Golden Hawks halfway report

Women’s Hockey

Record: 15-1-1, 1st in OUA

Aside from suffering a pair of first-half losses (something they haven’t done in four years) the Golden Hawks women’s hockey team were their usual dominant selves during first semester. They sit atop the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) standings; however, their three-point lead over the Brock Badgers is much smaller than the Hawks are accustomed to. With Laurier hosting nationals the Hawks automatically qualify, but there’s still a good chance they’ll be entering the tournament as the OUA champion for the eighth straight year.

First half MVP
Goalie, Liz Knox

Top Rookie
Forward, Laura Brooker

Men’s Hockey

Record: 9-4-4, 4th in OUA West

New head coach Greg Puhalski guided his young Hawks’ squad through an up-and-down start to the season that saw everything from let-downs against weaker opponents like Toronto and Ryerson to an upset of perennial powerhouse Lakehead. Despite some growing pains, Laurier has managed to keep pace with the OUA West’s other top teams: Western, Lakehead and Waterloo. While the Hawks have shown some encouraging signs, they will have to prove themselves against those three toughteams (they currently have just one win in four tries against Western, Lakehead and Waterloo) before they’re considered a true contender.

First half MVP
Goalie, Ryan Daniels

Top Rookie
Forward, Thomas Middup

Women’s Basketball

Record: T-4th in OUA West

Laurier’s women’s basketball team came flying out of the gate this season, winning their first five games, even upsetting traditional top teams Ottawa and Carleton. Despite going 1-2 in their final three games of the semester, the Hawks managed to go into the break with their best record since 2007-08 and look like the strongest team head coach Paul Falco has fielded in his three-year tenure. The Hawks will have difficulty separating themselves in the crowded top half of the OUA West standings, but should make the playoffs with ease and have the potential to make some considerable noise in the post-season.

First half MVP
Guard, Renata Adamczyk

Breakout Rookie
Guard, Felicia Mazerolle

Men’s Basketball

Record: 6-2, T-2nd in OUA West

After a four-year streak of mediocre 3-5 starts, the Hawks’ men’s basketball team posted a winning first semester record for the first time since 2002 this past fall. The purple and gold have largely ridden the resurgence of former CIS rookie of the year Kale Harrison, who has been the high-scorer in all but two of Laurier’s contests this season, to a tie for second with the Lakehead Thunderwolves in the tough OUA West. With just four points separating second from sixth, the Hawks will need to play almost flawlessly to maintain their current spot.

Swimming

The Laurier swim team took part in five competitions in the fall semester, capping their first half at the Brock Cup on Nov. 27. Veteran Whitney Rich continued to add to her impressive career, taking home three medals at both the OUA sprint meet and the Laurentian Invitational in October. The team will host the Laurier meet on Jan. 29 before competing in the OUA championships in Guelph on Feb. 10-12.

First half MVP
Whitney Rich

Breakout Rookie
Adrian Ng

Women’s Volleyball

Record: 1-6, 6th in OUA West

Things were not easy for Laurier’s women’s volleyball team in the fall of 2010. The Hawks stumbled to an 0-5 start before winning their only match of the semester over the winless Windsor Lancers on Nov. 20. Unless they can turn things around quickly in the second semester, it looks like the Hawks’ playoff drought will extend to three years.

First half MVP
Middle, Julie Gordon

Breakout Rookie
Middle, Alanna Kirchner

Men’s Volleyball

Record: 6-4, T-5th in OUA

After struggling through inconsistency, a young Laurier men’s volleyball team hit their stride at the end of first semester, winning three of their last four matches right in the thick of the OUA standings. With over half of the team’s roster in first or second year, the inexperienced Hawks’ squad has looked brilliant at times and woeful at others. If the team can continue to build on some encouraging performances, they should not only make the post-season but be one of the higher seeds.

First half MVP
Right Side, Cam Wheelan

Breakout Rookie
Left Side, Derek Kuiack