March 30, 2009
HUSKIES TOO MUCH BITE FOR LADY VEES AT CURLING NATIONALS
MONTREAL, Que. - The Laurentian Lady Vees run at the CIS/CCA Curling Championships in Montreal came to an end Sunday morning after suffering a heartbreaking loss to the Saint Mary's Huskies in the semi-final. The Huskies prevailed 6-5 in an extra end to advance to the gold medal game, and forcing the Lady Vees to settle for bronze.
In a game that Laurentian seemingly had momentum heading into the final ends, the Huskies were able to claw their way back and eventually triumphed. The first half of the game was played very open with hits being exchanged. Following a steal of one in the first end by the Lady Vees, the Huskies blanked the next two, and were forced to a draw for one in the fourth. Laurentian had a chance for two in the fifth, however, would settle for a single point when Amanda Gates' (Sudbury, Ont.) final draw wrecked on a guard.
The Lady Vees stole a point in each of the sixth and following a fantastic hit and roll by Gates in the seventh. The eighth saw the Huskies turn the tables, and grab a deuce.
In end No. 9, a tricky draw for the second point by Gates narrowly missed and Laurentian grabbed just a single, taking a 5-3 lead into the final frame. Following a combination of great shots by Saint Mary's and almost shots by Laurentian, Gates again made a great hit and roll to save the end and force the Huskies into a draw for their two and an extra end.
In the extra end, a beautiful freeze by the Huskies to a Laurentian rock on the button, left Gates with a near impossible angle raise. The shot was missed by just a fraction, giving the Huskies a single, a spot in Sunday afternoon's final, and the Lady Vees a bronze medal.
"We gave it all we had," said Jan Pula, Lady Vees head coach. "For a first year varsity program I think we did real well and I'm so proud of these girls."
With the loss, and bronze medal, the year of Laurentian athletics year comes to a close. Gates and teammate Kim Curtin (Lindsay, Ont.) were named second team all-Canadians at the players banquet on Saturday night.
Source: Laurentian Voyageurs
Photo Credit: Alex Bourassa-Young
In a game that Laurentian seemingly had momentum heading into the final ends, the Huskies were able to claw their way back and eventually triumphed. The first half of the game was played very open with hits being exchanged. Following a steal of one in the first end by the Lady Vees, the Huskies blanked the next two, and were forced to a draw for one in the fourth. Laurentian had a chance for two in the fifth, however, would settle for a single point when Amanda Gates' (Sudbury, Ont.) final draw wrecked on a guard.
The Lady Vees stole a point in each of the sixth and following a fantastic hit and roll by Gates in the seventh. The eighth saw the Huskies turn the tables, and grab a deuce.
In end No. 9, a tricky draw for the second point by Gates narrowly missed and Laurentian grabbed just a single, taking a 5-3 lead into the final frame. Following a combination of great shots by Saint Mary's and almost shots by Laurentian, Gates again made a great hit and roll to save the end and force the Huskies into a draw for their two and an extra end.
In the extra end, a beautiful freeze by the Huskies to a Laurentian rock on the button, left Gates with a near impossible angle raise. The shot was missed by just a fraction, giving the Huskies a single, a spot in Sunday afternoon's final, and the Lady Vees a bronze medal.
"We gave it all we had," said Jan Pula, Lady Vees head coach. "For a first year varsity program I think we did real well and I'm so proud of these girls."
With the loss, and bronze medal, the year of Laurentian athletics year comes to a close. Gates and teammate Kim Curtin (Lindsay, Ont.) were named second team all-Canadians at the players banquet on Saturday night.
Source: Laurentian Voyageurs
Photo Credit: Alex Bourassa-Young
