York Lions win first ever U SPORTS Championship
Two superb matchups have been on faucet for Sunday in Charlottetown. A rematch of the Atlantic division championship sport and a rematch of final yr’s gold medal sport. The story writes itself. An opportunity to proceed the dynasty, an opportunity for redemption, an opportunity at a home-soil medal. All the pieces was on the desk when the primary ball was pushed again on Sunday afternoon on the 2025 Area Hockey Canada College Championship.
BRONZE MEDAL MATCH
Dalhousie and UPEI performed to an exciting 1-1 draw on Thursday on the opening day of the occasion. Dalhousie carried a lot of the play in that match and had the lead late, when UPEI’s Kayla Batchilder tied the sport. At the moment’s match had a lot of the identical forwards and backwards motion as each groups tried to get that ever-important first purpose.
It had the sensation of a sport that was spiraling in the direction of a shoot-out. Each groups had penalty stroke alternatives. Each groups had high quality grade A scoring possibilities within the second half however nobody might break the impasse. Within the dwindling minutes, the all-Canadian and Atlantic MVP Batchilder did what she’s been doing all yr; discover the online. Not as soon as, however twice. Batchilder scored back-to-back targets firing two pictures simply contained in the close to aspect publish.
17 of the UPEI gamers are from the home-province, so when the group counted down the ultimate seconds, the UPEI Panthers might lastly rejoice a bronze medal on dwelling soil with their family and friends.
Sanne Meijer vanDerloensloot, Molly Doyle and Abby Henn continued to shine for Dalhousie. On the UPEI aspect, Bathcilder led the way in which, and GK Bria Matthews, alongside aspect Livi Lawlor, Miah Lawlor, Carly Acorn and Katie-Grace Noye had stellar performances all weekend lengthy. It was really a staff effort throughout the board for UPEI as they safe a U SPORTS bronze medal.
GOLD MEDAL MATCH
A yr in the past, the York Lions and the UVic Vikes performed on York College campus within the U SPORTS gold medal match. The Vikes grabbed the lead early and held on till the bitter finish securing the win and their sixth straight nationwide title. On Thursday in Charlottetown, the 2 groups battled to a nil-nil draw. Over the earlier 120 minutes of hockey, one purpose separates these two groups. We knew it was going to be a nail-biter until the very finish.
The touring followers of those two applications needed to wait virtually one other full 60 earlier than they bought their catharsis. It got here in the way in which of a Juliet Redelaar purpose within the 58th minute of the sport. It appears becoming that Gates McAllister fired the ball into the circle, Elise Piper one-touched it over to Redelaar for the ending purpose. All three of these gamers have been standouts all weekend lengthy in Charlottetown.
The purpose despatched a shock-wave across the facility. For the higher a part of the last decade, UVic and UBC virtually felt inevitable when it got here to the nationwide event. York had no time for that narrative and stopped the western juggernaut of their path. The sport itself was forwards and backwards with a great deal of possibilities at each ends. Each goalkeepers have been very good on this one. Once more one purpose is all of the distinction on the planet.
Captain Abby Thompson was first to the touch the McCrae Cup earlier than celebrating together with her staff. The York Lions have formally received their first ever U SPORTS title and this staff will go down in historical past.
SEE ALL THE UNIVERSITY CHAMPIONSHIP AWARDS
UVic and York battle within the gold medal match. Photographs/Yan Huckendubler
