The Varsity Blues women’s field hockey team earned CIS silver this Sunday, falling 3–0 to the top ranked University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the final at Varsity Stadium.
The contest started with the teams trading control of the ball, with neither truly grabbing control. But a U of T foul inside the area in the fifth minute resulted in a penalty corner for UBC, and the Thunderbirds were able to capitalize on the opportunity, with Sara McManus scoring the first goal of the game.
“I think our girls played extremely well today. They fought hard. We gave up a goal really early. They had the 1–0 lead and then we really just started to play; it was almost a good thing,” noted Blues head coach John DeSouza.
UBC retained the momentum from their goal and kept the pressure on the Blues. But the Thunderbirds failed to convert on the opportunities they created, and couldn’t pull away. The strong UBC defense made numerous interceptions and minimized scoring opportunities for the Blues, but Toronto was able to end the half having taken some of the momentum back from their opponents.
The second half started much like the first, with quick turnovers on both sides and strong defense resulting in few scoring opportunities. The momentum shifted in Toronto’s favour as a breakaway led to a scoring opportunity for the Blues, but UBC forced a turnover and took the ball deep into the Blues end, causing a foul from goalie Kathryn Williams. The resulting penalty stroke, taken by McManus, gave the Thunderbirds their second goal of the game.
“We missed a bunch of penalty corners that could have tied the game and then they got their chance to go up 2–0 and I knew that that was going to be hard to fight back from,” said DeSouza.
Toronto continued to try to pressure the Thunderbirds, but UBC’s strong defense and presence on the field resulted in interceptions and unforced errors for the Blues. Toronto’s Tegan Stairs and Kaelan Watson attempted to spark the team offensively, but the Blues appeared tired and unsure of themselves, and were unable to keep up with UBC.
A penalty against Toronto late in the half gave the Thunderbirds another opportunity to score and McManus capitalized, completing her hat trick. McManus’ three goals doubled her tournament tally, tying her on six with CIS player of the year Brittany Seidler of the Guelph Gryphons for most goals scored in the tournament.
“[The hat trick] feels good, but it’s a win, that’s all that really matters is that we won, that someone puts the ball in the net,” commented UBC’s Sarah McManus. “It was a nice way to finish it off, but it’s a team effort, so I couldn’t have had those chances without the team making them.”
Despite the three-goal deficit and the lack of time remaining on the clock, the Blues continued to play hard and get the ball into the Thunderbird’s end. However, UBC kept shot opportunities to a minimum, and ended the Blues’ hopes for a win.
“There were a couple of moments Toronto was looking very strong. It could’ve easily been 1–1 at one point, but we held tight, and Sara McManus scored a hat trick which is absolutely brilliant,” commented UBC head coach Hash Kanjee.
