Four fall 2013 CIS championships give Canada West the edge

December 2, 2013, EDMONTON (ISN) – Canada West was at the head of the class in Canadian Interuniversity Sport during the Fall 2013 Semester, and member institutions look forward to hosting five national championships in the months ahead.

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Of the seven CIS fall championship banners awarded, four went to Canada West schools, with a total of three claimed by the other three conferences – OUA (2), RSEQ (1) and AUS (0).

Amazingly, six of seven CIS fall champions were repeat winners from 2012-13, with the Alberta Pandas women’s rugby title the lone change. UBC men’s soccer and Trinity Western Spartans women’s soccer made it two straight championships, while Thunderbirds field hockey won its third in a row.

In football, the Calgary Dinos made it six conference championships in a row and went on to claim victory over CIS #1-ranked Western in the Mitchell Bowl. At the 49^th Vanier Cup, it was Laval coming out ahead at their home stadium in a hard-fought battle that remained a one-point game heading to the final quarter.

Cross country saw Victoria win the men’s team banner, with Trinity Western claiming a conference banner on the women’s side. Matthew Johnson (Regina) and Alison Jackson (Trinity Western) were Canada West individual champions.

For each national title won by Canada West there was also a Tournament MVP and an All-Tournament team announced.

At each CIS national championship awards were handed out and all-Canadians named, celebrating all student-athletes and coaches in attendance, where Canada West received recognition across the board.

Overall, Canada West claimed seven individual CIS awards during the fall session and had 39 All-Canadians.

Canada West institutions will host five CIS national championship events in February and March, with University of Regina host women’s volleyball and curling, University of Calgary the host for men’s volleyball, University of Alberta the site of track & field and the University of Saskatchewan hosts the University Cup men’s hockey tournament to conclude the 2013-14 season.

Fall 2013 CIS Nationals

(Canada West team results & individual honours)

Cross Country

(hosted in London, Ont. by Western University)

The University of Victoria Vikes won the conference men’s title for a fourth consecutive season and placed sixth overall in CIS, while the Trinity Western Spartans won their first-ever cross country team banner on the women’s side at the CIS championships in London, Ont., finishing fourth in the overall standings.

CIS Award

• Student-Athlete Community Service Award: Kyle Irvine, Victoria

All-Canadians (4)

Men

First Team

• 5. Matthew Johnson, Regina, 31:21.8
• 6. Ryan Cassidy, Victoria, 31:25.6

Women

First Team

• 5. Alison Jackson, Trinity Western, 21:25.1

Second Team

• t-14. Rebekah Sass, Manitoba, 22:19.4

Field Hockey

(at University of Victoria)

UBC won a record 15^th McCrae Cup, where Abigail Raye won individual MVP honours at the tournament, hosted by the University of Victoria Vikes. T-Bird teammates Caitlin Evans, Miranda Mann, Sara McManus and Natalie Sourisseau joined Raye on the All-Tournament roster. The host Vikes, also 2013 conference champions, placed second at Nationals and placed three on the tournament roster – Sheridan Goodmanson, Kyla Kirby, and Kathleen Leahy.

CIS Tournament Results

Gold: UBC 4 Victoria 1

Championship MVP

• Abigail Raye, UBC

Tournament All-Stars (8)

• Caitlin Evans, UBC
• Miranda Mann, UBC
• Sara McManus, UBC
• Abigail Raye, UBC
• Natalie Sourisseau, UBC
• Sheridan Goodmanson, Victoria
• Kyla Kirby, Victoria
• Kathleen Leahy, Victoria

CIS Award

• Gail Wilson Award (outstanding contributor): Miranda Mann, UBC

All-Canadians (4)

• Defender: Rachel Donohoe, UBC
• Midfield/Defender: Kathleen Leahy, Victoria
• Forward: Kate Gillis, UBC
• Forward: Hannah Haughn, UBC

Football

Mitchell Bowl

• Calgary 44 Western 3

49^th Vanier Cup

(at Quebec City)

• Laval 25 Calgary 14

CIS Award

• TSN Russ Jackson Award (Academic, Skill, Citizenship): Andrew Buckley, Calgary

All-Canadians (16)

FIRST TEAM

Offence

• RB Mercer Timmis, Calgary
• RB Anthony Coombs, Manitoba
• G Jas Dhillon, UBC

Defence

• DT Donovan Dale, UBC
• LB Doctor Cassama, Calgary
• HB Cyril Iwanegbe, Calgary

Special Teams

• P Quinn van Gylswyk, UBC
• K Johnny Mark, Calgary

SECOND TEAM

Offence

• IR Nic Demski. Manitoba
• WR Addison Richards, Regina
• C Sean McEwen, Calgary
• T Alec Pennell, UBC
• G Sukh Chungh, Calgary

Defence

• DE Joel Seutter, Saskatchewan
• FS Mark Ingram, Saskatchewan
• CB Tevaughn Campbell, Regina

Women’s Rugby

(at Université Laval in Quebec City)

Tournament MVP Chelsea Guthrie led the Alberta Pandas to a record sixth Monilex Trophy, their first CIS banner since 2003. The All-Tournmaent team included Guthrie and five other Pandas – Sabrina Kelly, Amee Svatos, Julia Goss, Alanna Fittes and Rebecca Fairbairn.

CIS Tournament Result

• Gold: Alberta 29 Guelph 10

Championship MVP

• Chelsea Guthrie, Alberta

All-Tournament Team (6)

• Hooker: Sabrina Kelly, Alberta
• Backrow: Amee Svatos, Alberta
• Scrum-half: Chelsea Guthrie, Alberta
• Outside center: Julia Goss, Alberta
• Wing: Alanna Fittes, Alberta
• Fullback: Rebecca Fairbairn, Alberta

CIS Awards

• Rookie of the Year: DaLeaka Menin, Calgary
• Student-Athlete Community Service: Tarin Arndt, Calgary 

All-Canadians (3)

• Prop: Samantha Crandell, Calgary
• Scrum: Chelsea Guthrie, Alberta
• Back: Miranda Monty, Alberta

Men’s Soccer

(at UNB in Fredericton)

Also marking a record in CIS, UBC men’s soccer won its 13^th all-time Sam Davidson Memorial Trophy, nine more than any other school in Canadian university history.

Niall Cousens, who scored four goals in the Thunderbirds’ Canada West final victory, stood tall throughout Nationals and was named Tournament MVP. UBC defender Paul Clerc and midfielder Milad Mehrabi also made the All-Tournament list.

CIS Tournament Results

• Gold: UBC 3 Laval 1
• 5th: Montreal 1 Saskatchewan 0 (PK)

Tournament MVP

• Niall Cousens – UBC

Tournament All-Stars (3)

• Defence: Paul Clerc – UBC
• Midfield: Milad Mehrabi – UBC
• Forward: Niall Cousens – UBC

CIS Award

• Coach of the Year: Dick Mosher, UBC

All-Canadians (5)

First Team

• Goalkeeper: Elliot Mitrou, Victoria
• Defender: Paul Clerc, UBC
• Midfielder: Reynold Stewart, UBC

Second Team

• Defender: Andrew Ravenhill, Victoria
• Midfielder: Brett Levis, Saskatchewan

Women’s Soccer

(at University of Toronto)

Despite a relatively short history in CIS, Trinity Western equalled the most national champoionships with their fifth Gladys Bean Trophy in the last decade. Alberta, conference champions after defeating Trinity Western in overtime at the Canada West final, won bronze at 2013 Nationals.

Midfielder Vanessa Kovacs was selected Most Valuable Player of the event, with four other Spartans and two Pandas on the All-Tournament roster.

For TWU, along with Kovacs, it was goalkeeper Rachel Bedek, Colleen Webber on defence, veteran midfielder Natalie Boyd and striker Krista Gommeringer, who scored three goals including the tournament-winner, who made the All-Tournament team. Defender Shalla Kadima and midfielder Laura Kautz of Alberta were also selected.

CIS Tournament Results

• Gold: Trinity Western 1 Montreal 0
• Bronze: Alberta 1 Cape Breton 0

Tournament MVP

• Vanessa Kovacs – Trinity Western

Tournament All-Stars (7)

• Goalkeeper: Rachel Bedek – Trinity Western
• Defence: Shalla Kadima – Alberta
• Defence: Colleen Webber – Trinity Western
• Midfield: Laura Kautz – Alberta
• Midfield: Vanessa Kovacs – Trinity Western
• Midfield: Natalie Boyd – Trinity Western
• Striker: Krista Gommeringer – Trinity Western

CIS Award

• Student-Athlete Community Service: Julia Ignacio, Alberta

All-Canadians (7)

First Team

• Defender: Brigitte Greig, Victoria
• Midfielder: Vanessa Kovacs, Trinity Western
• Striker: Julia Ignacio, Alberta

Second Team

• Goalkeeper: Alyssa Williamson, UBC
• Defender: Shalla Kadima, Alberta
• Midfielder: Jaclyn Sawicki, Victoria
• Striker: Krista Gommeringer, Trinity Western

Fall 2013 Canada West Champions

• Men’s cross country: Victoria (4^th consecutive)
• Women’s cross country: Trinity Western (1^st ever)
• Women’s field hockey: Victoria (1^st since 2002)
• Football: Calgary (record 6^th consecutive) & Mitchell Bowl (1^st Bowl victory since 2010)
• Women’s rugby: Alberta (2^nd consecutive, record 9^th overall)
• Men’s soccer: UBC (2^nd consecutive, 15^th overall)
• Women’s soccer: Alberta (1^st since 2001)

Upcoming CIS Tournaments

(those hosted by Canada West members)

Men’s Volleyball: Feb. 27-March 1 @ Calgary

Women’s Volleyball: Feb. 28-March 2 @ Regina

Track & Field: March 7-9 @ Alberta

Curling: March 19-23 @ Regina

Men’s Hockey (University Cup): March 20-23 @ Saskatoon