Jan. 20 Brock roundup: Maplethorpe, Noah Lapierre named players of the week
Women’s hockey forward Cassidy Maplethorpe and men’s basketball guard Noah Lapierre were named the Brock University athletes of the week for the week ending Jan. 19.
Maplethorpe, a second-year biochemistry student from Alberta, scored a goal in two consecutive games to help the Badgers extend their win streak to four games. Maplethorpe scored the game-tying goal versus Ryerson on the road in Toronto to send the game into overtime where Brock won 4-3 on Jan 16. At home versus the No. 4 Toronto Varsity Blues, Maplethorpe opened up the scoring with a physical drive to the net as the Badgers won 2-1. Maplethorpe has five goals in her last six games.
LaPierre, a third-year guard who is studying kinesiology, poured in a career-high 23 points during an 87-84 overtime victory versus the Western Mustangs on Jan. 15. He added seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. He also shot 50 per cent (6-of-12) from beyond the arc. On Jan. 18 during a 93-71 win over Windsor, LaPierre filled up the scoresheet with 20 points, four defensive rebounds, three assists and three steals to help his team win three games in a row. He shot better than 53 per cent in both contests.
MEN’S HOCKEY
The men’s hockey team lost 4-3 to the Guelph Gryphons at Seymour-Hannah Arena on Jan. 16.
The Badgers beat the Gryphons by an identical score last week, however head coach Marty Williamson said a costly first period was the difference.
“We struggled in the first, but I thought we played two good periods after that,” he said. “The lesson is you must play 60 minutes.”
A total of six goals were scored in the opening frame as Guelph led 4-2 after the first.
Brayden Stortz, Frankie Pucci and Jordan Maletta, with his first OUA goal, scored for the Badgers.
The Badgers host York Thursday at 7:15 p.m.
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
The women’s hockey team celebrated their Breast Cancer Awareness and Junior Badgers game with a 2-1 victory over the No. 4 Toronto Varsity Blues at Seymour-Hannah Arena on Jan. 18.
“It’s a huge win for us, anytime you can upset the top team in the league it’s great to motivate the girls,” Badgers forward Annie Berg said. “Also, with such tight standings every point is so important, so it’s great to take some you’re not expected to get.”
On Friday, the team cheered on the women’s volleyball squad versus Trent with pink attire and colourful signs as they opened Brock’s Pink Weekend in support of the Canadian Cancer Society at Bob Davis Gymnasium.
“I think every time we have special jerseys and more fans than usual it really motivates the girls,” Berg said. “Look good, feel good, play good. A bunch of us were at the volleyball game last night and they won, so we just tried to build off that.
The Badgers wore special pink jerseys with a pink ribbon to symbolize breast cancer awareness. Proceeds from the game will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society.
Brock welcomed Junior Badger hockey mom and breast cancer survivor Lori Fowle, who dropped the puck during a ceremonial face-off.
Fowle was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018. With a family history of breast cancer, she thankfully took initiative to join the high-risk screening program. After finding out her screening results were positive for breast cancer, she had a successful surgery two months later and has been cancer free for more than two years.
“I encourage woman of all ages to be advocates for their bodies as life is short,” Fowle said.
Head coach Margot Page said this game means a lot to her and her team.
“We take a lot of pride in this event,” Page said. “I am certain it played a role in helping with the win tonight.”
Mishayla Christensen scored the game-winning goal early in the second period as Brock held on for their 10th win of the season to move into a tie with Waterloo for fourth place in the OUA standings.
Cassidy Maplethorpe opened the scoring at 5:05 in the first period. Hunter Accursi and Berg each notched an assist.
Goaltender Jensen Murphy, who finished with 30 saves, shut the door on a Varsity Blues penalty shot during the second period.
“She made a nice move by faking a shot and then cutting to her forehand,” Murphy said. “I bit on the fake, but was in a position where I was able to power push back to the post and make a toe save. This is a huge win for us as a team.”
Up next, the Badgers (10-7) travel to Toronto to play the York Lions on Saturday at 2:15 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The women’s basketball team defeated the Windsor Lancers for the first time in 13 years.
The No. 9 Badgers upset the No. 6 Windsor Lancers 63-54 to win their annual Shoot for the Cure game during a rare Sunday morning contest at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Jan. 19.
The game, which was originally scheduled for Saturday night, was forced to Sunday morning due to inclement weather conditions that delayed the Lancers’ arrival time.
“We woke up in the second half,” head coach Mike Rao said. “They got here late, so they needed some time and we have to try and accommodate that.”
The Lancers led 28-18 at halftime, but the Badgers’ offence started humming in the third quarter.
Guard Melissa Tatti hit a momentum-changing three pointer on a feed from Sam Keltos with two minutes remaining to bring Brock within eight points.
The Badgers wrestled the lead away from the Lancers in the fourth as Brock won the frame 24-14.
“Momentum is a real thing, especially once you start getting into a little bit of a rhythm and the ball starts moving a little bit,” Rao said. “Melissa got her shot and then we hit a couple of and we got on track.”
Tatti, who poured in 20 points during the second half, finished with 24 points, six assists, four steals and four rebounds. Keltos registered a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Sofia Croce came off the bench with 10 points and seven boards.
“Sofia played well today,” Rao added. “She’s the reason we came out and played in the second half, and finished on top.”
Kristin Gallant chipped in nine points while Jenneke Pilling, who was facing her old team, posted five points and five rebounds.
Up next, the Badgers (11-3) host the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks (0-14) on Friday at 6 p.m.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
The men’s basketball team overcame a slow start to defeat the Windsor Lancers 93-71 to extend their win streak to three games at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Jan. 18.
The Lancers roared out of the gate with a 14-point lead in the first quarter, but the Badgers were able to settle in and cut the deficit to seven by halftime.
“The first quarter we didn’t do what we needed to do and the rest of the game we did,” head coach Willy Manigat said.
“After giving up 30 points in the opening quarter, the Badgers settled in defensively and held the Lancers to 10 points in both the second and third.”
Tyler Brown scored 14 of his 30 points in the third, tying his career high which he achieved earlier this season in Nipissing on Nov. 22.
“Brown goes out there and plays freely,” Manigat said. “He’s an emotional and passionate guy.”
Noah Lapierre added 20 points for Brock and Daniel Cayer picked up 19 points and nine rebounds, while Daniel Caldwell came off the bench to score 10.
The Badgers (8-6) look to extend their streak when they host the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks during their annual Jason Pearson Memorial Game at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Friday at 8 p.m.
WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The No. 7 women’s volleyball team lost 3-0 (14-25, 25-27, 23-25) to the No. 4 Ryerson Rams at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Jan. 19.
“Although we were close in two of the sets, we made silly errors at the wrong time which ended up costing us both of those sets,” head coach Steve Delaney said.
Laura Condotta recorded 12 kills and seven digs, including a service ace to lead the Badgers’ offence with 14 points.
Darby Taylor and Grace Pyatt each recorded six kills. Taylor also had six digs and four service aces while Pyatt hit at a .308 kill percentage.
Aleiah Torres and Emily Armstrong, who added 24 assists, combined for 14 digs. Alanna Norris contributed four digs.
“We need to figure out a couple of tactical things and more ways to relax and pull ourselves out of a negative spiral emotionally on the court,” Delaney said. “We can be better in those tight situations. It wasn’t awful, but we definitely need to be stronger as a group, so we can perform down the stretch.”
Up next, the Badgers (8-3) host the McMaster Marauders Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Badgers also swept the Trent Excalibur 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-15) to kick off Pink Weekend at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Jan. 17.
Grace Pyatt registered seven kills and a .600 hitting percentage to lead the Badgers with 11 points. Fellow senior Laura Condotta led the team with a game-high eight kills. Outside hitter Morgan Monkman was named Player of the Match as she posted three key kills and three digs.
The Badgers also received commitments from outside hitter Madison Chimienti and setter Lauren Teehan during a signing between the first and second sets. Chimienti and Teehan each won nationals last year and both play for Leaside Volleyball Club. They were U17 athletes playing on a U18 team, and both have provincial team experience.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
The men’s volleyball team couldn’t stop the Ryerson Rams during a 3-0 (21-25, 18-25, 18-25) loss at Bob Davis Gymnasium on Jan. 19.
Outside hitter Logan House led the Badgers with 12 kills (.333) and seven digs.
“Unfortunately we did not get the start that we wanted to the game,” head coach Matt Ragogna said. “Ryerson came out and played a tough serving, well blocking, and patient serve receive that we couldn’t match point for point.”
Dean Globocki and Peter Schnabel each recorded four kills, while Saulius Lianga posted four digs. James Parkinson added five digs.
Marcelo Correa posted 22 assists.
Up next, the Badgers (5-6) host the No. 5 McMaster Marauders on Sunday at 4 p.m.
TRACK AND FIELD
The Brock track and field team competed at the Don Wright Team Challenge at Western University on Jan. 18.
Standout first-year Kaysen Drummond ran another personal best in the women’s 300-metre dash with a time of 42.21.
Drummond was also part of the women’s 4 x 200-metre relay that set a new Brock record of 1:46.70 along with fellow first-year Shaneil Lovell, and seniors Anna Wojtis and Monica Binotto. The previous record (1:48.35) was set in 2013 by Alex Giles, Samantha Mersereau, Annika Mazzarella, and current Badgers coach Jac Harris.
In the distance events, Paulina Sergnese led the way for the Badgers in the women’s 1,000m with a time of 3:09.15, a performance which places her second all time at Brock. Sophomore Lauren Taylor finished close behind with a personal best time of 3:11.16. Both are approaching OUA standard in the event.
On the men’s side Joseph Dick ran a personal best for the second week in a row with a time of 4:08.95. This performance puts him third all time at Brock. He’s just 0.4 away from Jelmer van den Hadelkamp’s current record of 4:08.55 which was set in 2016.
Up next, the Badgers travel across the border to Brockport, N.Y. Saturday, Jan. 25 for the Golden Eagle Invitational.
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