Tag: Football

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Stingers prevail in nail biter against Rouge et Or

Thanks to a key defensive play by first-year forward Natasha Raposo, the Concordia Stingers women’s basketball team was able to secure a 62-60 win over the Laval Rouge et Or.

With approximately three seconds left in the game, Laval’s Chanelle St-Amour dribbled the ball towards mid-court in a last ditch attempt to get a shot off that would either tie or win the game. However, before  she could advance the ball past the half court line, she was met by Stingers guard Magalie Beaulieu who then forced her left towards the sideline. Before she could adjust or make a pass to a teammate, Raposo came over and trapped her against the sideline. With absolutely nowhere to go, St-Amour was forced to hold onto the ball as time expired.

“We got a tremendous defensive stop at the end of the game,” said Stingers head coach Keith Pruden. “Magalie forced the girl left and Raposo came up and trapped. It was an awesome defensive play. [Raposo] picked the right time and the right place.”

“I knew there wasn’t much time left on the clock and I knew that she was one of their star players and would want the last shot,” said Raposo. “When I saw her with her head down I figured ‘why not?’ Good thing my teammates were there to pick up the player that I left behind.”

In a night that saw a plethora of ties and lead changes, it came as little surprise that the game would come down to a single all-important play. The game was very scrappy and physical and was hotly contested from the opening whistle to closing buzzer. Both teams were locked in a virtual seesaw battle in a game in which no single quarter of play was decided by more than two points.

While pleased with the result and proud of his team’s determination, Pruden came away impressed by the opposing team’s performance. “It was a very close game and I have to say that Laval played very well. I’ve watched a number of their tapes so far this year and this was probably the best game they’ve played this year.”

Stingers guard Kaylah Barrett, who scored 22 points and grabbed six rebounds in the victory, was not at all surprised by Laval’s level of play, given the recent history between both squads. “It was a tough game,” she said. “Last year we beat Laval four times. They were definitely coming at us and they weren’t backing down at all. They came out and played hard and we just fought back.”

 

The Stingers will host the Bishop’s University Gaiters this Friday at 6 p.m. If they win, they will become the first Stingers women’s basketball team to begin a season 3-0 in a little over a decade.

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Friday night dramatics earn Stingers weekend split

Dominic Martel (8) checks Robert Kay (20) in a losing effort. Photo by Anthony Isabella

It speaks volumes to the Concordia Stingers’ offence that the team is 2-2 in its past four games, despite allowing a total of 27 goals in those four contests.

Dominic Martel (8) checks Robert Kay (20) in a losing effort. Photo by Anthony Isabella

After an 11-6 loss on the road to Nipissing last week, Concordia had the Lakers in Ed Meagher Arena Friday night to try and right the defensive disaster from the week before.

Trailing Nipissing 6-3 with eight minutes left in the third period, it certainly didn’t look like Concordia learned its lesson, as the team seemed destined for another blow-out loss.

Then the offence awoke.

With just over seven minutes remaining in the third Samuel Morneau got Concordia back within two goals. The pendulum of momentum shifted further to Concordia’s side just over a minute and a half later when Olivier Jannard set up Mathieu Dubuc for Concordia’s fifth goal.

George Lovatsis would play the role of hero in dramatic fashion tying the game with just 28 seconds left on the clock.

After a scoreless overtime Francois Lanctot-Marcotte would seal the victory for the Stingers, scoring in the seventh round of the shoot-out.

“It was an exciting game for everybody coming back against a top 10 team like that,” said Stingers coach Kevin Figsby. “That was certainly one of the highlights of our first semester.”

The situation was inverted when the Toronto Varsity Blues strolled into Ed Meagher the very next day. Concordia defeated Toronto last week 4-3 in the Varsity Blues’ home barn. This time around it was Toronto playing the roll of spoiler for the home team.

Concordia took a 1-0 lead into the second period, when the wheels suddenly fell off. Toronto tallied for goals in the second frame, en route to a 7-3 victory.

“I think the problem was we went from the highest of the high to having to come back out the next day for another game,” said Figsby. “I think from my perspective our guys looked a little bit fatigued and that hurt us in the second and third periods on Saturday.”

Concordia allowed over 40 shots in both games, something that is becoming a normal occurrence for the team that has allowed more pucks on net than any other team in the nation.

Still, coach Figsby is not too concerned. “I’m certainly not worried in net, I think we’ve got three of the best goalies in the league,” he said. “I think part of it is our learning curve with our defence. There aren’t too many teams in the league who have added three first year players to their blue line.”

With the weekend split, Concordia now has a record of 7-5-2 and sits in the middle of the pack in the OUA’s East Division.

The Stingers will spend next weekend on the road, playing on the unusually small ice surfaces at Ryerson and RMC on Nov. 25 and 26.

Coach Figsby is spending the week with the team preparing for the smaller neutral zones on the short and narrow rinks.

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Warrior effort by Carabins’ Barker thumps the Stingers

Battling in front in the Stingers lopsided loss. Photo by Anthony Isabella
Battling in front in the Stingers lopsided loss. Photo by Anthony Isabella

They whacked their sticks against the boards to start periods like warriors knocking their swords against their shields. They played like warriors, too.

The Concordia Stingers felt the intensity of the Université de Montréal Carabins Sunday losing 7-1.

It was the second straight loss to the Carabins by the Stingers, which leaves them at the middle of the standings in third place.

Things did not start off well for Concordia as Montréal scored three goals within the first seven minutes of the first period. Montréal dominated the period leaving little room for the Stingers to capitalize.

Concordia was able to settle the storm somewhat in the middle of the period. The calm, however, was just a reprieve from an oncoming storm courtesy of one fierce Carabin.

Five minutes before the end of the opening period, Ariane Barker scored her second and far from final goal.

Period one ended 4-0.

“I feel good because my last game was not very good,” said Barker. “We have a good team. We are complete.”

The second period opened in a cagey fashion with the Stinger defence holding strong. Montréal had Concordia pinned in its own zone for about five minutes, but credit the Stinger defence and the goalkeeping of Carolanne Lavoie-Pilon for keeping the game respectable.

At the 11-minute mark, Concordia got on the board when Alyssa Sherrard converted a slick cross-goalmouth pass from Véronique Laramée-Paquette.

The joy was short-lived, however, as Barker struck again keeping the Carabins’ lead at four.

Lavoie-Pilon made a couple of nice saves in the final five minutes of the period, and there was the feeling that if the Stingers kept it tight, they just may be able to get back into the game.

The Stingers did not lay down in the third, and came out with intensity making more forays into the Carabins zone.

Though they got far more pucks on the net, the Stingers were unable to get anything passed goalie Rachel Ouellette.

Eight minutes into the third, Montréal put the game out of reach with a two on one goal from, you guessed it, Barker.

Five minutes before the period’s end, Barker scored again making it a hat-trick plus two for the Napierville, Que. native.

The game was a frustrating one for Concordia, who worked hard, but saw its work bear little fruit.

“There was effort, but it wasn’t directed in the right direction,” said assistant captain Meghan George. “We weren’t angling right. We got two next weekend, so that’s what we’re going to build towards.”

 

Concordia plays Carleton next Saturday, before their final game of the year 2011 against McGill on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Ed Meagher Arena.

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Stingers cross-country still making strides forward

Sofiane Guend finished eighth at the provincial championship. Photo by Jennie Roy

The Stingers cross-country team ran through the finish line of their 2011 season in Quebec City on Saturday.

Sofiane Guend finished eighth at the provincial championship. Photo by Jennie Roy

It was a long season of ups and downs for the team, with everyone involved being proud of what they accomplished, but also hoping to improve on things in the future.

“We had a good season,” said coach John Lofranco. “Considering the men were one of only three Stingers fall sports teams to finish the regular season with a winning record, I’d say we did well.”

Individually, captain Ryan Noel-Hodge had the best season of any runner, despite having his year marred by illness. Even after some strong performances, Noel-Hodge was still frustrated with how his season went. “I seem to always be struck with bad luck,” he said.

Noel-Hodge finished sixth at the University of Western Ontario invitational, a race featuring strong competition. Unfortunately he was never able to build on the momentum. “After that result things went downhill for me. Because of a stubborn cold and conditions that deprived me of good sleep, I was unable to train properly and to race to my full potential,” he said.

Noel-Hodge believed that had he been healthy he would have been a favourite to win the RSEQ provincial title. He instead finished in ninth place, one behind teammate Sofiane Guend.

Guend was in his last year as a Stinger and described the provincial championship as his “best race”.

At Sunday’s national championships, Noel-Hodge finished 47th out of 134 runners. He was also the fourth Quebec runner to cross the finish line, which is an improvement from his finish at provincials. He was still a bit disappointed, though. “My performance was not what I had originally set out to accomplish,” he said. “But I’m walking away from this season knowing that I’ve gotten stronger, and satisfied that I did what I did with the setbacks that I’ve had.”

Guend finished in 78th while Simon Driver finished 85th, running a memorable race to close an inspirational season.

“Simon Driver ran his guts out, literally. He puked as he crossed the line,” said Lofranco. “He’s a father of two young kids and that has kept his training to a minimum, so it was pretty impressive for him to have been able to pull off the run that he did.”

On the women’s side Dominique Roy had the highest finish of any of the Concordia women, placing 34th. Roy also had an impressive third place finish at the provincial championship.

Roy has battled a diaphragm problem all season, but was commended by her coach for improving her mental toughness over the course of the year.

The 2011 season was also a great learning experience for first-year runner Molly Howes, who made the transition to cross-country from soccer.

“It’s all really new to me,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed every second, even when I’m having an off day or the workout is really tough. I feel really lucky to be part of such a great team.”

Howes finished 120th at nationals, but her coach is expecting she will only go up from there. “With a full year of running-specific training behind her, she is going to be dangerous next year,” said Lofranco.

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Peaceful silence helps team make noise on the court

Basketball is a fast sport, filled with defensive pressure, quick passes and meticulous technique that could make or break the game. Little room is left for error.

Graphic by Maya Pankalla

When this amount of pressure is put on players it is no wonder that many teams have resorted to yoga and alternative therapies as a mental release. For the Concordia Stingers men’s basketball team, the release is group meditation.

A group of 6’5” giants sitting in a dark room and sharing a soothing meditation moment with their coach before a game may seem strange. For Concordia head coach John Dore, though, the positive results speak for themselves.

It all began when Dore was approached last year by Rob Hart, a former University of Arizona football player. Hart holds strong beliefs about the power of meditation in sports, and he had an idea for Dore.

“He approached me about doing something out of the box,” said Dore. “We’re always looking for an edge, something that will make you a little better than the next guy, so we tried it out with him.”

So what exactly is this meditation experience?

“We do it before every game. We turn off the lights and we just sit there in total silence and everybody kind of does their own thing for five minutes to visualize and prepare for the game, breathe, and relax,” said Dore. “It’s about breathing and meditating and slowing your heart rate, so we tried it with the kids on the team to see if they would like it and we did it as a group. Most of them bought into it right away.”

“Most of the guys like it, it’s a team thing,” said Stingers guard Decee Krah.

“I am a very open-minded person so I was willing to try it,” said forward James Clark, who was convinced when Hart showed them statistics of how different athletes improved when they started meditation. “If professional athletes are doing it, I am open to doing it.”

Indeed, over the years more and more professional athletes and teams have been embracing meditation, including the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers.

George Mumford, a sports psychologist who taught meditation to the Lakers and  coach Phil Jackson, said in a 2006 interview with Mind Body Awareness Project, a youth-geared non-profit, that meditation is “warrior training.”

“There’s a lack of self-consciousness, there’s a relaxed concentration, and there’s this sense of effortlessness, of being in the flow,” he said about player meditation.

According to the book Cognitive Models and Spiritual Maps by Jensine Andresen and Robert K.C. Forman, meditation has been proven to reduce heart rate and blood pressure, reduce chronic pain and improve sense of well-being.

The Stingers said that they visualize themselves successfully executing their plays in their minds while they meditate.

“We concentrate on our breathing and we visualize things that you want to focus on during the game,” said guard Kyle Desmarais. “So if you want to focus on defence or foul shots, or whatever you want to succeed, you visualize that while you meditate.”

Desmarais said that although people may be sceptical, he personally felt the positive effect of meditation on his performance on the basketball court. “I remember last year when I started my meditation, my free throws were something I really wanted to improve, and while I was doing the meditations I was shooting them at about 80 per cent, and then I stopped doing meditation, and it dropped down to about 60 per cent,” he said.

“I started again this year and so far I am 100 per cent from the free throw line,” he said with a grin.

Dore can agree with Desmarais. “When you go into shooting free throw you want to remain calm, so if you know how to breathe properly you can slow your heart rate and you can calm yourself down,” he said.

After adding group meditations for five minutes at a time before and after a game, the Stingers haven’t looked back.

If the meditation keeps working, Dore isn’t going to mess with the winning strategy.

“As long as the guys believe it and it seems to help us, we’ll do it.”

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Stingers go down in defensive struggle

Despite a solid effort by the Concordia Stingers, the women’s hockey team fell 2-1 to the Université de Montréal Carabins at home on Sunday afternoon.

The Stingers dominated puck possession in the first period, sustaining tremendous pressure and outshooting the Carabins. Still, it was Montréal who got on the board first, finding the back of the net through the five-hole of Stingers goalie Marie-Pier Remillard-Paquette. The goal was the result of Montréal’s first threatening rush, eight minutes into the period.

Moira Frier (90) can't quite jam home a loose puck in 2-1 loss. Photo by Anthony Isabella

Concordia also played a strong defensive game early on. In the first period, Alexandra D’Ambrosio saved a potential two on one rush for Montréal, after chasing down a loose puck before the Carabins could gain possession.

Concordia’s Audrey Gariepy tied the game with just over a minute left in the first period, just after Concordia’s power play expired. Both teams were unable to capitalize on the power play throughout the game.

“I wasn’t happy with our forecheck today,” said head coach Les Lawton. “Going into the game, we wanted to establish a forecheck, and we never really established one. We’ve got to get more pucks to the net.”

To open the second period, Stinger Veronique Laramee-Paquette made a nice solo effort to create a scoring chance on the Carabins net-minder. The effort, however, was unrewarded and the game remained tied.

Remillard-Paquette brought some stellar goaltending to Concordia, continuing her strong work throughout the second period, stopping all shots fired at her. Montréal flexed its offensive prowess in the second period, generating more chances than Concordia.

The Carabins also killed off a short five-on-three.

“We did a great job with our penalty kills, and our goaltending was solid,” said Lawton.

The third period saw the Stingers play more defensive hockey, and spend more time in their own zone. Both teams exchanged chances throughout the period, with a stretch of four-on-four play opening the game up. Both teams’ goalies made some formidable saves, though, to keep the game tied.

It was a tightly contested game and was a matter of which team would blink first.

Unfortunately for the Stingers, it was them.

As the game drew to a close, the Stingers gave up a partial break. The end result was a snap shot finding its way past Remillard-Paquette and into the back of the net.

It would prove to be the game winning goal in the 2-1 Stingers defeat.

“The bottom line is, we didn’t create enough chances for ourselves,” said Lawton. “It was a disappointing loss in the sense that we didn’t get a point out of it, but I thought it was a pretty even game.”

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Second period gale gets Stinger win over Queen’s

Concordia improved its record to 5-1 at home over the weekend with a 6-1 win against the Queen’s Golden Gaels on Saturday afternoon. Concordia has yet to win away from home, though, posting a 0-4 record outside the friendly confines of Ed Meagher Arena.

Samuel Morneau (7) scored in the Stingers 6-1 win over Queen's. Photo by Navneet Pall

Saturday’s game was a quick turnaround for the Stingers who had played Friday night at home against Ryerson, picking up a 3-1 win.

Concordia looked a bit sluggish in the first period, getting outshot by Queen’s 11-7, yet the Stingers still managed to get into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead, thanks to a goal by George Lovatsis.

The Stingers awoke in the second period, though, and buried Queen’s.

“It’s hard to play back-to-back [night and day games],” said Stingers coach Kevin Figsby. “We came out a little slow in the first period, but dominated the last 40 to 45 minutes.”

Just 46 seconds into the period, captain Eric Begin stretched the lead to two. With Queen’s goalie Steele De Fazio scrambling around searching for the puck, Alexandre Monahan circled behind the Gaels’ net and passed out to Begin who buried a low slap-shot into the open net.

The crushing dagger came later in the period when Queen’s was trailing 3-0, but were operating on the powerplay.

Stingers defenceman Etienne St. Germain gained control of the puck in his own end and sent a beautiful saucer pass over the head of a Queen’s defenceman, springing Charles-Antoine Messier on a partial breakaway.

Messier, fending off a back-checker, was able to deke De Fazio onto his stomach and bury a shot into the top of the net. Messier finished the game with two goals and an assist. He now has nine points in 10 games this season.

Concordia would add another goal in the second period, en route to the 6-1 thrashing.

“The key is to work hard,” said Messier. “We were trying to focus defensively, but still gave up a lot of shots. Fortunately our goalie played well and we won.”

Peter Karvouniaris got a rare start in net, in place of Nicholas Champion who was out with the flu. Karvouniaris faced 40 shots and made some spectacular saves in the win. “It feels good a couple days before to know you’re going to play,” said Karvouniaris. “It was good for me to get mentally prepared, and any opportunity you get you try to do the best you can.”

Concordia allowed 40 shots in a game for the fifth time this season (and have twice allowed 39), and has given up the most shots in the country.

Coach Figsby, though, says the numbers can be misleading and it isn’t something he’s concerned with. “Sometimes when you’re playing on the road the home team [score keepers] will pad their [shot count],” he said. “I think a couple times our shot total has been reversed with the other teams. Once that gets on a website there’s nothing you can do about it. We’ve won four of our last five games, so if that means giving up a few more shots I’ll take it.”

The Stingers’ next game is Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. on the road against Nippissing.

 

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Offensive outburst thrusts Stingers into playoffs

On the day when the Stingers needed their A-game the most, it was there. 

Needing a win, or a Bishop’s loss to Laval, Concordia left nothing to chance last Saturday at Molson Stadium, rolling over the McGill Redmen 58-30, and securing themselves a spot in the playoffs. In clinching the game, Concordia also won its ninth-straight Shaughnessy Cup match. The annual football showdown between Concordia and McGill has been taking place since 1969.

The Stingers were given a good fight by the Redmen in the first half, as they led by only three points heading into the second half, but 28 unanswered points in the third quarter sealed it for Concordia.

Concordia is now heading into the RSEQ playoffs as the fourth seed. They’ll travel to Quebec City next week to take on the Laval Rouge et Or.

Laval has already beaten Concordia twice this season, 36-8 and 37-4 in the two meetings. Both games were tough losses where the Stingers failed to score a touchdown in either meetings.

“The first time I think we played them really tough,” said Stingers coach Gerry McGrath. “The second game was our only bad game of the year. We just played terribly up there, and we’ve got a lot of work to do this week to prepare.”

As for the win over McGill, things started quickly for Concordia thanks to strong play on special teams from Kris Robertson.

The halfback has been impressive all season, and after a two-and-out from McGill on the opening drive, Robertson returned a punt 45 yards to the Redmen’s 35.

Raul Thompson scored on the very next play on a 35-yard run for the score. The Stingers and Redmen battled in the first half, with McGill looking to avoid a winless season.

McGill’s Austin Anderson kicked a 43-yard field goal in the final seconds of the half to cut the score to 20-17.

The Redmen had no answer for Concordia in the second half, as the Stingers moved the ball methodically with a short passing game. Concordia started the onslaught with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Sanchez Deschamps. On the next drive, they got the score quickly with a 65-yard touchdown pass to Michael Donnelly who caught the short screen pass and rumbled his way through and around the McGill defence to the end zone.

On McGill’s ensuing drive, linebacker Max Caron intercepted a pass in the red zone to stop the Redmen’s threat. Concordia turned that into more points, as Reid Quest found Kris Bastien for a 40-yard touchdown pass. On the ensuing kickoff, McGill fumbled, giving the Stingers the ball at the McGill 25-yard line. Once again, Concordia capitalized as Quest hit Edem Nyamadi for a five-yard touchdown pass. Quest finished the game with 23 completions on 31 attempts, with 356 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Caron made history in the second half, by breaking the RSEQ single season record for tackles, finishing the season with 78.5. In addition to that, he got his fifth interception of the season in the fourth quarter, and returned it 96 yards for the score.

Caron’s two interceptions brought his season total to five. He finished the season leading the CIS in tackles, solo tackles (67) and interceptions, making him the hands-on favourite to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.

“I just try to come out strong every week,” said Caron. “I’m blessed to have such a great unit around me. I’m fortunate enough to make the plays I did, but the guys around me have been a tremendous help.”

McGrath agrees that Caron deserves the award, but not just for his numbers. “He’s just had a phenomenal year, but what doesn’t show up on his stat sheet is how great of a leader he is.”

McGill added some points late when the game was out of hand, blocking a punt for a score and a late touchdown pass by Ryne Bondy to Michael Chitayat. Bondy broke the school’s single game record for pass attempts with 65.

Now Concordia will look for the huge upset on the road this Saturday. The odds are stacked against them. Laval may beat Concordia nine times out of 10, but all it takes is one win in football.

 

Concordia takes on Laval in Quebec City on Nov. 5 at 1 p.m. in the RSEQ semi-finals.

 

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Concordia loses to McGill in Friday night fight

Stingers lose a chippy game to McGill. Photo by Navneet Pall

The Stingers were in an uproar Friday night after a McGill Redmen shoved Concordia goalie Nicholas Champion, inciting a free-for-all of flying fists.

Stingers lose a chippy game to McGill. Photo by Navneet Pall

Stingers centre Alexis Piette received a fighting major and a game misconduct, and will be suspended as a result.

Despite losing a player for the next game, Concordia head coach Kevin Figsby supported the actions of his players.

“It was cheap and uncalled for,” said Figsby of McGill’s roughing up of Champion. “I’m proud of the guys that stood up for [Champion]. Nobody can do that to us.”

Concordia defeated McGill the previous week in an emotional home win, but extracurricular factors may have played in to Friday’s loss. Figsby said that his players have been tired and stressed all week following midterms. He called the evening a pretty big learning curve.

The Stingers got off to a strong start as they dominated the first period. George Lovatsis scored a goal four minutes in to put the Stingers up 1-0 early. Six minutes later, Alexandre Monahan scored his fourth goal of the season to put Concordia up 2-0.

The Redmen, though, would not relent in the second period. McGill outshot a defensively non-existent Stingers team 18-7 in the second frame.

The end result of the barrage of shots was not surprising. Just 52 seconds into the period, Evan Vossen scored to pull McGill within a goal.

Just under three minutes later, Concordia watched their two-goal lead disappear when Guillaume Langelier-Parent tied the game for McGill.

McGill would bury Concordia for good just over five minutes into the third period.

Alex Picard-Hooper’s shot got past Champion putting the Redmen up 3-2, and ending McGill’s uncharacteristic two-game losing streak.

“We have to follow the game plan better for 60 minutes,” said Stingers defenceman Adam Strumas.

“We need to pull everything together and succeed,” said Champion.

If the Stingers hope to succeed moving forward, they must tighten up their play defensively. Perhaps the biggest cause for concern in the loss was the fact that for the sixth time in eight games, the Stingers were outshot by their opponents. They have allowed more shots on goal than any team in the CIS.

Champion has been able to answer the call more often than not for Concordia, posting a .930 save-percentage (placing him near the top of the CIS) in spite of having a 3.39 goals-against average.

Concordia undoubtedly has strength in the crease, but if the team wants to have true success on the ice this year, they will need to rely on more than just their masked saviour.

 

Concordia next takes the ice on Nov. 4 at home at 7:30 p.m. when they host the Ryerson Rams.

 

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The journey continues in other ways after final out

(Left to right) Marco Masciotra, Jason Katz, Marshall Johnston and Matthew Jacobson played their final games in a Concordia Stingers uniform. Photo by Brian Berkovits

For some players, the bitter pit in their stomach was more than just the feeling of a tough loss to a worthy opponent.

As pitcher Matthew Jacobson, catcher Marshall Johnston, shortstop Marco Masciotra and second baseman Jason Katz watched Durham College make the final out in the CIBA semi-finals, they were also watching the final curtain close on their university baseball careers.

All four players were in their final year of eligibility with the Stingers. For them, there is no “we’ll get ‘em next year.”

“When we were down in the seventh with a couple outs left, it really hit me that it was all over, and I got pretty emotional,” said Jacobson. “Guys congratulated me on the year I’d had, but winning the tournament was what I’d wanted. It was nice to go out on a personal high with the All-Canadian Award as well as a load of memories.”

As captain of the team, Katz tried his hardest to deal with the emotional anvil the best he could before the tournament, as he worried it could affect his on-field performance.

“I tried not to let the fact that it was my last season affect my play, but as the season was coming to an end, it was unavoidable to start putting things into perspective,” he said.

Katz said analyzing everything his team accomplished helped him deal with the fact that his career was drawing to a close. This led to better focus on the field. Unlike his three graduating teammates, though, Katz admitted he will be taking a break from the sport to spend time with his fiancée and other ambitions.

Masciotra is presently weighing his options to go play professional baseball in Italy. Johnston and Jacobson are hoping to stay involved in the game other ways, whether it be coaching, or playing in competitive adult leagues.

“I will always be a part of baseball. It’s not just a sport, its a way of life,” said Johnston.

“I’ve promised myself I won’t turn to softball until my arm falls off,” added Jacobson.

Even professional athletes have attested to the fact that the most difficult part of leaving a sport is not missing the competition; it’s the loss of camaraderie and being a part of a team.

All four players said their years with Concordia were some of the most fun, and hilarious times they had on a ball diamond.

“A lot of crazy things have happened over the years, but I would have to say our team breaking into song [‘Roses’ by Outkast] in the middle of a game was [most] bizarre,” said Masciotra.

Fortunately for the players, while their time as Stingers is over, the relationships they’ve forged are not.

“I’m from B.C. and when I came here to play baseball I had nobody,” said Johnston. “[Manager Howard Schwartz] became my father away from home. We’d have team meetings that turned into family dinners at his place.”

All four players who are leaving have been involved in an epoch of tremendously successful Stingers baseball, climaxing with a 2009 national championship. It has all helped the program gain much needed notoriety.

“I’m excited to see the program grow,” said Johnston. “Baseball players around Quebec are now wanting to be a part of the program. I’m just disappointed I won’t be here for another four years.”

The memories will last in the four players’ minds forever.

It’s knowing that they won’t be on the field again as a team that hurts the most.

 

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Sports Briefs

Men’s rugby

Concordia 13 Bishop’s 10

A second half comeback propelled the underdog Stingers into the RSEQ finals.
After a disappointing 1-4-1 season, the Stingers were playing on the road as the underdog against the Bishop’s Gaiters, with a trip to the conference championship on the line.
Bishop’s scored the lone try of the first half and put the Stingers in a hole early in the game.
Concordia’s Adriano D’Angelo converted a penalty late in the half, though, sending the Stingers into the break only trailing by two.
Concordia pulled ahead in the second half on the shoulders of full back Alex Ritchie. Ritchie took a pass 10 yards from the Bishop’s try area and muscled through the Gaiters’ defence to give Concordia the lead.
D’Angelo added another penalty score in the 79th minute to give Concordia a 13-5 lead. The penalty proved crucial, as Bishop’s scored a try just before the final whistle. It was too little too late, though, and Concordia came away victorious.
Concordia will be an even bigger underdog next week when they face the unbeaten McGill Redmen in the RSEQ finals. McGill beat Concordia in both of the teams’ meetings this season.
The game will be on Saturday at 1 p.m. at McGill’s Percival Molson Stadium.

Women’s hockey

Concordia 5 Montréal 4 (SO)

After scoring four goals in the second period, and jumping out to a 4-0 lead, the Concordia Stingers women’s hockey team decided to make the game interesting.
The Stingers staked the Univeristé de Montréal Carabins consecutive power plays midway through the second period. The Carabins took advantage both times and cut the Stingers’ lead in half.
With only 2:54 remaining in the second, Kim Deschênes scored for Montréal, sending the teams into intermission battling in a one-goal game.
Montréal completed the comeback scoring with under two minutes remaining in the game.
Having blown such a large lead and losing any momentum it would have been easy for the Stingers to fold in overtime. The Stingers, though, did not allow Montreal a single shot in the extra period and sent the game into a shoot-out.
Concordia goalie Marie-Pier Rémillard, after stopping 34 of 38 shots in the game, stonewalled the Carabins in the shoot-out, stopping all four skaters she faced.
Audrey Gariepy and Véronique Laramée-Paquette score in the shoot-out for Concordia to secure the team’s second win of the season.

Women’s soccer

Sherbrooke 4 Concordia 0
McGill 3 Concordia 0

A tough season came to an even tougher end for the Concordia women’s soccer team.
After a 5-0 win last week against the lowly Bishop’s Gaiters, the Stingers were blown out in their last two appearances on the pitch this season.
Concordia finished second to last in the RSEQ this season with a 2-9-3 record. Jennifer Duff led the team in scoring this season with four goals.

Categories
Sports

Stingers trounced 36-1 by Carabins in final home game

Kris Robertson returns a punt as he’s chased down by Mathieu Labelle. Robertson returned 11 punts for 75 yards. Photo by Navneet Pall

The situation on Saturday afternoon was simple for the Concordia Stingers: win and you’re in.
Unfortunately for the Stingers, they squandered the opportunity to clinch the final RSEQ playoff berth, losing to the Université de Montréal Carabins 36-1.

Kris Robertson returns a punt as he’s chased down by Mathieu Labelle. Robertson returned 11 punts for 75 yards. Photo by Navneet Pall

Concordia would have also been guaranteed a playoff berth if McGill upset Bishop’s in their game. McGill, though, couldn’t hold on, and allowed Bishop’s to score a winning touchdown with just 23 seconds left in the game. Concordia and Bishop’s now have identical 3-5 records.
Despite the deadlock, Concordia’s circumstances are much more desirable heading in to next week.
The Stingers not only hold the tiebreaker over Bishop’s, but also get to face the winless McGill Redmen, while Bishop’s must play on the road against the nationally ranked Laval Rouge et Or, who crushed Bishop’s in the teams previous meeting.
Still, the Stingers are hoping to control their own destiny.
“I think [Bishop’s] have got one foot on the grave and one on the banana peel,” said Stingers head coach Gerry McGrath. “We definitely have an advantage on them, but we’re not going to leave it to Laval to eliminate them. We’re going to play our butts off next week.”
The Stingers are confident they can beat an inferior opponent like McGill. It has been games like Saturday’s, though, that demonstrate how far the Stingers are from competing with the big dogs in the perennially competitive RSEQ.
Saturday was a tale of missed opportunities and youthful mistakes that made it impossible for Concordia to compete against such admirable foes as the Carabins.
Max Caron intercepted a pass early in the first quarter inside Carabins territory, providing Concordia with a golden opportunity to put points on the board and gain some momentum early in the game.
Keegan Treloar would eventually miss a 32-yard field goal, one of his three misses on the day. Concordia came away with nothing and wasted chances became the recurring theme of the afternoon.
“This was a tough one to explain,” said Stingers quarterback Reid Quest. “The defence held up, the offence moved the ball, but we just couldn’t capitalize when we needed to.”
Shortly after the missed field goal, Montreal would drive 64 yards in just over two and half minutes, capping the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run by quarterback Alexandre Nadeau-Piuze.
Concordia was back inside enemy territory again early in the second quarter, and once again threw their opportunity into the wind.
With the ball on the Carabins 30-yard line quarterback, Reid Quest fumbled the snap. Concordia recovered the ball, but not before it was knocked, kicked and juggled 20 yards backwards to mid-field. The Stingers went from looking at a first-and-10 to a second-and-30. The drive ended with no points and plenty of frustration.
“That’s the million dollar question,” said Quest, when asked why the Stingers offence seemed to stall anytime they were in scoring position.
Trailing 12-1 late in the second quarter, a breakdown in coverage allowed Montreal to pull ahead further.
Nadeau-Piuze hooked up with a wide open Alexandre Fortier-Labonté for a 55-yard touchdown pass. Nadeau-Piuze finished with 299 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Despite the missed field goal, fumble and deep touchdown pass, coach McGrath believed the real turning point of the game was early in the third quarter when Montreal put together a 68-yard drive that finished with a field goal, putting the Stingers down 22-1.
“I think the touchdown before the half hurt, but I think their long drive [in the third quarter] was the biggest turning point,” he said. “You can get over [a miscommunication on defence], but for them to come out like that when we were rejuvenated after the half took some wind out of us.”
Montreal orchestrated another long drive later in the quarter, this time finishing in the endzone, extinguishing any flicker of hope Concordia may have had.
Concordia must now head back to the drawing board as they head up the mountain to face McGill next week in the biggest game of the season.
Coach McGrath confirmed that Quest will start behind centre for the Stingers next week. In his rookie season Quest has been inconsistent, though not terrible, as he has been able to hold his own in his first CIS season. Quest completed 22 of 41 passes, for 263 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions against Montreal.
Concordia won the last meeting against McGill 39-16 on Oct. 8.

Concordia plays at McGill on Saturday, Oct. 29. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

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