Voyageurs Weekend Preview: October 15-16

There is lots going on at Laurentian University this weekend as four Voyageurs teams are in action, while men's and women's hockey, rowing, cross-country and golf all hit the road for some end of reading week OUA action. 

For soccer, both the men's and women's team have an opportunity to move up in the standings this weekend and solidify themselves in a playoff position.

The women's team will begin the action at 12pm on Saturday against Carleton at the LU soccer field. This is a huge game for the Voyageurs as both teams are currently tied for fourth place in the Eastern conference. The Voyageurs will be looking to Sarah Sanford for some offence as she leads the team in goals scored this season with five. The Voyageurs will have to put together a strong defensive effort to stop the offensive prowess of Carleton's Emily Copeland-Dinan who has generated most of the offence for the Ravens thus far this season. A win Saturday afternoon could put Laurentian within one point of the third place Queens Gaels.

Immediately following the women's game will be the men who also host Carleton. It is a bit of a different story in terms of standings on the men's side, as Carleton currently sits in second place in the East, 12 points ahead of the Voyageurs. Daud Dahir leads the way for the Ravens with eight goals so far this season and will certainly need to be contained by the Voyageurs defenders on Saturday. Connor Vande Weghe, who has started every game between the posts for Laurentian, will look to stifle the Carleton offence and give the Voyageurs a chance against a strong Ravens squad.

The action at LU soccer field continues Sunday as the women's team welcomes the #3 ranked University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. Ottawa currently sits in second place in the OUA standings, nine points ahead of the Voyageurs. Sunday's game will pose a challenge to the Voyageurs, but an excellent opportunity to prove themselves against a top contender. The Voyageurs will need to be firing on all cylinders as Ottawa goaltender Julie-Anne Lamarche currently leads the OUA in save percentage (.930). Kickoff is set for 12PM.

The men are also in tough against their opponent, the Toronto Varsity Blues, immediately following the women's game Sunday afternoon. Toronto is also 12 points ahead of the Voyageurs and land at Laurentian only having surrendered eight goals all season. The Voyageurs will again need to put forth a strong defensive effort as eight Toronto players have scored three or more goals this season.

The LU soccer field is not the only happening spot on campus this weekend as the men's lacrosse team welcomes the Western Mustangs to LU stadium Saturday afternoon. In their only other meeting this season the Voyageurs were outmatched by the #1 Mustangs at both ends of the field but will look to the strong play of Sam Postma to lead the offensive charge. In nine games so far this season, Postma has collected 42 points, good for second overall in the CUFLA standings. The Voyageurs currently sit fourth in the CUFLA West standings with only three games left in the regular season schedule.

Also in action are both men's and women's basketball squads who host their annual "Alumni Game" at the Ben Avery Gym on Saturday night. Both teams will look to get their season started on the right foot as they share insight, stories and strategy with past and present Voyageurs. The women's game begins at 5pm, followed by the men at 7pm.

The temperature outside is cooling down but Voyageurs action is starting to heat up with soccer and lacrosse pushing for playoff spots and basketball kicking off their 2016-17 season, so come on out and support your Voyageurs this weekend.