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A roundup of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Gaels teams and athletes competing over the weekend:

CROSS COUNTRY

It was a 1-2 finish in the OUA women's cross country championship for the sister duo of Brogan and Branna MacDougall leading ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ to its second straight OUA championship title.

WOMEN
For the majority of the women's race, the trio of Brogan, Branna and Western Mustang Kristina Popadich held the lead. Brogan, who has won all three races she has competed in this season, broke away in a time of 28:03 followed by her sister Branna who crossed at 28:34. 

Another rookie for ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Makenna Fitzgerald was not far behind finishing fourth in a time of 28:48. Kara Blair also finished in an all-star position for ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ coming in seventh in a time of 29:15. Laura Yantha rounded out the Gaels scorers with a 20th place finish in a time of 30:52.

As a team, the Gaels finished with 34 points, six ahead of second-place Toronto.

MEN
Despite being the No. 8 ranked team in U SPORTS with three OUA schools ranked above them, the Gaels men's team proved their strength, placing second overall team to win the OUA silver medal with 59 points, 14 off of the first place McMaster Marauders.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ saw a fourth place finish from Mitchell de Lange (32:04), who was just ahead of the sixth place runner Mitchell Kirby (32:13). Matthew Flood (32:23) was also able to pick up an OUA All-Star spot coming in at 13th.

Ruben Sansom (32:28) finished 16th, earning top rookie honours, while Robert Kanko (32:34) was 20th to round out the Gaels scorers.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ will host both the 2018 and 2019 U Sports Cross Country Championships at Fort Henry. The 2018 race is set for Saturday, Nov. 10 with the women hitting the course at 1 pm followed by the men at 2 pm.

ROWING

The OUA Rowing Championships were held in St. Catharines, at the Canadian Henley Rowing Course, on Friday as inclement weather force the two-day event to be reduced to one.

Despite the change of schedule the Queen’s Gaels still brought their all as they came away with 11 medals, including nine gold medals and two silvers. The women placed second overall and the men's team finished third.

The Gaels’ Gavin Stone of was recognized as Male Athlete of the Year. Stone won gold medals in the single and double events.

The Women's Championship banner was ultimately decided in the last three events of the regatta. The Gaels won gold in five of 10 women's events but Western was able to pass the Gaels for top overall spot after the final three races.

The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ coaching staff was recognized with awards of distinction for their impressive results this season as coaches Michael Davidson and Rami Maassarani named male and female team coaches of the year.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

The No. 10 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Gaels defeated the Nipissing Lakers 5-1 to move on to the OUA semifinal.

After an early scare the Gaels bounced back as Jenny Wolever outpaced a defender and sent a low shot past the Lakers' goalkeeper in the second minute. Just a few minute later Alexandra Doane found Wolever in the box with a pass and it was 2-0.

The Lakers struck right back in the 11th minute  and the teams went into the half 2-1.

After the break Wolever completed the hat-trick with a goal in the 68th minute and then Frederique Poitras widened the lead with a strike in the 78th. Alicia Levy rounded out the 5-1 score with her goal in the 89th minute.

MEN’S SOCCER

The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Gaels fell in the first round of the OUA playoffs in a 1-0 loss to the Nipissing Lakers on Wednesday.

The Gaels gave it their all but weren't able to find the net after falling behind early when the Lakers scored in the 34th minute. The loss marks the second straight year the Gaels have fallen in the first round.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Gaels (1-1) earned a weekend split as the OUS volleyballs season got underway.

On Saturday, the Gaels hosted the Windsor Lancers and swept them in three sets 25-23, 29-27, 25-23. Caroline Livingston led the way with 15 kills and five aces, while Julia Wiercigroch added 10 kills and five blocks.

On Sunday the Gaels got out to a 2-1 set lead but the Western Mustangs (2-0) managed to win the final two sets in a closely-fought match 18-25, 26-24, 13-25, 25-23, 15-13.

The Gaels had strong days from Livingston was excellent with 15 kills, 13 digs, five aces and three blocks and Wiercigroch added 12 kills and seven digs.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Gaels (1-1) also earned an opening weekend split topping the Western Mustangs after losing to the Windsor Lancers in a pair of five-setters.

On Saturday, the Gaels battle back after losing the first two sets but were unable close the game in the deciding fifth set, losing to Windsor 17-25, 17-25, 38-36, 25-13, 9-15.

Zac Hutcheson and Mitchell Neuert both finished with 15 kills, while Zane Grossinger added five aces and 55 assists.

On Sunday, the host Gaels beat the Western Mustangs giving head coach Gabriel de Groot his first OUA regular-season victory.

In a reverse of the day before, the Gaels jumped out to a 2-0 set lead only to see the Mustangs puch the game to a fifth and deciding set. In the end the Gaels came through winning 25-22, 25-21, 20-25, 28-30, 17-15. Neuert finished with 21 kills and Joel Rudd added 17 kills.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Gaels (1-0) defeated the York Lions (0-1) 66-57 on Friday to open their OUA women's basketball season.

After a slow start the Gaels picked it up in the second quarter and took a 32-30 lead to the half. York responded after the break to take a nine-point lead but a strong fourth quarter sealed the win for the Gaels.

Veteran guard Marianne Alarie had a strong game with 26 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. 

MEN’S BASKETBALL

The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Gaels (1-0) kicked off their OUA men’s basketball season against the York Lions (0-1) coming away with an 89-76 win on Friday.

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ got off to a quick 20-5 start, highlighted by a big dunk from forward Tanner Graham. The Lions were able to chip away at the lead and the lead was at 40-28 at the break.

In the second half, the Gaels managed the game and were able to run out with a comfortable win.

Jaz Bains had a massive night with 37 points and six rebounds.

WOMEN’S HOCKEY

The ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Gaels (4-2-0-0) scored a pair of shutout victories on the weekend, beating the York Lions (1-2-0-0) 1-0 Friday and the Brock Badgers (2-1-0-0) 3-0 on Saturday.

Goalie Makenzy Arsenault recorded both shutouts, stopping all 42 shots sent her way.

In a hard-fought game on Friday against York, Katrina Manoukarakis scored the lone goal of the game midway through the first period.

On Saturday, Manoukarakis scored twice and Nicole Posesorski netted the first of her OUA career.

MEN’S HOCKEY

The No. 6 ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ men's hockey team (6-1-0) defeated the Laurier Golden Hawks (1-6-0) 6-2 on Saturday night capping off an undefeated weekend in Waterloo after beating the Warriors (2-4-2-2) 6-2 on Friday.

Spencer Abraham scored a pair of goals in the opening game while Slater Doggett, Graeme Brown, Liam Dunda and Duncan Campbell also got on the board.

On Saturday, Doggett scored twice while Spencer, Campbell, Dunda and Henry Thompson added goals.