Nov. 11 Brock roundup: Armstrong, Zorbas athletes of the week
Women’s volleyball player Emily Armstrong and men’s rugby player Zach Zorbas were named Brock University’s athletes of the week for the week ending Nov. 11.
Armstrong helped the women’s volleyball team to a pair of wins over the weekend to remain undefeated with a record of 6-0. Armstrong dished out more than 10 assists per set during a 3-0 win over Nipissing on Nov. 10 and more than eight assists per set versus York for a 3-1 on Nov. 9. She also totalled 15 digs. Armstrong is currently second in Ontario University Athletics play with a rate of nine assists per set.
Zorbas played a key role in leading the men’s rugby team to a OUA bronze medal at Brock Alumni Field on Saturday. Zorbas scored three tries to help the Badgers win 29-24 over the Trent Excalibur and claim their third provincial medal since 2007.
Men’s hockey
Christian Girhiny scored the game-winning goal in overtime as the men’s hockey team defeated the Guelph Gryphons 4-3 on the road Saturday.
The victory extends the Badgers’ win streak to six games.
“It’s always a battle between us and Guelph,” head coach Marty Williamson said. “It was a great game and a nice finish by Girhiny in overtime. He’s a special player with a great hockey IQ.”
Cosimo Fontana and Skylar Pacheco each recorded an assist on the extra time winner.
The Badgers previously lost to the Gryphons during a pair of pre-season games in September.
Jared Marino netted a pair of goals and Tyler Rollo potted a power-play goal for Brock.
Ethan Spaxman, Jordan Sambrook, Connor Walters, Ryan Burton, Brayden Stortz and Cole Thiessen each chipped in an assist.
Goaltender Mario Cavaliere made 33 saves for the win while the Brock.
Up next, the Badgers (7-4) play the Laurier Golden Hawks (3-8) on Thursday in Waterloo.
Women’s hockey
The women’s hockey team celebrated 20 years in the OUA Saturday.
The Badgers honoured the 2000-01 team, including the original coach Todd Erskine, during alumni festivities and a ceremonial puck drop prior to their game with the Nipissing Lakers at Seymour-Hannah Arena.
“It was special,” head coach Margot Page said. “Pretty amazing and humbling to be in a room filled with the people that are the reason for where you are today.”
Brock kept the game close until the No. 10-ranked Lakers pulled away in the third to win 4-2.
Amanda Ieradi and Emma Irwin scored for Brock. Cassidy Maplethorpe, Annie Berg and Katreena Whiteye each added an assist.
Hundreds of Niagara elementary school children cheered on the Brock women’s hockey game during a rare weekday game on Friday afternoon.
The game, which was attended by children from the Niagara Catholic District School Board and District School Board of Niagara, aimed to promote physical literacy and sport with the benefits of physical activity to children in the Niagara region.
“It’s nice when you have the young kids there cheering for you, because that’s a lot of good, positive energy,” Page said. “I saw a couple of Junior Badgers in the stands, but maybe this game inspires another young athlete to play our game.”
The Badgers lost to the Laurentian Voyageurs 1-0 despite dominating possession and outshooting them 40-21 as goalie Shanna Dolighan earned the shutout in net.
It’s the second consecutive game the Badgers have been shut out.
“That’s our team. Good, hard-working, in your face,” Page said. “We’re getting our scoring chances, but just not finishing it up.”
Up next, Brock (2-5) hits the road to play Ontario Tech (0-8) Friday.
Basketball
The Badgers defeated the Algoma Thunderbirds in both men’s and women’s basketball at Bob Davis Gymnasium Saturday.
The women’s team won 66-50 to move into a first-place tie with Ryerson in the OUA Central with a record of 4-1.
Samantha Keltos scored 15 points to lead the Badgers in scoring. She added eight rebounds. Jessica Morris scooped up 11 rebounds, all on defence.
The men’s team crushed the Thunderbirds 92-56 to move into third place behind McMaster and Lakehead with a record of 3-2.
Godsman Kwakwah fired in 17 points and Daniel Cayer snagged 11 rebounds.
The women’s team suffered their first loss of the season by a score of 72-65 to the Guelph Gryphons at home Friday.
“We had a lot of fight in us,” head coach Mike Rao said. “We needed to make a few more shots, but we fell short.”
Brock shot 31 per cent (19-for-60) from the field.
Jessica Morris led the Badgers in both points (17) and rebounds (nine).
Melissa Tatti and Sam Keltos each scored 16 points. Tatti dished out eight assists and Keltos collected seven rebounds. Destiny Paquin registered seven points and eight rebounds.
Daniel Cayer scored 23 points and hauled down 16 rebounds as the men’s basketball team snapped a two-game losing streak with a 76-67 win over the visiting Guelph Gryphons Friday.
“We had the services of Daniel Cayer in the fourth quarter,” head coach Willy Manigat said. “We still have a long way to go and we have to continue to get better. I want our guys to enjoy the fight.”
Godsman Kwakwah scored all 10 of his points in the second half, and went four-for-four at the free throw line alongside teammate Aaron Golbourne, who poured in a total of 15 points. Kascius Small-Martin recorded 13 points and seven rebounds.
Up next, the Badgers host the Lakehead Thunderwolves in back-to-back games on Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16. Both sets of games start at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., respectively.
Women’s volleyball
Darby Taylor rattled off 13 kills and the No. 7 women’s volleyball team swept the Nipissing Lakers 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-21) in North Bay Sunday.
The Badgers are now 6-0 and hold a four-point lead over the Western Mustangs for first place in the OUA West.
Laura Condotta added nine kills and 10 digs and currently leads the OUA with four kills per set.
Setter Emily Armstrong registered 31 assists.
After losing the first set, the women’s volleyball team stormed back to win three straight to defeat the York Lions 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-22, 25-19) in Toronto Saturday.
“We had a rough start by losing the first set, but we came back and got the job done,” head coach Steve Delaney said. “It was a good team performance, but we’ve got to keep getting better.”
Brock currently leads the OUA in points per set with 16.5 as Laura Condotta registered 15 kills and Grace Pyatt contributed nine to hit for over .300.
Emily Armstrong handed out nine assists per set, while Christina Jovetic secured seven kills, three service aces and six digs. Aleiah Torres totalled 15 digs and Darby Taylor hit for eight kills.
Up next, the Badgers (6-0) return home to host the No. 4 Toronto Varsity Blues (4-1) Sunday at 2 p.m.
Men’s volleyball
The men’s volleyball team lost their third consecutive game, dropping a (25-23, 16-25, 22-25, 19-25) decision to Nipissing on the road.
Logan House scored 12 kills, while Peter Schnabel recorded eight.
Saulius Lianga and Nanle Yusuf each chipped in seven kills. Grant Reddon and Marcelo Correa combined for 31 assists.
Up next, the Badgers (2-4) will host the Toronto Varsity Blues Sunday at 4 p.m.
Men’s rugby
The men’s rugby team won a provincial medal at Brock Alumni Field Saturday.
The Badgers defeated the Trent Excalibur 29-24 in the OUA bronze-medal match to win their third medal since 2007.
“I’m so proud of these guys,” head coach Phil Sullivan said. “We knew Trent would not stop, no matter what. They constantly pressed us, but we responded. It’s never going to be easy.”
Brock is one of eight teams among a field of 32 schools who punched their ticket to compete in the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship at Concordia University in Montreal from Nov. 20-24.
It’s the first time Brock has qualified.
“This team is a really cohesive bunch, because there’s a lot of love in the room,” Sullivan said. “There’s talent, a lot of rugby knowledge and the experience that we gained from a rough year last season.”
Zach Zorbas led the attack with three tries and Mitch Santilli added a pair of tries while Steven Commerford registered two converts.
Zorbas, a senior flanker, said the way they came back and won this medal meant a lot to him and his teammates.
“It means a lot, last year the team was 1-7 and struggled to find the confidence and trust in each other that you need to win games,” Zorbas said. “This year, our guys bought into the system and took a defence-first approach.”
Rugby all-stars
A trio of Brock men’s rugby players were named OUA all stars on Friday.
Steven Commerford was named a first-team all star while Mitch Wilson and Steven Medvesky were named second-team all stars.
“Steven Commerford is one of the most dangerous all-around players in the OUA,” Sullivan said. “He is a great decision maker and directs our attack, an excellent runner and distributor of the ball and our team leading scorer. He is also the best pound-for-pound tackler in the OUA.”
Wilson is third-year second row from Peterborough, who is studying business communications.
“Mitch has a great year and is one of the most improved players in the program,” Sullivan said. “He brings a very physical game, as both a ferocious tackler and punishing runner. This is a well-deserved award.”
Medvesky is a fourth-year flanker from Niagara Falls, who is studying political science.
“Steven Medvesky is a great tackler and excellent set piece player for us,” Sullivan said. “He is one of the best line out jumpers in the league. He is a tremendous competitor, great at taking the ball into contact as well as having great ball handling skills.”
Field lacrosse
Freshman rearguard Curtis Conley of Ottawa, scored 90 seconds into sudden-death overtime, lifting Trent to a stunning 9-8 come-from-behind upset over top-seeded Brock in semifinal play at the Canadian University Field Lacrosse Association championship tournament Saturdayat Percival Molson Stadium.
The Badgers, who entered the tourney with a perfect 10-0 record, led 4-1 after the opening quarter but watched in disbelief as Trent battled back to make it 5-5 at halftime. The teams were deadlocked at 6-6 after three quarters and 8-8 at the end of regulation.
Leading the way for Brock, Kurtis Woodland scored shorthanded en route to a hat-trick. Sam Leclair and Campbell Parker registered four points each, with Leclair scoring twice. Grayson Houghton also added a pair of goals.
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