Excalibur contenders in women’s field lacrosse finals
Trent University hosting OUA Women’s Lacrosse Championship this weekend
The Trent Excalibur are not just hosts for the OUA Women’s Lacrosse Championship this weekend, they are serious medal contenders.
The Excalibur swept their final three regular season games on the weekend to finish second in the OUA East Division and third overall with a 9-2-2 record. They trail only the East Division leading Queen’s Gaels (12-0-1) and West Division champion Laurier Golden Hawks (11-2-0).
Justin Chiu Stadium will be the host site for the 10-team OUA championships.
Games begin at 11 a.m. on Friday. At 4:15 p.m., Trent will host the West’s third place Guelph Gryphons (5-8-0) in a quarterfinal matchup. The winner advances to a 5 p.m. semifinal on Saturday.
The gold medal game is Sunday at 2:30 p.m. preceded by the bronze medal match at 12:30 p.m.
The Excalibur were OUA champions in 2016 and finished in fifth place last year. They handed Queen’s their lone tie this year and expect to battle for a medal.
“We’ve battled all the good teams to one or two goals and been right there with them,” said Trent head coach Tori Wasson.
“Having a home crowd here it’s going to change a lot of things for these girls. In 2017 we didn’t get to play in front of our fans at all so they’re extremely excited to win a medal in front of them.”
Donna Ward is in her fifth season with Trent and she’s seen the program develop from a team that practised basic skills in her first year to champions and now perennial contenders.
“I’m so proud of us looking back from where we started,” Ward. “We’ve really developed.”
She says the difference between good and great teams is how well they bond and she says this year’s group is really tight. Add in home field advantage and she’s pumped to see what they can do.
“Having that home advantage you get to sleep in your own bed and eat better so I’m really looking forward to that,” Ward said.
“We’re looking for a big turnout here. It’s pretty cool to have your family and friends support you. I think that will give us the support we need.”
Trent’s leading scorer Leah Michel hopes to see the stadium seats filled.
“Hopefully we’ll get other athletes and students at Trent out here to support us,” Michel said.
“We practice here and know the field. We’re ready to go for the championship. I think the top five teams all have a chance to win the gold medal. I think with home field advantage we’re really excited. We have a really good squad this year and we have a lot of momentum going into the weekend.”
Michel says the 2016 gold medal helped solidify the program.
“I think it brought in a lot more high level recruits,” she said.
“We have first years who are starting.”
Guelph, their quarter-final opponent, gave them the toughest battle of their final three regular season games on the weekend. They started by pounding the McMaster Marauders 12-1 led by Michel’s four goals and two assists. Morgan McEachern had two goals and three assists while Susan Tung, Lauren Mandalfino and Mackenzie Robinson had a goal and assist. Hayley Rekker, Kristin Mann and Ward also scored.
Robinson had six goals and two assists and Michael four goals and an assist in a 14-7 win over the Brock Badgers. Victoria
Clark scored two goals and an assist, Ward a goal and four assists, Maddy Campbell a goal and Shaun Kumka two helpers.
Michel’s five goals and an assist led Trent past Guelph 8-6. Robinson had a goal and two assists while Clark and Ward also scored. Mandelfino had an assist.