in the match that ultimately clinched the second seed for the Blues, behind the OUA-leading Guelph Gryphons.

In a possible preview of next weekend's semi-final match-up, the Blues took on the Western Mustangs and came out with a 3-1 victory on Sunday, October 25 at Iceland's Fields in Mississauga. 

Kyesia O'Neale (Mississauga, Ont.) opened the scoring for Toronto, while Shier would find the net on another well executed penalty corner by the Blues. Katherine McNeill (West Vancouver, B.C.) also added a tally in the victory.

After tying both Waterloo and Western in their first matches of the year, the Blues sent a strong message with convincing victories against both sides to round out the season.

Toronto finishes the regular season in second place in the OUA and will travel to London, Ont. for the OUA field hockey championships next weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 1). 

The Blues look to defend their 2008 OUA title, beginning with a semi-final match-up on Saturday at 8:00 p.m. A semi-final victory would also qualify the Blues for the CIS championships in Victoria, B.C.