CIS field hockey Sunday roundup: Gryphons capture OUA title; Waterloo takes bronze

Photo credit Michael P. Hall

TORONTO - The University of Guelph Gryphons field hockey team successfully defended its OUA championship on Sunday (Oct. 31) with a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Varsity Blues in the gold medal game.

The banner is the team’s second in a row and third in the last four years.

Both teams had already booked their place in the CIS national championship tournament next weekend, which will be hosted by Guelph. Joining the Gryphons and Varsity Blues will be the Waterloo Warriors, who knocked off the Western Mustangs by a score of 3-1 in the bronze medal game on Sunday to earn the final OUA spot.

The first half was played almost entirely amid snow flurries and blustery conditions. The Gryphons, who finished tied with the Varsity Blues atop the OUA standings but got the first seed thanks to a higher goal differential, got on the board first with a goal just two minutes into the game off the stick of Brittany Seidler (Oliver, B.C.). Tegan Stairs (Kitchener, Ont.) pushed the lead to two with an action goal 12 minutes later.

Despite numerous chances for the Varsity Blues, including several corners in which they couldn’t capitalize, the game remained 2-0 for the Gryphons until just before the half, when Natalie Provenzano (Richmond Hill, Ont.) got the Varsity Blues on the board with an action goal of her own.

The Gryphons regained their lead in the 42nd minute when Samantha Anderson (Delta, B.C.) fired the ball past goalkeeper Samantha Lyzun (West Vancouver, B.C.) after a series of passes off a corner.

The Varsity Blues would get one more goal before time expired, from Kelley Lusk (North Vancouver, B.C.) in the 58th minute, but the Gryphons held on for the victory and celebrated at midfield when the final horn sounded.

Amy Wise (Surrey, B.C.) was named Guelph’s player of the game, while Kaelan Watson (Richmond, B.C.) earned the honour for Toronto.

In the bronze medal contest, the Warriors struck first with a goal by Jaimie Wey (Kitchener, Ont.) in the 14th minute. Wey added her second of the game just before halftime off a corner and the Warriors led 2-0 at the break.

Western narrowed the gap to one when Megan Scraper (West Vancouver, B.C.) scored on a penalty stroke early in the second half. However, the Warriors recaptured a two-goal advantage just two minutes later thanks to an action goal by Melissa Lewis (Waterloo, Ont.).

Both goalies stood tall after that until the end of the game. Winnie Huynh (Mississauga, Ont.) and Scraper earned player of the game honours for Waterloo and Western, respectively.

Guelph, Toronto and Waterloo will participate in the CIS Women’s Field Hockey Championship beginning on Thursday (Nov. 4) in Guelph with the first round robin games. Joining them at the event are the Canada West champion UBC Thunderbirds and the Victoria Vikes.

Final OUA Standings
1. Guelph
2. Toronto
3. Waterloo
4. Western
5. Dalhousie
6. York

-OUA-