WCURL | Voyageurs Start Well, Fall Short in Quarterfinals
The Laurentian women's curling team headed to Waterloo for the OUA Championships over the weekend with their eyes firmly set on the podium. After a dominate performance throughout the round robin in the 15 team field, one missed shot in the quarterfinals brought an end to that quest.
The Championship began with a game against the Western Mustangs. After settling for a single in the first end with hammer, the Voyageurs stole a pair in two, forced the Mustangs to one in the third end and converted for three in the fourth end to head into the break with a 6-1 lead. After another force in the fifth end and converting for two in the sixth, the teams shook hands and the Voyageurs took the 8-2 win after just six ends.
Their second game of the day saw the Windsor Lancers step on the ice to battle the Voyageurs. After steals of three and two to begin the game, the Lancers finally got on the board in the fourth end with a pair. Coming out of the break, however, the Voyageurs kept the pressure on, scoring back-to-back deuces before shaking hands again after the sixth end, winning 9-2.
As easy as day one appeared to be, day two would be a sharp contrast but the Voyageurs were up for the challenge. In their morning draw against Waterloo, the teams swapped singles before Laurentian stole one in the third. The Warriors answered back with three in the fourth to take a 4-2 lead into the break. The Voyageurs answered with three of their own in the fifth before forcing the Warriors to a single in the sixth. Heading into the seventh tied at five with hammer, the Voyageurs seemed to be in a good position. However, after the Warriors stole a pair, the pressure was on Laurentian heading to the eighth. Needing two just to force an extra end, the women answered with a massive score of four to take the game 9-7.
With a stranglehold on the pool, a win against the Guelph Gryphons would see the Voyageurs enter the playoffs with a prefect record. Knowing what was at stake, the women kept the game very wide open, blanking the first three ends before converting for two and stealing one to open a 3-0 lead through five ends. From there, the Voyageurs never let the Gryphons score more than a single point in an end and secured a 4-2 win.
With top spot in the pool secured, the Voyageurs drew a battle against the Carleton Ravens in the quarterfinals. Once again, Laurentian kept the game very clean, blanking the first four ends before scoring a deuce in the fifth. Carleton countered with a pair of their own in the sixth to tie the game. After blanking the seventh, the Voyageurs headed into the final end with hammer needing just a single point to advance. The stage was set as the team needed a hit on an open Carleton stone for the win, however, Abby Deschene's final stone just grazed the Ravens stone and it was a steal of two for the blackbirds, ending the Voyageurs' championship.
Despite not having the final result they were looking for, the foursome of Julia Deklein, Mya Smith, Keira McLaughlin and Abby Deschene had a very successful Championship. McLaughlin was named an OUA second team all-star and the third position while Deschene garnered the first-team all-star spot at the skip position; a testament to how strong the team played thought the event.