Varsity sports fall review
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January 6, 2010 9:00 AM
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Men’s Baseball A
The Hawks’ men’s baseball team had a breakout season this year, making their first ever appearance in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) championship final. Having been a virtually unrecognized team in the past, the squad overcame having their funding cut by the athletic department and went on to earn an OUA silver medal after fighting a hard fought battle against the Western Mustangs. Under the leadership of head coach Scott Ballantyne, the Hawks finished their season with a 10-8 record, going 2-2 in the post season. The team also boasted the OUA Rookie of the Year – Andrew Greenberg, along with three OUA All-Stars – Chris Pittaway, Josh Robinson and Jesse Milanovich.
–Tieja MacLaughlin
Women’s Lacrosse B
The fall of 2009 saw the dynasty that was the Laurier women’s lacrosse team come to end. Fielding a team of several inexperienced players, having lost the majority of their key veterans to graduation, the young squad battled to a 7-5 regular season record, suffering the program’s first loss since 2006 but backing into the OUA playoffs in the fourth spot. In the post-season, the Hawks upset the first-place University of Toronto Varsity Blues in the semi-finals but lost in the championship to the Western Mustangs. Although this was the end of a six-year streak of gold medals, the second-place finish is definitely a positive result for such a young team.
–Justin Fauteux
Cross Country B
Led by outstanding rookies Shoaib and Sohaib Ikram, the cross country team had a solid season in the fall of 2009. The highlight of the year came at the Badger Cross Country Meet at Brock University where the Ikram twins finished in the top two spots. To conclude the season, the men’s team had seven representatives at the CIS finals, marking the first time that the Golden Hawks were represented at the national championship.
–Justin Fauteux
Men’s Football B
Despite key players such as quarterback Luke Thompson and defensive end Chima Ihekwoaba suffering season-ending injuries in week three, the men’s football team finished the 2009 season with a 6-2 record, claiming second in the provincial standings. The Hawks showed flashes of brilliance, boasting three All-Canadians and handing the eventual Vanier Cup champion Queen’s Gaels their only loss of the season. However, for a team with one of the top defences in the country as well as a bevy of weapons on offence, losing in the OUA semifinals for the third year in a row is somewhat disappointing.
–Justin Fauteux
Women’s Soccer B
Despite an incredible regular season by the women’s soccer team, the defending Ontario University Athletics (OUA) champion Hawks couldn’t manage to keep their torrid pace in the post-season. They finished fourth in Ontario, losing the bronze medal game to the Ottawa Gee-Gees 3-2 in penalty shots. Highlights of the year include dominating performances by midfielder Heather Malizia, who earned CIS All-Canadian honours, as well as a breakout season by forward Ali McKee, who scored a team-high nine goals throughout the campaign. Head coach Barry MacLean, meanwhile, took home his second coach of the year award.
–Kevin Campbell
Men’s Rugby C+
The men’s rugby team had a successful run to the playoffs but ended with a mediocre 4-4 record in the regular season. The 2009 season broke a three-year playoff drought for the Hawks, but they fell at the hands of the McMaster Marauders in the quarter-finals, going scoreless for the first time in the season. Four players – Alex St. John, James Stewart, Jeff Pickel and Spencer Houlihan – were named OUA All- Stars, but the team as a whole went on to finish only fifth overall of eight teams in the OUA.
–Tieja MacLaughlin
Men’s Soccer D
A decade to remember ended with a year to forget. For the first time in their recorded history, the men’s soccer team missed the playoffs and relinquished their title as Ontario champions without a fight. Coming off their miraculous run last fall, the team saw few key players depart and a dearth of talented youth enter the system. Sadly, the talent was squandered when injuries forced over half of Laurier’s line-up onto the bench in the last half of the season. Down the stretch, the Hawks fielded a team that was mainly made up of players who hadn’t even dressed for a game in the previous season. Entering the season with furor, the Hawks exited with a whimper, leaving behind a trail of dashed dreams.
–Luke Dotto
Women’s Rugby F
Outscored 247-15, including a 90-0 loss to Guelph and an 87-3 beating at the hands of Western, the women’s rugby team was by far the worst varsity team in the fall semester. They finished the season with a 1-4 record and only escaped a winless season with a 7-5 win over Waterloo in the final game of the season. The bright spot is that this team has nowhere to go but up.
–James Choleras