Banner Season: Nine teams looking to plant their stake in the Garden City for championship weekend
Burlington, Ont. – A busy three days are on the horizon, as nine teams face off to see who will walk away with ultimate prize, the Patterson Cup, at the 2024 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Lacrosse Championship. Hosted in by the Brock Badgers at the Kiwanis Field, competition will run from October 25th to 27th, with the round robin kicking off on Friday and the medal rounds closing out the weekend on Sunday.
CHAMPIONSHIP DETAILS:
Host: Brock Badgers
Date: October 25 to October 27, 2024
Venue: Kiwanis Field
Participating Teams (9): Brock Badgers (host), Guelph Gryphons, McMaster Marauders, Ontario Tech Ridgebacks, Queen’s Gaels, Toronto Varsity Blues, Trent Excalibur, Western Mustangs, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
Format: Invitational Championship
Past Champions: Western Mustangs (W)
ATHLETES TO WATCH
Lexie Delisle, Western Mustangs | The fourth-year midfielder and captain for the Mustangs has quite a resume. Delisle, from Orangeville, Ont. was on the 2023 Western championship team, is a three-time OUA all-star, and three-time scholar athlete. She will look to add to these accolades at this weekend’s OUA championship.
Kate Ferguson, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks | Ferguson, or ‘Ferg’ as she is known to her teammates, is a fourth-year shut down defender. The Waterloo, Ont. product brings a strong leadership voice on the defensive end of the field, boasting an impactful presence as a physical force with a keen lacrosse IQ. She elevates her team in practice and has high expectations of herself and her squad.
Natalie Fournier, Trent Excalibur | Fournier, from Georgetown, Ont. has been a key contributor in her four years with the Excalibur, helping them medal at the OUA championship the past three years.
Abby Holliday, Brock Badgers | The Amaranth, Ont. product is an integral part of the attack line for the Badgers, who are responsible for at least three goals a game. In only her first year, her resiliency and perseverance to drive and push from the first to the last buzzer has helped to encourage the rest of the team to play with the same mentality.
Rachael Holmes, McMaster Marauders | Beginning her career with box lacrosse, the Brooklin, Ont. native secured four provincial championships with Whitby Lacrosse. The defensive midfielder has incredible draw control and is a cut above for the Marauders on fast breaks, as well as in transition and turnover situations.
Taya Keast, Western Mustangs | The team caption and Peterborough, Ont. product is a dual-sport athlete, also competing as a member of the Western track and field team. She will look to help defend the Mustangs 2023 title this weekend in St. Catharines.
Delaney Keen, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks | Keen is one of Laurier’s leading goal scorers and offensive producers. She is a dynamic two-way player that creates opportunities for herself and her teammates. The fourth-year midfielder’s infectious energy and high compete level is felt in every game and practice. She also had the opportunity to play in the World Box Championships as a standout player for the Netherlands.
Abby Lee, Queen’s Gaels | The masters student joined the Gaels in 2021, following a year playing NCAA Division I lacrosse. Lee has been instrumental in Queen’s success since her onset, helping lead the team to two silvers and one gold medal finish over her career. The co-captain has been pivotal for our team on both ends of the field and consistently dominates the draw circle. At the end of the 2023 season, the Whitby, Ont. native was named an OUA all-star, OUA most valuable offensive player, and Queen's University's athlete of the week.
Elizabeth McDonald, Toronto Varsity Blues | Her background as a hockey goalie and soccer player allowed her to swiftly pick up and excel at lacrosse. The second year’s dedication, curiosity, and passion for continuous learning and skill development, as well as her vibrant goalie spirit adds a lively energy to the Varsity Blues. The Woodstock, Ont. product made 65 stops in six games this season.
Kendra Orr, Ontario Tech | The Ridgebacks rookie of the year in 2022-23 helped Ontario Tech finish 2024 with a 6-3 regular season. The third-year kinesiology student won the Ridgebacks lacrosse leadership award in the 2023-24 season.
Lexi Sheppard, McMaster Marauders | Sheppard is McMaster’s number one goal scorer this season, averaging two tallies per game. The mechanical engineering student executes exceptionally on draw possessions and is a great defensive player in the midfield transition.
Jaedyn Smail, Queen’s Gaels | Smail earned a silver medal in 2021 and a gold medal in 2022 with the Gaels followed by a year off from the team in 2023 to complete an engineering internship. Back with the team and taking on the role as co-captain for the 2024 season, her leadership, strength, and grit is key to the Gaels’ success. Following their championship run in 2022, the Toronto, Ont. product was named an OUA all-star, OUA most valuable offensive player, and Queen's University’s athlete of the week.
Olivia Toll, Ontario Tech | After three seasons with the Louisville Cardinals, the Oshawa, Ont. native returned home to join the Ridgebacks for their 2024 campaign. Toll has represented Team Canada at the U19 Women’s Lacrosse World Championships and has won provincial championships with the Lady Blue Knights and national championships with Team Ontario.
Teesha Weber, Trent Excalibur | The third-year nursing student is a force on the field. Weber has competed in two OUA championships, including Trent’s bronze medal in 2023, and is ready for another exciting championship.
Lauren Wilcox & Taylor Wilcox, Toronto Varsity Blues | The Wilcox twin sisters have been playing lacrosse since childhood. In their second and third years respectively, both experienced ACL tears during games, just six months apart. Their commitment to rehabilitation and mutual support has enabled them to excel this year as team captains and lock down defenders.
Alyssa Worth, Brock Badgers | Worth is a key part of the Brock Badgers team, shown through her consistent positive attitude to her badger noises. The Burlington, Ont. native is a front-line member of the defensive line. She is a strong force who is relied on as the last line of defence before the goalie.
BURNING QUESTIONS
1. Can the Queen’s Gaels avenge their OUA championship loss from 2023 and get back to the gold medal spot?
2. Will Ontario Tech translate their best coach-driven regular season finish since 2019 into championship success?
3. With the Mustangs back at full strength, can they repeat as OUA champions?
4. Can the Toronto Varsity Blues repeat the type of run they had last year at the OUA Championship, which propelled them into a final four appearance?
5. Can a young Laurier squad featuring seven rookies make waves by reaching the podium?
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
"Going into OUAs the expectation is for the team to fight until the very last buzzer goes off, to work together as a team and to fight with heart." - Laura Tober, Head Coach, Brock Badgers
"We're excited to see how far we've come as a team and can't wait to watch our athletes fully lock in throughout the weekend. We're confident they'll put their best foot forward, pushing through with focus and determination to finish the season on a high note." - Hannah Moore and Mel Schleehahn, Head Coaches, McMaster Marauders
"As a senior on the Queen's women's lacrosse team, this season has been one of the most successful of my four-year career. The strength and depth of this team are undeniable, but what really sets us apart is the energy and sisterhood we have built. From day one of training camp to the week heading into OUA Championship, it is the laughter, team bonding, and shared memories that push us to connect and work harder for each other. One of the biggest lessons I have learned is that you're not just playing for yourself – you are playing for the 25 sisters beside you. As seniors, we make sure to pass this down through our team traditions, helping prepare everyone for moments like this. This year, we are extra motivated to claim redemption and go for the gold. With the level of energy we have, keeping that momentum going will be no problem!" - Kaya Maracle, Student-Athlete (Captain), Queen’s Gaels
“This has been one of the closest-knit teams we have coached. We are so lucky to work with such a wonderful group of supportive, ambitious, and compassionate women who will continue to make a difference in the world, each in their own unique way. We look forward to staying focused and resilient throughout the OUA championship tournament.” - Jesse Porter, Head Coach, Toronto Varsity Blues
“The team this year has shown a lot of mental toughness leading into the upcoming championships. We’ve battled through injuries most of the season and unfortunately haven’t had our full roster for a single game. We are getting back to full strength and health and our game is improving at the right time” - Garrett Loubert, Head Coach, Western Mustangs
"We are proud of the accomplishments and commitments of our student athletes this season. We have worked hard as a team to create an environment where all our players have developed and grown. We are looking forward to competing towards our common goal, as a team. The OUA Championship weekend is an exciting time for our team to enjoy all the time, effort and training that they put into the season. Let's Go Hawks!" - Tamara Grant, Co-Head Coach, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks