Ahead of Saturday’s provincial finals, the OUA announced their individual achievement awards.

 

Second-year women’s rugby and basketball player Sophie De Goede was among the biggest names after being awarded OUA Shiels Division Player of the Year. She was also named an All-Star, joining teammates Rachel Hickson and Nadia Popov.

 

In her sophomore season, De Goede was also named team captain after claiming U Sports Rookie of the Year last season.

 

 

Winning their first OUA gold medal in nearly two decades, the women’s lacrosse team (14-0-1) capped off an undefeated season with a convincing OUA Championship run on the weekend.

 

Second-year attack and 2017-18 Queen’s varsity clubs Rookie of the Year, Kiah Shanks, led the charge for the Gaels, scoring two goals in the championship game against the Laurier Golden Hawks. After trouncing McMaster 15-2 in the quarterfinals, Shanks earned game MVP honours for their 10-2 win over the University of Toronto in the semi-finals.

 

In the gold medal game, Queen’s handily won 11-4 over Laurier, earning them their first OUA gold medal since 1999. Shanks was named tournament MVP.

 

 

After going 11-7 on the season, the baseball team capped off its season in Ajax this weekend at the OUA Championships.

 

On Friday, the fourth-ranked Gaels lost their first game to the fifth-ranked Guelph Gryphons 6-4, but would go on to beat the eighth-ranked Ryerson Rams 5-4 later that day. On Saturday, their season would officially end in a 4-0 loss to the eventual OUA champion Laurier Golden Hawks.

 

With a 1-2 record, the Gaels would fail to exit the round robin format of the tournament with a spot in the semi-finals. The season was arguably an improvement for the Gaels, who ended last season with a 2-2-7 record despite earning their way to OUA Bronze.

 

 

The men’s rugby team (8-0) completed their second consecutive undefeated season on Saturday, beating the McMaster Marauders 83-0.

 

Having clinched first place in the OUA the week before, the Gaels extended their winning streak to 18 games, their last loss dating back to the 2016-17 OUA Finals against Guelph. They’ll look to extend their streak entering enter the OUA playoffs. Queen’s will have home field advantage throughout the postseason.

 

While their first round opponent has yet to be determined, the Gaels have their sights set on their second straight Turner Trophy. The Guelph Gryphons (7-1) have been on a streak since Queen’s dominated them 40-13 in September, winning 41-10 over the Laurier Golden Hawks (6-2) this past weekend. Queen’s first playoff game will take place at Nixon Field on Saturday.