Varsity Update - November 1, 2010
OCAA Soccer
The Mohawk men's soccer team came away from the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Championships without a medal. The Mountaineers dropped a 2-1 decision to the Seneca Sting in the bronze medal match at the Ontario Soccer Association Centre in Vaughan October 30. Matthew Kernick got the Mountaineer goal. The day before Mohawk had it's gold medal hopes dashed when blanked 2-0 by Humber, as the Hawks scored in each half. Humber went on to win the gold medal, rallying for a 2-1 decision over Sheridan. Humber also won the women's crown 3-0 over defending champion Fanshawe. Mohawk did not qualify for the OCAA women's championship.
Mohawk did not leave the championships empty handed. Men's coach Richard Bennett won the OCAA Coach of the Year honour for the third time and will be the Ontario nominee for the national award.
Mohawk had two OCAA men's All-Stars in striker Adam Petrina from Grimsby Blessed Trinity and sweeper Mark Vanduyvenvoorde of Dundas Parkside.
All-Stars from the women's team included Marissa Oddi, a midfielder/forward from Hamilton St. Jean de Brebeuf and Ashley Hagen, a striker from Hamilton District Christian High School in Ancaster. Hagen was the West Region scoring champ, with seven goals in eight games.
OCAA Cross Country
Mohawk College finished seventh in the men's team competition at the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association Cross Country Championships in London October 30.
Mohawk did not have enough runners for the women's team event. Host Fanshawe College won both team titles on a Fanshawe Conservation Area course.
Individually, Jon Redfearn was the top Mountaineer male in 13th place, timed at 28:27 over eight kilometres and only 2 minutes and 26 seconds behind winner Jason Smith of Conestoga. In other Mohawk results, Dustin Faith was 27th (29:57), Josh Lamb, 50th (31:54), Francisco Santacruz, 61st (32:51), Luc Seguin, 80th (35:18) and Sean Lulguraj, 81st (35:20).
Fanshawe's Liliane Sparkes raced to another victory in her outstanding college career, timed in 18:53 for the five kilometre women's distance.
Emily Hicks led Mohawk, finishing 22nd in 22:06. Other Mountaineer results included Sandi Bryce, 46th (23:49) and Brittany Russell, 51st (24:05).
Rugby
Mohawk's rugby team completed a perfect OCAA regular season, but just barely, The Mountaineers nipped Humber 8-7, October 28 in Etobicoke, to finish 7-0 atop the Division One West Region standings. The Hawks wound up in second place with a 4-3 record.
The game was scoreless until late in the second half. Mohawk got its eight points from Alex Houston on a try and a drop goal.
Humber then scored a converted try at the very end. Once the kick was made, the referee blew the final whistle.
Mohawk head coach Alex Paris said his team didn't play well and Humber was a little more physical. The Mountaineers had already clinched first place in their group.
They'll meet East Region runner-up Trent University in semi final play, Saturday November 6 at 2:00 at Mohawk Sports Park.
Humber will play Seneca, the first place team in the East.
The winners will square off for the OCAA Championship Saturday November 13 at Fletcher's Fields in Markham.
Men's Volleyball
Mohawk's men's volleyball team headed to Oakville October 26 to face the Sheridan Bruins and beat their hosts 3-1.The scores were 25-19, 25-22, 28-30, 25-23. Justin Scapinello had 20 kills, one stuff block and three service aces. Darren Govan had nine kills, one block and two aces. Head coach Matt Schnarr had particular praise for setter Zac Schulz.
As for the team, "We played very well overall, said Schnarr, "but we are struggling in keeping play consistent in all sets, We are allowing opponents to creep back into the match. We need to finish stronger."
Mohawk improved to 2-0 and started getting ready for the Humber Cup Invitational tournament in Etobicoke Friday and Saturday (Nov. 5-6)
Women's Volleyball
The women's volleyball team fashioned a 3-0 sweep of the Sheridan Bruins October 26 in Oakville. The game scores were 25-13, 25-22, 25-19. Despite the victory head coach Sean Pellow did not feel his team played well. Still Mohawk improved to 2-0 in the OCAA's West Region.
The Mountaineers bumped their mark to 3-0 in Sault Ste. Marie October 30 sweeping Sault College Cougars 25-13, 25-11, 25-21.
"We did a great job of controlling the pace of the match in the first two (sets) and let up a bit in the 3rd," said coach Pellow.
Jen Knowles had 11 kills and five service aces to lead Mohawk's scoring.
The Mountaineers then started preparations for the Humber Cup Invitational tourney Friday and Saturday (Nov. 5-6) in Etobicoke.
Men's Basketball
It was a profitable trip to Sault St Marie for Mohawk's men's basketball squad. October 29 they downed the Algoma Thunderbirds 66-60. Aminu Bello had 17 points, Nick Fadayel, 15 and Taylor Dowhaniuk added six points while blocking nine shots.
Then, the following day, the Mountaineers pushed their record to 2-1 with a 90-64 verdict over Sault College, spoiling the Cougars opening game. Bello scored 22 points, Fadayel and Tanner Lane collected 12 apiece.
"It is the first time in my 6 years that we have won both games up there, said Mohawk head coach Brian Jonker. "I think Humber was the only team to do it last year. Needless to say we are very happy with the two victories. The effort was fantastic in both games. Our depth made it a complete team win on both days. We are looking forward to the upcoming week at home vs. Lambton on Wednesday (Nov. 3) and on the road in Windsor vs. St.Clair Friday night (Nov. 5)."
Women's Basketball
The Mohawk women's basketball fell to 0-2, as Algoma won their season opener, 61-52 in Sault Ste. Marie October 29. Rookie Kimithy Stillwell had 14 points to lead the Mountaineers. Morgan Taylor hooped 10 and Alisha Mills, eight.
"We were down by as many as 16 points in the first half and then fought back to get it within four late in the second half, said head coach Kevin Duffy. "I told the team we are not using the bus ride as an excuse, but the fact of matter is that it took us a half to get our shooting legs and it was a case of too little too late. Again, I was extremely proud of our effort and once we start to gel a bit more as a team with our systems we should be able to compete with anybody this year."
Mohawk started preparations for a game against the St. Clair Saints Friday (Nov. 5) in Windsor.
