FALL 2019 MILESTONES AND MOMENTS

The Garnet and Grey had another memorable fall filled with many accolades and standout performances as well as important community events. Looking back on the last four months reveals big moments for individuals and teams across all varsity and varsity club programs.

Team success:

The women's rugby team won its sixth consecutive RSEQ Conference title and its fifth straight medal at the national championships, earning the U SPORTS bronze medal on home field. The men's golf team won the OUA silver medal this season, and the men's rugby team advanced to the RSEQ semifinals for the first time. The football team finished fourth in the regular season and hosted a semifinal game for the second straight year. Overall, the four Gee-Gees outdoor fall team sports posted a regular season record of 23-8-3.

Eight Gee-Gees teams have been ranked in the U SPORTS Top Tens so far this season, including women's soccer and women's basketball at number one. The men's basketball and hockey teams have been ranked as high as number three in the nation, so the winter championship season looks to feature plenty of Garnet and Grey. 

The women's soccer team finished off their fall with an amazing performance at the FISU World Cup, winning the inaugural tournament with a perfect 5-0 record and also won the tournament's Fair Play award.

Milestones for coaches:

Andy Sparks became the longest serving head coach in women's basketball history as he began his twelfth season. He has also surpassed the 200-win plateau, with a regular season and playoff record of 205-87 (.702). James Derouin is in the midst of his tenth season as head coach of the men's basketball team and marked his 150^th regular season win. Derouin now holds a career regular season record of 151-49 (.755), and he set a new team record for combined regular season and playoff wins at 235.

Steve Johnson recorded the seventh undefeated season of his career as head coach of the soccer team, and won his sixth OUA Coach of the Year award. Stephanie Crawley was named the RSEQ Coach of the Year for men's rugby, and Chelsea Grills recorded her first career win as head coach of the women's hockey team in her first game behind the bench, guiding the Gee-Gees to a 2-1 win over nationally ranked Montreal. Jamie Barresi moved into third place in all-time regular season wins in football team history, with his career record now at 35-21. The Gee-Gees also celebrated Dr. Gary Greenberg for his 40 years of working as a team physician with the Garnet and Grey. 

Records watch: 

The women's soccer team saw Mikayla Morton set a new team record with 17 goals in the team's 14-game regular season, which was also the best goals per game rate in team history. The soccer team also recorded the 1000th goal in team history. Carter Matheson (1952 receiving yards), Cody Cranston (10 interceptions), and Kalem Beaver (1436 punt return yards) added their names to the career leaders in football team history, and Kevin Domingue, Cody Drover, and Mélodie Bouchard are moving up the ranks in Gee-Gees hockey scoring history. Domingue and Drover each reached the 100-point milestone already while Bouchard sits at 94. Bouchard's potential 100^th career point would also make her the team's all-time points leader. Domingue is chasing the career goals record of 67 – at 65 he is three away from breaking that record. 

Women's basketball player Angela Ribarich is leading the nation in blocks with 23, and is five away from 100 blocks in her Gee-Gees career. Calvin Epistola is within reach of 1000 points in his men's basketball career, while women's volleyball player Kara Hayes has surpassed 100 kills in a season already for the third time in her five-year career.

William Barrett has established two new swim team records this fall while Mackenzie Finkbeiner broke the longest standing record on the team's list, and Davide Casarin lowered the mark in the 800m freestyle and now holds the most individual team records. 

All-Stars and All-Canadians: 

There were 19 conference all-stars, five All-Canadians, one conference All-Rookie, and one U SPORTS All-Rookie in Garnet and Grey this fall. Katherine Bearne made soccer program history by being the first player to be named to the All-Canadian team three times. She is also just the second player in program history to be selected to the OUA All-Star teams for all five seasons of her career. Alex Ondo also made team history by being the first women's rugby player named an All-Canadian three times. uOttawa was represented at the U SPORTS Cross Country National Championships by Rebecca Brennan and Nicolas Roberts. Mikayla Morton won the OUA MVP for women's soccer and Madison Grant was the RSEQ Rookie of the Year in women's rugby. 

Highlights in the community:

As part of hosting the U SPORTS 2019 Women's Rugby National Championship, the Gee-Gees organized a Women in Sport panel and words of wisdom speeches at the gala which were impactful for all participants. Throughout the fall, the men's and women's basketball teams have been conducting school visits throughout the City, and a huge contingent of over 200 local Girl Guides descended on Montpetit Hall to earn a badge at a women's volleyball game. The future stars program continues to bring kids into the Gee-Gees hockey teams' game day experience.

The Gee-Gees also celebrated the 2018-19 Academic All-Canadians and had Katherine Bearne and Meredith Sirrs selected as the conference major award winners for Community Service in soccer and Leadership and Engagement in rugby, respectively, and the Gee-Gees student-athlete council successfully organized a food and toy drive which provided much needed donations to local organizations.

Looking ahead: 2020

The Gee-Gees will co-host the 2020 U SPORTS Men's and Women's Basketball National Championships at TD Place, March 5-8. The no. 4 ranked Gee-Gees men are guaranteed a berth at nationals as hosts, while the no. 3 ranked Gee-Gees women must win their way in as Carleton holds the host berth on the women's side.

Regular season play resumes on January 4 as men's hockey travels to Concordia.