Read on for Gee-Gees game recaps from Nov. 10-11.
Compiled by Maclaine Chadwick
Gees’ volleyball team sweeps Badgers at home
THE GEE-GEES’ WOMEN’S volleyball team (6-0) kept their winning streak alive on Nov. 9 when they swept the Brock University Badgers (2-5) in three straight sets at Montpetit Hall. The Badgers were unable to challenge the Gees, ranked fifth nationally, and the Ottawa squad easily rolled to six straight victories with sets of 25-10, 25-14, and 25-17.
“The thing I loved about this match is that our team, in their eyes, their body language, and their movements, looked the same from start to finish, and it was a great match from that point of view,” said Gee-Gees head coach Lionel Woods after the match.
Third-year communications student and hitter Karina Krueger Schwanke and third-year social sciences student and hitter Kelsie English led the Gees with 12 and six kills respectively. The team’s next game will take place on Nov. 18, when they will host the University of Western Ontario Mustangs.
—Keeton Wilcock
Rough road trip for women’s basketball team
THE UNIVERSITY OF Ottawa’s women’s basketball team (0-2) opened their regular season with a road trip, first facing off against the Western Mustangs (1-1) on Nov. 9, then the University of Windsor Lancers (2-0) on Nov. 10. Unfortunately, the Gee-Gees—who are currently ranked tenth in the country—dropped both games to their more experienced hosts.
The Gees came out strong in their season-opener against the Mustangs, leading 21-18 after the first quarter, but they proved unable to hold on to their slim lead and eventually came out on the losing end of a 74-72 battle. A bright spot for the U of O team was the play of second-year forward and human kinetics student Maddie Stephen, who scored 20 points in the game.
The Gees suffered another defeat on Nov. 10 when the Windsor Lancers took the lead in the first few minutes and never let up, easily beating the Gees by a score of 71-47. Shooting was a rough spot for the Garnet and Grey in both games. The Gee-Gees will look to turn things around this weekend, as they host the McMaster University Marauders (1-1) on Nov. 16 and the Brock Badgers (2-0) on Nov. 17.
—Keeton Wilcock
Men’s basketball program opens season with a win and a loss
OPENING WEEKEND WAS one of mixed results for the University of Ottawa’s men’s basketball team (1-1). They started off strong by defeating the Western Mustangs (0-2) on Nov. 9, but then fell to the Windsor Lancers (2-0) the very next day.
The Gees faltered out of the gate against the Mustangs, trailing 16-14 after the first quarter, but they quickly found their rhythm in the second quarter, and poured it on to finish on top with a 77-61 victory. Fifth-year arts student and experienced Gees guard Warren Ward was the standout player in the opener, as he was good for 24 points. Third-year guard and economics student Johnny Berhanemeskel also had a solid performance, scoring 20 points in the match-up.
On Nov. 10, the Gee-Gees faced off against the Lancers in a game that stayed tight until the very last minute. The Ottawa squad gave up some costly turnovers and was ultimately outgunned by the Lancers, losing 72-68. Again, Berhanemeskel lit up the board for the Gees against the Lancers, netting a huge 26 points.
The men’s basketball team will play back-to-back home games at Montpetit Hall this weekend, facing off against the McMaster Marauders (1-1) on Nov. 16 and the Brock Badgers (1-1) on Nov. 17.
—Keeton Wilcock
Warriors and Mustangs outplay Gee-Gees
ON NOV. 9 and 10, the U of O men’s hockey team took on the last two of four Ontario University Athletics (OUA) West opponents in the second weekend of the league’s annual crossover schedule. The Gees were unable to prevail over the University of Waterloo Warriors (6-4) or the Western Mustangs (7-3).
On a Nov. 9 trip to Waterloo, the Gee-Gees once again led their competitors into an overtime game, but the fifth-ranked Warriors defeated the Gees 3-2 in a shootout after a scoreless fourth period. It was Waterloo’s second goal of the game, made while the Gees were shorthanded halfway through the third period, that cost the Ottawa squad the win. The game’s clincher came when Waterloo forward Justin Larson scored on Gees goaltender Russell Abbott in a shootout .
On Nov. 10, the Gee-Gees travelled to Western University to take on the Mustangs, resulting in a 4-0 shutout in favour of the Mustangs. A bright spot in an otherwise poor performance was Russell Abbott, who stopped 34 of 38 shots and made a number of spectacular saves. Mustangs forward Zach Harnden broke the 0-0 tied game five minutes into the second period on a shorthanded play for Western. The Mustangs, who scored three goals to finish off the scoreless Gee-Gees, owned the third period. The loss to Western leaves Ottawa in third place in the OUA East, only three wins behind the first-place Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières Patriotes.
The Gees will travel uptown to take on the Carleton University Ravens on Nov. 16, and will then host the Concordia University Stingers at the Minto Sports Complex on Nov. 18.
—Danny Bronson
McGill triumphs over Gee-Gees in blowout game
IN THEIR THIRD attempt to overcome the McGill University Martlets—who are ranked first in the country—the U of O’s women’s hockey team fell short by five goals, losing to the Martlets 8-3. Not only were they taking on the best team in the country, but the Gees were also disadvantaged by injuries—fifth-year forward Fannie Desforges, fourth-year defender Carley Porcellato, and goalie Cassie Seguin all sat out.
McGill took the lead in the game with two goals in the first period, but it was the second period that stunned the home team—the Gees allowed four goals in four minutes. Rookie forward Cindy Laurin scored a goal for the Gees, followed by goals from fourth-year forward Dominique Lefebvre and first-year defence Maude Laramée, but the Ottawa squad couldn’t catch up to McGill, who got two more before the end of the third.
The Gee-Gees, now fourth place in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec, will visit the Carleton Ravens on Nov. 18 at 2 p.m.
—Maclaine Chadwick
