This weekend marked the opening of the 2013 OUA Women’s Lacrosse season and expectations were high for Western who were not only hosting the weekend but were undefeated in the 2012 season and are the reigning OUA champions.
After a slow start, the Mustangs were able to establish themselves as serious competitors in the upcoming season. Western debuted against McMaster University, a game in which both teams took the first half to ‘clear the cobwebs’ and settle into play more indicative of the forthcoming season. The Mustangs veterans utilized their experience and strength, pulling through to lead the team to an 11-6 victory.
The inaugural goal of the weekend was scored by Tenyka Snider, who continued to be a strong performer, tallying a total of eight goals and five assists throughout the weekend. McMaster performed resiliently showing strength in their perseverance and ability to defend and double the ball, but were eventually overwhelmed by the relentless fast break offense and strong defending from Western.
The second game on Saturday versus Queen’s University showcased the strength of Western’s freshmen talent, with especially strong offensive performances from Michelle Farrugia, Tawnie Johnson and Tasha McDonald. Both teams started the game intensely, and each side played phyiscal. With a strong defense and an exceptional performance from goalie Cait Mancuso, Western was able to hold off the initial ferocity of the Queen’s team, overcoming two yellow cards and taking matters into their own hands winning 14-3.
Western’s final performance of the weekend showcased a marriage of freshman and veteran strength, with players working together effortlessly to defeat newcomers Brock University 16-0. The victory was a product of the entire team, working seamlessly together to dominate the playing field. The game also saw the debut of goalie Caroline Hendrick who was able to (with the assistance of an outstanding defensive performance from her team) keep a clean game sheet.
Coach Dave Hastings was happy with Westerns performance, stating that the team “got off to a great start this weekend” and that he “saw a lot of good things from both the veterans and freshmen”.
