Badgers stay undefeated in women’s rugby
Brock cheerleaders return home from worlds in Poland with bronze medal
The visiting Brock Badgers tamed the York Lions 20-13 to remain undefeated in women’s university rugby and advance to play the Guelph Gryphons in the semifinals.
Scoring for Brock were Jenna Rainville, Niamh Haughey, Aleah Boersma, with one try each; and Meagan Hart, a convert and penalty goal.
York came out for the final half determined to come back from a 17-5 deficit.
“We had some moments of panic in the first half,” Badgers head coach Stefanie Pavlovich said. “We told the girls at halftime that we need to bring it because York is not going to give up.
“We made some adjustments offensively.”
Brock, 5-0, and the Gryphons, 4-0, are both undefeated heading into the noon kickoff Saturday in Guelph.
Basketball
Daniel Cayer scored 15 points, Cassidy Ryan 14 and Kascius SmallMartin 12 to lead host Brock past Prince Edward Island 78-61 in men’s university basketball exhibition action at the RBC Classic in St. Catharines.
The Badgers led 42-26 at halftime and out-rebounded the Panthers 51-33 in the game.
Brock tipped off the three-day tournament two days earlier with a 78-72 loss to the McGill Redmen.
“Winning the rebounding battle, not turning it over as much, and executing on the offensive end was the difference between today and Friday,” Badgers interim head coach Madhav Trivedi said after Sunday’s win over PEI.
“We still have lots of work to do, but we are moving in the right direction and are excited that the exhibition season is fully underway.”
Tyler Brown, Small-Martin,
with 14 each; and Ryan Cooper, with 11 off the bench; paced Brock in points in the loss.
Cheerleading
Brock won a bronze medal representing Canada at the FISU World University Cheerleading Championships in Poland.
Cheer Canada selected the Badgers to represent U Sports in the All-Female Premier Division at the competition held last weekend on Lodz.
Head coach Tara Savoie’s 21member team, including 16 returnees, trained three times a week since it was chosen to represent Canada at worlds.
“Team strengths are their versatility, adaptability and team bond,” Savoie said.
“Many of the athletes excel in other activities such as singing, figure skating, gymnastics and dance.”
Being selected to represent Canada is a milestone for the Brock cheerleading program.
“I would like the athletes to look back at this experience with pride knowing that they are the first athletes to represent Canada at a FISU World cheerleading Championship,” the coach said.
Making up the team are Abigail Morris, Alexandra Moffatt, Aliesha Goulbourne, Emillea Ratskos, Holly Herbert, Jaymie Wilkinson, Jena Berndt, Lauryn Hackel, Leah Weidner, Lianne Major, Mackenzie Craig, Melissa Yeo, Natalie Bruno, Natasha Fortuna, Paige Shewfelt, Peri Goodman, Rachel Yukiko Takashima, Sabrina Trolio, Tatiana Gonzalez, Tiffany Byron and Tricia Doma. Madison Bell, Lorna Cerar-Holland and Henry Holland are the assistant coaches.
Hockey
Brock ended the men’s university hockey pre-season with a 2-3 record following road losses to the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Robert Morris Colonials.
One-time Niagara IceDog Justin Brack and Tyler Rollo scored for the Badgers in a 3-2 loss to Penn State while Brandon O’Quinn and Jack Ringuette found the back of the net in a 4-2 setback to Robert Morris University.
Logan Thompson faced 40 shots in the game versus the Nittany Lions, and Mario Cavailaire made 41 saves for Brock in the loss to the Colonials.
League play opens with backto-back
games for the Badgers. They host the York Lions in a 7:15 p.m. faceoff Friday at SeymourHannah Sports and Entertainment Centre in St. Catharines and face the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks the following night in Waterloo.
Soccer
Visiting McMaster swept Brock in men’s and women’s university soccer.
The Brock men were blanked 1-0 and fell to 3-8-1 despite outshooting the Marauders 13-8. Only goal was scored in injury time.
Sam Bayer’s goal in the 66th minute was all the offence the Badgers could muster in a 2-1 loss In the women’s game that kicked off Saturday’s doubleheader at Alumni Field.
“It was a frustrating game for us,” women’s head coach Kevin Trethowan said after his team dropped to 2-6-4.
“I thought the first half was pretty even, but Mac pounced on two defensive errors and made us pay.”
Both teams are home this weekend for back-to-back doubleheaders against the Algoma Thunderbirds, 0-11-1, men’s; 0-11-1, women’s. Kickoff times are 1 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.
Golf
Brock’s Adam Graham was awarded the bronze medal after ending the University of Toronto Invitational golf tournament tied for third overall.
He carded rounds of 74 and 75 to lead the Badgers men’s team.
Graham finished five strokes off the winning pace set by Sam Kreze from University of Waterloo.
Baseball
Brock split a doubleheader with Toronto in baseball at George Taylor Field in St. Catharines.
After dropping an 11-1, the Badgers rebounded by doubling the Blues 2-1 to improve their record to 10-4.
Brock’s doubleheader versus Queen’s last Saturday, also at home, was postponed due to weather.