Women's soccer undefeated at home, Cross Country teams run wild and Women's Basketball win

Molson Sea~Hawks Weekend Summary

     

Sea~Hawks teams were all over eastern Canada this weekend, competing everywhere from St. John's to Waterloo, Halifax to Kingston. Playoffs were on the line in soccer, experience was being gained in Cross Country, and the preseason Volleyball schedule drew to a close. The new look Women's basketball team took a step in the right direction winning the 43rd Annual Naismith Invitational while the men toasted their future while sharing the court with past players on Saturday night.

     

Women's Soccer

     

With a playoff berth hanging in the balance, the Sea~Hawks women did something they have not done all season long, they scored in the first half. Second year Nursing student Jennifer Burry blasted the game winning goal off of a free kick in the thirtieth minute sending the ball in the top right corner from the left side just outside of the 18 yard box. Almost as impressive as the strike was the Sea~Hawks backline play by Maria, Oliver and Laura Tilley as they held off a second half charge by the Mount Allison Mounties.

     

       

In Sunday's action the Sea~Hawks continued to improve offensively but showed there is still plenty of work to be done. The attacking forwards often found themselves with opportunities to score but ended the game in a 0-0 draw with the visiting Mounties. Mount Allison seemed to struggle with the fitness of the young Sea~Hawks but some stellar play by the Mounties player of the game, keeper Robin Bessemer kept Memorial from gaining a vital three points. Marine Institute student Keira Eavis earned her second straight clean sheet at home gaining the shutout for the Sea~Hawks.

     

The road to the playoffs for the Sea~Hawks is a little tougher as a result of getting one win and one draw this weekend. However, the 2-4-3 Sea~Hawks who have steadily improved each time out this season are only four points outside of fifth place STFX with four games to go and with the heart of this young group of women don't be surprised if this team continues to move up the standings.

     

Men's Soccer

     

The enigmatic Sea~Hawks team now 2-4-3 and on the outside looking in with four games remaining, dazzled and thrilled in the first half Saturday night then got careless as they prevailed 4-2 in the near tropical confines of KGV. Steven Delong netted his team leading third which was followed by some fancy footwork by forward # 25 Jay Wijngaarden. Jake Warren scored the eventual game winner off of a beautiful cross from Matthew Hamlyn who found Warren from 30 yards out on the left sideline. Not to be outdone by style, fifth forward Zach Hynes continued to add offence with a diving header to go up 4-0. The second half was an entirely different story as the Sea~Hawks fell victim to some critical communication breakdowns and were caught on their heels as the Mounties netted two goals in the late going.

     

         

On Sunday the Sea~Hawks lacked the flare and cohesion they exhibited on Saturday and found themselves down 1-0 heading into the 87th minute. The Sea~Hawks were awarded a free kick in when local Challenge Cup hero Matt Breen sent a ball into the box where only for fifth year forward Jay Babstock could head the ball into the goal with the goal that just might save the Men's season. The Sea~Hawks will need to win three of their remaining four games and not lose any if they hope to book a ticket to the AUS Dance in Cape Breton this November.

     

Both the Men and Women travel to Charlottetown and Halifax next weekend to face UPEI and Dalhousie respectively.

     

Men's and Women's Cross Country

     

On a blustery 20oC day, the Memorial University Men's and Women's Cross Country teams took to the hilly terrain of Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, NS to take on their AUS rivals. Memorial's own Caroline McIlroy took an early lead with Newfoundland native Julia Howard, the eventual race winner, following behind. Conquering hills and wind, McIlroy finished in a commanding 3rd place with a time of 18:44. Victoria Ralph was the second Memorial female runner in 16th, Melanie Amminson was 17th, Laura Lawes was 22nd, Courtney Munn was 23rd, and Lindsay Oldham was 29th, Melissa Campbell was 31st, and Skye Fisher rounded out the Memorial women in 42nd. The Memorial women finished 3rd in overall team standings.

     

Caroline McIlroy - 18:44
Victoria Ralph - 20:29
Melanie Ammison - 21:30
Laura Lawes - 22:00
Courtney Munn - 22:14
Lindsay Oldham - 22:32
Melissa Campbell - 22:41
Skye Fisher - 24:02

     

The Memorial men has a goal to place 5 men in the top 20 and they did not disappoint coach Art Meaney. The race exploded off the line at 12:45pm with 20 runners in the lead pack including Memorial's sensational rookie-of-the-year candidate Jordan Fewer. The fast pace from the gun allowed the other six Memorial men to slowly move up the field to overtake those who could not keep with the lead group. In the end, Jordan Fewer kept the pace with the leaders and finished 6th place with a time of 27:06. Mark Hayward was second to cross the line in 13th place. Graham MacDonald finished in 16th, Jonathon Slaney in 18th, Rudy Riedlsperger in 19th, Nick Snow in 22nd, and Landon Fisher seconds behind for 23rd. The Memorial men finished 3rd in overall team standings.

     

Jordan Fewer - 27:06
Mark Hayward - 28:08
Graham MacDonald - 29:02
Jon Slaney - 29:10
Rudy Riedlsperger - 29:40
Nick Snow - 29:47
Landon Fisher - 29:53

     

You can support the Cross Country team on Sunday October 23 by running in the Third Annual MUN Run 5km.

     

Women's Volleyball

     

The Women's Volleyball team travelled to McGill University to participate in the 21st Annual Martlets Invitational where the goal was continue to develop the team as they inch closer to AUS playoff contention. In spite of going without a win the talented Sea~Hawks can take a lot away from this experience the most important being the opportunity to compete against teams at the level Coach Thistle believes his team can attain. The Sea~Hawks were playing without Erin Bursey as she came down hard on her ankle during training this week. It is hoped she will be ready to go for the season opening AUS tournament in two weeks time.

     

Friday, October 14, 2011
McGill 3 Memorial 0 (25-18, 25-8, 25-11)
Sherbrooke 3 Memorial 0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-23)

     

Saturday, October 15, 2011
10h00 Montreal 3 Memorial 0 (25-23, 25-9, 25-20)

     

Sunday, October 16, 2011
09h00 FIFTH-PLACE: Sherbrooke 3 Memorial 1 (25-14, 25-15, 23-25, 27-25)

     

Men's Volleyball

     

The Men's volleyball team travelled to Kingston, ON to participate in the RMC Invitational. The Men were very competitive throughout the tournament and were able to defeat one of their opponents this upcoming season outlasting the University of Sherbrooke 3-2. The Men travelled without team MVP Nathan Tilley and played in four, five set matches and on the final day of this marathon tournament were able to defeat the host RMC 3-2 just moments after falling to York University in five sets.

     

MUN 1 Nipissing 3 (20-25, 22-25, 25-19, 25-27)

     

MUN 3 Sherbrooke 2(25-20, 20-25, 29-27, 22-25, 16-14)

       

MUN 2 Ryerson 3 (30-28, 25-19, 20-25, 17-25, 10-15)

     

MUN 2 York 3 (23-25, 18-25, 25-17, 26-24, 11-15)

     

MUN 3 RMC 2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-20, 25-23, 15-8)

       

The Men start their season at an interlock at the University of Montreal from October 28-30. You will get your first chance to cheer for the much improved Sea~Hawks when they host the AUS-RSEQ Interlock in November 25 & 26.

     

Women's Basketball

     

The Sea~Hawks returned to the Naismith Classic in Waterloo, ON this weekend and they continued their winning ways at the preseason classic winning all three games this weekend. Ally Forsey was named tournament MVP and was joined by Grace Fishbein as a tournament all- star.

     

This was the final preseason test for the Sea~Hawks who open their season up at the Field House on November 5th at 6pm versus the Saint Mary's Huskies.

     

Friday, October 14, 2011
Memorial 60 Gannon University (NCAA div2) 55

     

Saturday, October 15, 2011
Memorial 86 University of Waterloo 39

     

Sunday, October 16, 2011
Memorial 57 Laurentian University 41

     

Men's Basketball

     

The Men's basketball team participated in their Annual Alumni game Saturday evening in the old MUN Gym. The fit Sea~Hawks overcame a second and third quarter surge by the Alumni team as well as a three point deficit to outlast the guys that came before them 95-81.