March 28, 2009
LADY VEES TAKE OUT DEFENDING CHAMPS AT CURLING NATIONALS
MONTREAL, Que. - The Laurentian Lady Vees clinched a spot in the CIS/CCA Curling Championships semi-final with a win on Friday morning against the defending champion, and FISU silver medalists Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. The Lady Vees won 9-6 after running Laurier out of rocks in the 10th end. The Lady Vees will now enjoy a break before taking to the ice on Sunday morning.
The Golden Hawks had the benefit of last rock in the first end, and looked poised to claim their deuce, when Laurentian second Jenny Gates (Sudbury, Ont.) made a beautiful hit and roll to eventually force the Laurier to a single point.
The teams alternated two point ends in the second, third and fourth, giving the Lady Vees a 4-3 lead heading into the fifth where Laurentian was able to steal a point. End six saw Lady Vees fourth rock thrower Amanda Gates (Sudbury, Ont.) make a fantastic hit and roll to force Laurier to a single.
The Lady Vees determined to knock off the champs turned up their game in end seven. Following multiple made shots, Laurentian grabbed a big three points and an 8-4 lead.
Laurier, refusing to quit applied pressure in the eighth end, when Amanda Gates made an outstanding double take-out, to salvage the end and force the Golden Hawks into a draw for two. The ninth end saw a lot of rocks in play and again Gates threw two clutch final stones to get a single and take a 9-6 lead into the final frame.
After a few mistakes and good shooting by the Golden Hawks, Gates again was forced to make a tricky shot with her final stone, which ended up running Laurier out of rocks and punching the Lady Vees ticket to Sunday morning.
"It was a game we really wanted," said Jan Pula, Lady Vees coach. "They were the defending champions and FISU silver medalists; we came out and did what we had to do."
The Lady Vees will now enjoy an extended layoff while both men's and women's teams finish off the round robin portion of the tournament.
Source: Laurentian Voyageurs
Photo Credit: Alex Bourassa-Young
The Golden Hawks had the benefit of last rock in the first end, and looked poised to claim their deuce, when Laurentian second Jenny Gates (Sudbury, Ont.) made a beautiful hit and roll to eventually force the Laurier to a single point.
The teams alternated two point ends in the second, third and fourth, giving the Lady Vees a 4-3 lead heading into the fifth where Laurentian was able to steal a point. End six saw Lady Vees fourth rock thrower Amanda Gates (Sudbury, Ont.) make a fantastic hit and roll to force Laurier to a single.
The Lady Vees determined to knock off the champs turned up their game in end seven. Following multiple made shots, Laurentian grabbed a big three points and an 8-4 lead.
Laurier, refusing to quit applied pressure in the eighth end, when Amanda Gates made an outstanding double take-out, to salvage the end and force the Golden Hawks into a draw for two. The ninth end saw a lot of rocks in play and again Gates threw two clutch final stones to get a single and take a 9-6 lead into the final frame.
After a few mistakes and good shooting by the Golden Hawks, Gates again was forced to make a tricky shot with her final stone, which ended up running Laurier out of rocks and punching the Lady Vees ticket to Sunday morning.
"It was a game we really wanted," said Jan Pula, Lady Vees coach. "They were the defending champions and FISU silver medalists; we came out and did what we had to do."
The Lady Vees will now enjoy an extended layoff while both men's and women's teams finish off the round robin portion of the tournament.
Source: Laurentian Voyageurs
Photo Credit: Alex Bourassa-Young
