Yesterday, the Varsity Blues women’s field hockey team took on the defending CIS champions in the UBC Thunderbirds and were able to come away with the victory.
Katherine McNeill was able to score with four minutes remaining in regulation to put the Blues on top 2-1 and to secure the victory and their 11th CIS championship. McNeill was able to get the ball off a scramble and successfully put it past the netminder late in the game. Following this goal, UBC elevated the pace in a last-ditch effort to tie the game and send the game into overtime.
Fortunately, Toronto netminder Kathryn Williams of Burlington, Ontario, who was in net for three of the Blues’ victories at the championship, was able to keep the ball out in the final few minutes despite all the pressure from the Thunderbirds. Kaelan Watson was named the Most Valuable Player of the championship. She was a solid defender throughout the entire championship. Thanks to their first CIS banner since 2007, the Blues are now tied with Victoria in second place of all time for having most McCrae Cup triumphs, only one behind UBC. Congratulations, ladies.
