Weekend sweep sees women’s hockey top OUA standings

The OUA’s first-placed Gaels continued their stellar play this weekend with a pair of wins over the Guelph Gryphons and York Lions.

In Saturday’s matchup against Guelph, Queen’s went back and forth for much of the game with the nationally-ranked Gryphons. Gaels forward Claire Mckellar’s second-period goal, however, was all the team would ultimately need, winning 1-0 over their conference rivals. 

Against the Lions on Sunday, Queen’s was able to win in a more convincing fashion. The Gaels put up at least one goal in each of the game’s three periods, winning 4-0 for their 12th win of the year. Queen’s goaltender Stephanie Pascal’s successive shutouts on the weekend improved her 2017-18 win total to 13, good for most in the OUA.

Queen’s will look to close their regular season on a high note with just four games remaining on their schedule, as they play host to Laurier and Waterloo next weekend. 

Stephanie Pascal’s 1.19 goals-against average leads the OUA. Amanda Norris

Men’s volleyball split weekend series

In their first game of two games over the weekend, the men’s volleyball team handily defeated the U of T Varsity Blues 3-1. Outside hitting trio Jack Peckham, Markus Trence and Joel Rudd accounted for 21 of the Gaels’ 40 total kills.

Sunday’s game against Ryerson wasn’t as favourable for the Gaels, who lost in straight sets for the first time in the OUA this season. Queen’s now sits at 6-6 on the year, good for third in the OUA East. 

Jack Peckham (11) had a team-high 12 kills in the Gaels’ win over U of T. Nicole Langfield 

Women’s volleyball split double-header in Toronto

Women’s volleyball got off to a quick start this past weekend.

The Gaels visited the U of T Varsity Blues on Saturday afternoon with a chance to hold sole possession of second place in the OUA East. After the teams split the opening two sets of the match, Queen’s pulled away from their Toronto rivals’ winning successive sets. In the 3-1 victory, outsider hitter Shannon Neville registered 15 kills.

The Gaels’ three-game winning streak would end there, though. Despite being able to take the first set of their match against the undefeated Ryerson Rams 25-17, Queen’s was no match for the OUA’s first-placed team. Ryerson swept the Gaels after the opening set, winning 3-1.

Queen’s now sits second in the OUA East at 9-4 after their round of games this weekend. They host Brock and McMaster this Saturday and Sunday.

The Gaels have six regular season games to play before the playoffs. Julia Balakrishnan

Men’s hockey prove national ranking worth in win over Laurentian

Coming off the heels of their first national ranking of the season, the men’s hockey team had a lot to prove this weekend. And on Saturday night, they showed why they belong among Canada’s best.

The Gaels’ quick first-period start over the Laurentian Voyageurs was all they needed to ensure a win this weekend. After going in front 2-0 early, Queen’s traded goals with the Voyageurs in the second and third periods before the final buzzer sounded. In the 3-1 win, goaltender Kevin Bailie registered 24 saves.

Besides their national ranking, the Gaels have also now won four in a row and eight of their last 10 games. They are ranked second in the OUA East and have conceded a league-low 55 goals this season.

Queen’s will have a quick turnaround as they play a highly anticipated game on Thursday night against RMC in the Carr-Harris Cup. 

Men’s hockey were nationally-ranked 10th last week. Amanda Norris