Sports Sports Editor: Kimberly Shearon [email protected] Fastpitch team rallies around troops BY JESSIKA DAWNN ROYER said. “We simply want to raise awareness, as well as thank the The brave men and women who are Ravens fastpitch team played the fighting overseas.” University of Gee Gees The Gee Gees came out strong while paying homage to Canadian in the first inning after shortstop troops in Afghanistan Sept. 29. Allie Rutherford was deemed safe Almost every spectator wore on second base after a tough hit. red, a symbol of pride and support But the excellent hitting of the for Canadian troops overseas. Ravens in the third inning was not Players from both teams wore enough to keep the Gee Gees at special team shirts in Canadian bay. colours — the Ravens wore white; Ottawa first baseman Lindsey the Gee Gees wore red — that McLaughlin scored a terrific home read, “Support our Troops.” run in the fifth. Before the game started, specta- Despite a disappointing 8-0 tors listened to the singing of “O Raven loss and celebratory win for Canada” by a Carleton student. the Gee Gees, players on both Both teams lined up on the sides did not lose sight of the orig- SOPHIE BÉRAUD field and were addressed by inal initiative of the game. Colonel Rochette, Commandant of “Support Our Troops was a The Ravens and Gee Gees fastpitch teams dedicated their Sept. 29 game to Canadian troops overseas. the Canadian Support Unit in great idea. It boosted everyone’s Ottawa. spirits,” said Elissa Sivel, a pitcher making improvements. He also pointed out several and the Badgers He congratulated both teams for Ottawa. “We need to pull together as a team members are out due to twice each. for their efforts in the sport and And while the Gee Gees team. We unfortunately made a lot injury, and in one case, out due to “The rest of the weekend was thanked them for dedicating the enjoyed their win, assistant coach of mental errors,” said Raven the death of a family member. not stellar,” said Adams. “It was a game to Canadian troops. Scott Searle said his team still has catcher Kim Chorkawy. “We have a lot of injuries and fairly poor effort, but I think Raven head coach Norman a lot to work on. Adams said his team did not so our strongest players are not they’re best forgotten so that we Adams said he thought the event “Communication is one of our play as well as he would have here,” he said. “You’ve got to play can focus on our games next was an excellent idea, but stressed biggest goals to improve on this liked. the cards you’re dealt.” weekend.” it was not a political ploy. year,” he said. “[We didn’t play] terrifically The Ravens lost the four other He commended Raven “We are not trying to support Similarly, the Ravens recog- well. We scored [in] a couple of games they played between Sept. Michelle Cole, who returned to the Mr. [Jack] Layton or Mr. [Stephen] nized several errors in their own innings, but ultimately came out a 30 and Oct. 1. They played the team this weekend after battling a Harper by doing this event,” he game, and are looking forward to little bit flat.” McMaster University Marauders serious blood infection. Carleton improves record Ravens defeat Rams on home ice for first-ever win team takes over BY CATHERINE ZYDYK work on the number of penalties it takes. turf at Nepean The men’s “Penalties are definitely an hockey team took to the ice in its area for improvement,” he said. Sportsplex, and first varsity home game, and “We need to be more disciplined.” defeated the 5-3 Despite the amount of time his looks to secure Sept. 30. team spent in the box, Parker said A small but enthusiastic crowd the team’s overall performance playoff berth came out to support the Ravens was good. and they were not disappointed. “The first 40 minutes were The team played strong and good but in the third period it got BY CLAIRE O’BRIEN looked organized for most of the a bit choppy and we let them back game. into the game,” he said. The Carleton University But at the beginning of the first Raven defenceman Rob Hunt Ravens field hockey team played ELIZABETH CHIANG period, the Rams dominated. agreed. “In the first and second an important series of games at The Carleton University Ravens women’s field hockey team defeated Much of the game was played period we had a good system, but the Nepean Sportsplex Sept. 29 to the McGill University Martlets twice at the Nepean Sportsplex. in Carleton’s end until Raven cap- in the third there were too many Oct. 1. tain Mike Testa scored the game’s penalties,” he said. They played a total of four lead. Later on, however, Waterloo back and defeat McGill 4-0 later first goal. First year Raven Adam games and finished the weekend made a comeback and scored the that day. Carleton forwards Tyler Cavalari said the game was a big with two wins, a loss and a tie, tying goal. Despite a slow first half, the Townsend, Jay Griffiths and Elliot improvement from the first of the improving their record to 2-4-2. Goalie Denise Du Bois had a girls came together to dominate McCormick added goals in the season, but the team still has a “The girls had a very successful particularly outstanding game, the game. Fung scored two goals, second period. long way to go. weekend,” said Raven head coach said Gallant. while Devenport and Courtney The Ravens went into the third “We need to be more offensive Tanya Gallant. The real struggle came against Watson also found the back of the period with a 4-0 lead. and have more shots on net,” he The team sits fifth in the the Queen’s University Golden net. Thirty-three seconds into the said. “[We] are a hardworking University Athletics field Gaels Oct. 1. With strong play at Du Bois remained solid in net third period, the Rams came back team and that’s what it takes to hockey league, and they are in the both ends, it was anybody’s game. all weekend and played a funda- with a goal. Another followed a beat the other teams.” hunt for a playoff position. Late in the first half, Fung mental role in the team’s success. few minutes later. While this is the first year of They kicked off the weekend made a fantastic play in the goal Fung has been another key player But the Ravens kept their cool varsity hockey at Carleton, with a 3-0 victory over the McGill circle that allowed a stroke to be for Carleton, said Gallant. and Griffiths scored on a break- Ryerson has been playing at the University Martlets Sept. 29. called in favour of the Ravens. “[Fung] brought a much need- away to stop the Rams comeback varsity level for some time. Carleton played very strong Unfortunately, Devenport’s stroke ed offensive presence this week- effort. Rams head coach Graham Wise offensively and was “able to find hit the post. end,” she said. “She puts a lot of The Rams managed one more said his team worked hard, and he the back of the net a couple times,” The Ravens were able to keep pressure on the opposing team’s goal during the third period. was happy with how the game said Gallant. the opposition off the scoreboard defence and is able to get [our] As the game came to a finish, played out. Ravens Megan Berry, Jackie most of the game, but with just a team’s attack going.” tensions erupted and landed sev- “Credit has to be given to the Fung and Jodi Landriault provid- few minutes left, Queen’s domi- “We are at the halfway point of eral players in the penalty box. Carleton special teams,” he said. ed Carleton’s offence. nated and came away with a 2-0 the season. Typically this team Both teams took many penal- “Special teams are critical and The next night, Carleton over- win. always has a better second half of ties and officials ejected Ryerson that’s what really made the differ- shadowed the University of Despite the loss, Gallant said the season, so I am expecting defenceman Stewart D’Eall from ence in this game.” for most of the she believes “the girls played their exciting games,” said Gallant. “We the game for taking too many stick Meanwhile, Parker said the game. best game of the weekend against have to continue building our penalties. Ravens will look to “get better Carleton’s Rachel Devenport Queens.” stamina so we can play 70 minutes Carleton head coach Fred every game and assess the compe- scored to give the Ravens an early The Ravens were able to come of solid hockey.” Parker said the team needs to tition as we go along.”

the Charlatan • October 5, 2006 15