Toronto, ON - For the second year in a row the Mustangs Women's Lacrosse team brings home a bronze medal from the OUA Championship.

This year the event was hosted by the University of Toronto and the tournament started on Friday afternoon for the Mustangs taking on Guelph.

The Mustangs used a second half surge to pull away from the Gryphons and thanks to a four-point performance from Quinn Kolwich, the Mustangs were able to open up their championship run with a 6-2 victory. After Western opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on a goal from Timmia Bomberry, the Gryphons were able to respond a little over five minutes later to even things up. Although trailing, the Mustangs made the most of the thirty minutes remaining. Getting two quick goals to start the third, one from Kolwich and the other from Jamie Atkinson, Up 3-2 after three, the Mustangs would go on to put the game away with three goals in the final quarter. Kolwich would score her second of the game, followed by goals from Melissa Green and Lexie Delisle.

The Mustangs had to wait until Saturday afternoon for their second game of the event and their dominance was on diaplay as they picked up a 24-0 victory over the Brock Badgers.

Western had 10 different student-athletes find the back of the net to solidify their playoff spot. Pacing the Western offence, MacKenzie Deleary, Quinn Kolwich and Jamie Atkinson each scored four goals. With a 2-0 pool play record, the Mustangs were the third-seed going into the playoff round. 

Western would meet Trent in the semi-finals. This was another tight game going back and forth. As the two squads got underway, defence was the overwhelming theme early on with only two goals being recorded in the opening frame. Each team only scoring one goal with Lexie Delisle getting the marker for Western. 
In the second quarter, Trent appeared to be pulling away with as much as an 8-2 lead at the start of the 3rd quarter. Western continued to battle and started to turn things around. Quinn Kolwich scored her second and third goals of the game and then Western scored three more times, two of which coming from Reese Wilkins, trimming the Trent lead all the way down to one.

After the teams exchanged goals, Western found the equalizer to tie the game at 9 on a goal from Jamie Atkinson with two minutes left in the fourth that would send the game to overtime.

Both teams had chances in the extra frame, but in the end, it was Trent was able to score with 17 seconds remaining in OT and take the win and a spot in the gold medal game while the Mustangs would play for bronze against Guelph.

In the bronze medal game, Western would get a three goal performances from both Lexie Delisle and MacKenzie Deleary, the Mustangs were able to take control of the contest early on and never look back.

The combination of Delisle and Deleary scored five of Western's six first quarter goals, as the Mustangs went out in front 6-2 after one. A pair of second quarter goals from Guelph helped the Gryphons bridge the gap, but Deleary's third tally of the game along with goals from Quinn Kolwich and Reese Wilkins reestablished Western's control on the game as they took a 9-4 lead into halftime. Making their lead stand up the rest of the way, Western's focus on their defensive play helped them secure the bronze as just three goals were scored in the second half. The Mustangs would hold on to for the 11-5 win to claim the bronze medal. 

After the tournament four Mustangs were named OUA All-Stars. Quinn Kolwich at Attack, Lexie Delisle & Timmia Bomberry at Midfield & Olivia Morgan at defender. Congratulations to all on this well deserved recognition.

2022 OUA Women's Lacrosse Major Award Winners:

Most Valuable Offensive Player – Jaedyn Smail, Queen's
Most Valuable Defender – Kiely Howe, Queen's
Rookies of the Year – Tara Meikel, Queen's
Coach of the Year – Mike Watson, Queen's

2022 OUA Women's Lacrosse Championship All-Stars:

Attackers
Quinn Kolwich, Western
Tara Meikle, Queen's
Mackenzie Manuliak, Trent

Midfielders
Jaedyn Smail, Queen's
Avery Di Giorgio, Trent
Lexie Delisle, Western
Rachel McConvey, Guelph
Timmia Bomberry, Western

Defenders
Kiely Howe, Queen's
Olivia Morgan, Western
Jaqueline Maclean, Trent

Goalie
Kieran Gerow, Trent