2024 OCAA Women's Rugby Championships
The Loyalist Lancers showed resilience in their home-hosted 2024 OCAA Women's Rugby 7s Championships, battling against strong competition and ultimately delivering a solid performance.
In their opening match, the Lancers faced off again the Algonquin Wolves. Despite a strong start, the Lancers weren't able to hold onto the lead and fell 19-10 to fall from medal contention. Ryan Fitzgerald and Faith Ayres both scored tries for their team. Ayres was named Player of the Game for her performance and both she and Fitzgerald were honoured post-game for being OCAA league award winners. Fitzgerald, a team veteran was named an OCAA League All-Star and Ayres was named to the OCAA All-Rookie team.
The Lancers rebounded in their second match of the day with a decisive 27-5 victory over the Conestoga Condors to secure 5th place. Ayres had yet another incredible game with a hat-trick while teammate Victoria Lumb and Hannah Bender contributed tries of their own and Fitzgerald booted 1 convert. Team captain and league veteran Hannah Bender was awarded Player of the Game for her efforts.
The Humber Hawks took down the Algonquin Wolves to earn the bronze medal with a 27-7 final score. The first place Durham Lords defeated the 2nd place St. Lawrence Surge in an exciting final game of the day. The Lords defended their place at the top of the league with a 24-14 victory to take home the gold. Shay Morris of the Lords was named tournament MVP.
Game results & award winners:
Algonquin vs Loyalist - 19-10
Players of the Game: Faith Ayres (LOY), Faiza Faucher-Ahmed (ALG)
Humber vs Conestoga - 26-12
Players of the Game: Megan Aucoin (HUM), Anita Ben (CON)
Durham vs Algonquin - 41-5
Players of the Game: Sydney Seymour (ALG), Maya Austin (DUR)
SLC vs Humber - 7-0
Players of the Game: Mary Adarkwa (HUM), Paige Bean (SLC)
Loyalist vs Conestoga - 27-5
Players of the Game: Jillian Vickery (CON), Hanah Bender (LOY)
Humber vs Algonquin - 27-7 (BRONZE MEDAL GAME)
Players of the Game: Mackenzie Cosh (ALG), Aliza Shahzad (HUM)
Durham vs St. Lawrence - 24-14 (GOLD MEDAL GAME)
Players of the Game: Allesha Arsenault (SLC), Shay Morris
Tournament All-Stars:
Sydney Seymour (ALG)
Meghan Aucoin (HUM)
Ali Arsenault (SLC)
Melissa Raymond (SLC)
Maya Austin (DUR)
Amber Edgerton (DUR)
Tournament MVP
Shay Morris (DUR)