Banner Season: 2025 OUA Women’s Lacrosse Championship gets underway in Waterloo

Waterloo, Ont. (via Dan Polischuk, Laurier Athletics) – The first day of action at the 2025 OUA Women's Lacrosse Championship got underway on Friday with the Laurier Golden Hawks acting as hosts for the weekend at Ansley Alumni Field.

The Queen's Gaels arrived in Waterloo as defending champions and winners of the conference banner in two of the past three seasons but sitting as the #3-seed for this year's tournament. For the first time, teams were seeded based on the current regular season's final standings rather than their finishing position at the previous year's championship.

Trent, having finished with a 7-1 record, came in as the #1-seed in the nine-team field that also includes (in order of ranking) Guelph, the Gaels, Laurier, Western, Toronto, Brock, Ontario Tech, and McMaster.

GAME 1:

#8 McMaster 7

#9 Ontario Tech 4

Alexandra Sheppard recorded a hat trick and the McMaster Marauders powered past the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks 7–4 to begin the action on Friday. The Marauders built a 3–0 first-quarter lead and never trailed, striking early through goals from Annika Perrino, Vanessa Winney and Sheppard. Winney added her second in the second quarter, while assists from Rachael Holmes and Morgan Randall helped fuel McMaster's early surge. Ontario Tech fought back behind Olivia Toll, who scored twice in the second to narrow the deficit to 4–2 at halftime. Jia LeBlanc added a goal, and Reese Peacock contributed two assists and a late power-play marker to pace the Ridgebacks' offence. Michelle Kocher netted what stood as the game-winner midway through the third, and Sheppard sealed the result in the fourth with back-to-back tallies — one on the power play — to complete her three-goal performance. Julia DiNatalie earned the win in goal for McMaster, while Hunter Stolarek took the loss for Ontario Tech.

GAME 2:

#2 Guelph 15

#7 Brock 4

Rachel McConvey and Kate Donaldson each scored four goals as the University of Guelph Gryphons cruised to a 15–4 win over the Brock Badgers. The Gryphons exploded for seven goals in the opening quarter and built a 10–0 halftime lead before Brock found its footing in the second half. McConvey struck for a natural hat trick in the first frame and added another in the fourth, while Donaldson scored twice in the first and capped her four-goal night early in the third. Indy Webster, Maya Gazzola and Payton Curtis each contributed a goal and an assist for Guelph, which outshot Brock 20–11. Goaltenders Madison Hungerbuhler and Sara Silano split duties for the win. Aisha Hoover led the Badgers with two goals and an assist, while Olivia Dion and Mackenzie Aikin also found the back of the net. Kamryn Brown and Mielle McKnight shared time in goal for the Badgers.

GAME 3:

#3 Queen's 13

#6 Toronto 3

Tara Meikle scored three times and added an assist as the defending champion Queen's Gaels defeated the University of Toronto Varsity Blues 13–3 The Gaels came out firing, building a 5–1 lead after the opening quarter and never looked back. Abby Lee netted two goals in the first frame, while Meikle, Brooke Rutledge, and Summer Thomas also found the back of the net. Meikle completed her hat trick in the third quarter, and Rutledge added her second on a late power play as Queen's pulled away with a five-goal fourth to seal the win. Kiara McKelvey also scored twice for the Gaels, who outshot Toronto 28–8. Isabella Ward, Rheanna Swanson and Trinity Meachem provided the goals for Toronto.

GAME 4:

#1 Trent 17

#8 McMaster 2

Maddy Baxter and Tyler McDonald each scored four goals to lead the #1-seed Trent Excalibur to a commanding 17–2 win over the McMaster Marauders. Trent came out firing, netting six goals in the opening quarter and another six in the second to take a 12–1 halftime lead. Baxter scored twice in each of the first two quarters, while McDonald struck twice in both the second and fourth. Natalie Fournier added a hat trick and three assists, and Halle Lubiniecki also recorded three goals for the Excalibur, who outshot McMaster 25–4. Ryleigh Elliott contributed four assists and a goal. Morgan Randall scored both goals for McMaster.

GAME 5:

#4 Laurier 13

#5 Western 12

Riley Marwick scored the game-winning goal in the final two minutes as the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks defeated the Western Mustangs 13–12 in a thriller. It was a back-and-forth contest that saw momentum swing repeatedly.  The Golden Hawks carried a narrow 7–6 lead into halftime and extended it to 11–9 after three quarters before sealing the result with Marwick's clutch goal at 1:39 of the fourth. Tori Nascimento led Laurier's attack with four goals, while Rayne Blasutti and Jace Cormier each scored twice and added assists. Tieneke Gedge chipped in two goals, and goaltender Raechel Cowan stood tall late to preserve the victory. Lexie DeLisle was dominant for the Mustangs, scoring five times to pace Western's offense. Reese Wilkins added three goals, and Rylan Weatherdon scored twice and assisted on two others in the loss.

Day two begins at 10am on Saturday. Admission is free to every game of the championship. Live scores and results are available here.