Weekend Recap | November 8-10
Trojans win CCAA Cross-Country National title
In possibly the greatest season in ACAC Cross-Country history, Trojans runner Nathan Woyessa proved why the Trojans ranked first in Canada.
Windsor, Ontario, hosted the 2024 CCAA Cross Country Championship, which took place on November 9.
Woyessa was the favourite going into the race, with the Trojans holding a consistent number-one ranking in the CCAA for the whole season.
The Trojans had four out of the top 10 finishers in the race.
Woyessa finished with a 24:25.30 time in the eight-kilometre race, with an astounding 3:03 per/km.
Max Thiessen finished in fourth for the Trojans with a 24:52.60 time and 3.07 per/km.
Following Woyessa and Thiessen for the Trojans was Moktar Said in ninth, who also had a great running season and finished nationals with a time of 25:16.80 and a 3:15 pace/km.
Right behind Said was Yahye Jama, who finished three seconds behind Said with a time of 29:19.60 and a 3.16 pace/km.
For Thiessen, it was an adventure to remember for him and the team.
“The trip to nationals was incredible, both on and off the course,” Thiessen said when asked about his nationals experience.
“Even though we had a clear goal in mind, we made sure to enjoy ourselves before and after the race,” Thiessen said. “It was a mix of hard work and a lot of fun, which really brought us closer together,” he added.
It was a season of hard work for Thiessen, who commented on the team’s training and how they pushed each other day in and day out.
“Personally, I was running twice a day, averaging around 130km per week throughout the cross-country season,” he said.
“It was a relief to see all our hard work pay off.”
Women’s hockey drop three straight to Lakeland, men sweep both games against Portage
The Trojans Women’s Hockey team had an unfortunate weekend, dropping their only game on Friday night in Edmonton, where they visited the NAIT Ooks.
Cassidy Shandiro opened the scoring for the Ooks seven minutes into the game and gave the Ooks an early 1-0 lead.
Esther Boelema added a goal for the Trojans, with Kaylan Easson and Sarah Hoppins adding assists.
Less than two minutes later, Hanna Paquette gave the Ooks the lead just before the second period.
Three minutes into the second period, Lindsey Goncalves equalized for the Trojans.
The rest of the game was all Ooks. Jessica Engelbrecht and Kelly Stanford added goals in the second period to make it 4-2.
Caitlyn Tong and Paquette both netted in the third to seal the 6-2 victory for the Ooks over the Trojans.
With the loss, the Trojans now sit second last in the ACAC Women’s Hockey standings, four points ahead of the Medicine Hat College Rattlers.
The Trojans Women’s Hockey team are next in action on Thursday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m. where they visit the Olds College Broncos.
Off to a 7-1 start to the season, the Trojans Men’s hockey team are the hottest in the ACAC Men’s Hockey standings.
The Trojans men opened their weekend on Friday night, visiting the Portage College Voyageurs.
Zach Cain scored six minutes into the game for the Trojans with a lone assist from Colby Bear.
The Voyageurs added a late goal from Tye Evans to make it 1-1 after 20.
Zack Cox and Cain set up Cory King, as he added the only goal in the second period to make it 2-1 Trojans.
The Voyageurs once again scored to tie the game, Kaden Kohle added a goal, with Mikal Chalifoux and Mason Beck assisting.
Two minutes later, Cox regained the lead for the Trojans, scoring a power play goal from Cain and Brandon Machado.
Dylan Clark finished off the game for the Trojans with an unassisted goal in the last two minutes.
The Trojans took the first of two games against the Voyageurs 4-2.
On Saturday, The Trojans got off to a late start.
After the first period saw no scoring, Carter Yarish notched a power play goal from Evans to give the Voyageurs a 1-0 lead going into the third period.
The Trojans offence exploded in the third, scoring four goals.
Reece Richmond started the scoring for the Trojans two minutes and 46 seconds into the period.
Three minutes later, Machado added a goal, with Keigan Casey assisting.
Colby Ball and Colby Bear both netted late goals in the period to secure the 4-1 victory for the Trojans.
With the two wins on the weekend, the Trojans retain their first-place spot in the ACAC Men’s Hockey standings.
The next game for the Trojans Men’s Hockey team is on Friday, November 15, as they travel to Edmonton to take on their rival NAIT Ooks at 7:00 p.m.
Women’s basketball continue undefeated season, men win against Augustana and NAIT
With a 6-0 record in the ACAC Women’s Basketball South standings, the Trojans Women’s Basketball team don’t look like slowing down anytime soon.
The Trojans women played two games this past weekend, the first on Friday night against the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings.
Two strong quarters from both teams had the Trojans up by one point at halftime.
The Trojans outscored the Vikings 17-7 in the third quarter and 12-11 in the fourth quarter. Brook Baker shined for the Trojans, recording 25 points and eight rebounds as the Trojans beat the Vikings 62-50.
Next up for the Trojans was a trip to NAIT as they took on the Ooks.
The Trojans were up 41-27 after a dominant first and second quarter.
The Trojans offence continued to make a statement, outscoring the Ooks 17-8 in the third quarter and 18-14 in the fourth quarter to take a 76-49 win.
Baker, once again led the game in points, recording 25 points and shooting 9 for 14.
Joy Victor had a strong game coming off the bench for the Trojans, recording 11 points and five steals.
With the two wins on the weekend, the Trojans comfortably sit top of the ACAC Women’s Basketball South standings.
The Trojans Women’s Basketball team vist Lakeland College to play the Rustlers on Friday, November 22 at 6:00 p.m.
For the Trojans Men’s Basketball team, it’s been a hot and cold start to the season.
The Trojans men lost their two opening games against Briercrest and landed large victories over The King’s University Eagles and the Northwestern Polytechnic College Wolves.
First up on the weekend was the Vikings on Friday night.
After a back-and-forth first and second quarter, the Trojans led the Vikings 38-36 at halftime.
The Trojans pulled away in the third and fourth quarter, outscoring the Vikings 23-22 and 26-21 to take an 87-79 win over the Vikings.
Johnny Mims led the Trojans in points, shooting seven for 15 with 18 points and five assists.
The Trojans faced the Ooks the next day.
Once again, the Trojans led at halftime, outscoring the Ooks 40-24.
Even though the Ooks outscored the Trojans 21-14 and 18-17 in the next two quarters, the Trojans retained their lead and got their fourth straight win, 71-63 over the Ooks.
Marcus Masters led the game in points, scoring 24 off the bench as the Trojans offence continues to shine.
The Trojans Men’s Basketball team are next in action on Friday, November 22, as they travel to Lakeland College to face the Rustlers at 8:00 p.m.
Men's and Women's volleyball split weekend games against Augustana and NAIT
It’s been a rough start to the season for the Trojans Women’s Volleyball team, as they dropped their first four games.
The Trojans women opened their weekend at home on Friday night against the University of Alberta-Augustana Vikings.
The Trojans took the first and second set 26-24.
The Vikings responded with a massive 25-14 third set to force a fourth set.
After a back-and-forth start to the set, the Trojans came out with a 25-21 victory to win the match three sets to one.
Shadae Black was voted player of the game for the Trojans, recording 16 kills.
Next up for the Trojans was the NAIT Ooks at home on Saturday afternoon.
The Trojans dropped the first two sets 25-21 and 25-22.
In a dominating third set, the Ooks cruised past the Trojans 25-16 to win the match in straight sets, 3-0.
The Trojans sit tied for second last in the ACAC Women’s Volleyball South standings with a 1-5 record.
The Trojans Women’s Volleyball team are next in action at home on Friday, November 15, as they take on the Lakeland College Rustlers at 6:00 p.m.
For the Trojans Men’s Volleyball team, they looked to make it four straight wins as they faced the Vikings at home on Friday night.
The Vikings took the first set 26-24, the upcoming three sets were all Trojans.
In a dominating next three sets, the Trojans took three straight over the Vikings and won the match 3-1.
Jaxson Thys led the game with 17 kills and nine digs as the Trojans gained momentum for the difficult upcoming weeks.
The next day, the Trojans took on the Ooks at Rally Pointe.
In the first set, the Trojans went into an early lead, winning 25-21.
The next three sets were dominated by the Ooks, winning 25-12, 25-15 and 25-17.
Thys led the Trojans with nine kills as the offence couldn't solve the Ooks' strong defence.
The Trojans Men’s Volleyball team are next in action at home on Friday, November 15 as they take on the Lakeland College Rustlers at 8:00 p.m.