MCURL | Voyageurs Bow Out in Quarterfinals at OUA Championships
The men's curling team were in Waterloo this past weekend against teams from 15 other universities. After a strong round robin, the men came up just short in the quarterfinals and missed out on their chance for a medal.
In their opening game on Thursday against Trent, the men needed an extra end to secure the 7-6 victory. Later that night against Waterloo, the men needed a single in the final end to win by the same 7-6 score line to finish day 1 at 2-0.
In their only game on day 2, the Voyageurs were up 4-2 over UOIT at the 4th end break. The men then stole singles in ends 5, 6 and 7 to earn the 7-2 victory.
Day 3 would see the only blemish on the team's round robin record. Up 3-1 after 5 ends against the Ryerson Rams, the men gave up 3 in the 7th end and a steal of 1 in the 8th for a 5-3 defeat. The team bounced back strongly, however, against Algoma later on day 3. After opening with a 6-spot in the first end, the Voyageurs stole a pair in 2 and 3, and 3 more in the 5th end to cruise to the 13-0 victory.
Day 4 was another perfect day for the Voyageurs but it wasn't easy. Finding themselves down 5-2 to Queen's at the 4th end break, the men scored back-to-back deuces in the 5th and 6th ends, a single in the 8th to force extras and then stole a single point to win the game. To close out the round robin, the men tied their game against McMaster at 3 in the 6th end and then stole singles in the 7th and 8th ends for a 5-3 win and a 6-1 record heading into the quarterfinals.
In their quarterfinal against Western on Monday morning, the Voyageurs found themselves down 6-2 at the 4th end break. They then were able to get a pair of deuces in 5 and 6 and force Western to a single in the 7th end, heading home down 1 with hammer. The team was looking at a shot for 2 and a trip to the semi-finals with their last rock but Tanner Horgan's stone rubbed the guard, giving Western the steal and the victory, ending the Voyageurs' season.