> **Opinions expressed in Raven Rant are those
of the athletes, and do not
> necessarily reflect those of the Carleton
University Athletics Department**
>
> Reminder for
Athletes:
>
> The "Loonie Landing" United Way fund-raiser will take
place on Wednesday
> November 10. Please see your varsity council rep to
sign up and participate.
>
>
> MEN'S BASKETBALL
>
> The team took a trip to Regina this past weekend to attend the
University of
> Regina Basketball tournament. In the first game, the
Ravens played Athletes
> In Action and were defeated 65-61. The next
day they would defeat the host
> U of R Cougars 98-68. In their
final game on Saturday night they would face
> the University of Calgary
where they defeated the Dinos 84-61. The Ravens
> finished second in
the tournament as the Athletes In Action finished
> undefeated.
>
> On the weekend of October 15-17, 2004, the Ravens hosted the 15th
Annual
> House Laughton Hoops Classic. The Ravens lost their first game to
the
> University of Victoria Vikes but, kept composure to win their next
two games
> against University of New Brunswick and Laval
University. The Ravens won
> the tournament for the fourth
consecutive year. Mike Smart was named
> tournament MVP and Jean-
Emmanuel Jean-Marie was named to the All-Star team.
>
>
>
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
>
> This past weekend, the Carleton University
Women's Basketball team hosted a
> 4 team invitational tournament.
Participating teams were the University of
> Western Ontario, McGill
University and University of Ottawa. Friday night,
> the Ravens faced
Western and lost 49-44. Saturday night, the Ravens bounced
> back
from Friday's disappointing loss to beat McGill 58-36. Assistant
>
coaches Perrier and MacAulay were quoted as saying "It was a total team
>
effort, everyone contributed. We put together the best 40 minutes so
far
> this season". In their third game of the tournament, the
Ravens faced
> cross-town rivals Ottawa U and lost 67-54. Dasa
Farthing was selected as a
> tournament All-Star for her
performance. Sarah Kennedy was also selected as
> the Player of the
Game versus Ottawa U.
>
> This weekend, the team heads to
Concordia and Vermont to play their final
> two exhibition games of the
season. The Ravens will host Laurentian and
> York University on
November 6th and 7th at 6pm to kick off the regular
> season.
>
>
> MEN'S ROWING
>
> This year Carleton's men's
rowing team is kicking and rearing to go! You
> may have seen them
on the Charlatan cover in September. That picture was
> taken from
the Head of the Rideau Regatta held on the Rideau River September
>
26th. There, the men walked away with first place finishes in the
>
lightweight 4 category as well as the heavyweight 8, while the heavyweight
4
> came in 3rd place and the lightweight double in 2nd. October saw
the Ravens
> in Peterborough for the Head of the Trent regatta.
Results of this regatta
> saw the men place 8th and 10th in the
lightweight and heavyweight 4
> categories. The lightweight 8
finished in 8th place while the lightweight
> double finished 4th.
>
> Everyone has heard about the Carleton - Ottawa U rivalry, so the P.D.
Ross
> race is one of high importance. This is a head-to-head 6km
race down the
> Ottawa River. In the past, Carleton has had a
winning streak of over 8
> years, however, last year the streak ended with
an Ottawa U victory. Oct.
> 16th saw the Ravens flying off the start
and easily returning the P.D Ross
> trophy to its rightful owners.
>
> Carleton had opportunity to race at the Head of the Charles Regatta
in
> Boston on October 23-24. This regatta is the largest 'head
race' in North
> America, and the men placed 21st out of 43 teams.
The rowers proudly held
> their heads high as they crossed the finish
line. Stephen Fincham, Etienne
> Faure, Sacha Penner, Matt Burpee,
and Coxie Samantha Henrickson rowed in the
> Men's Club Fours boat that
took the 21st spot.
>
> Just in case it isn't clear
what a "head" is, it's in reference to the type
> of race. Typically
the Olympics are 2000m races. A head race is one which
> is much
longer, usually anywhere from 3km to 6km.
>
> As the mercury drops
outside, the season draws nearer to an end. But before
> that
happens, two major regattas remain: the OUAs and the Canadian
> University
Championships. The OUAs this year will be held in London Oct.
>
29-30. The Canadians will be held in Montreal on the Olympic Basin
Nov.
> 6-7.
>
> MEN'S RUGBY
>
> At the
beginning of the season almost 60 players showed up for a very
>
competitive training camp with just under 40 showing the 'right stuff' to
be
> allowed to stay. All players got an opportunity to 'show their stuff'
on an
> exhibition tour to New England where the Ravens took on perennial
title
> contenders; Dartmouth College and Norwich University, defeating
both
> confidently. It was a great trip and allowed players the
opportunity to get
> to know each other and come together as a team.
>
> Upon returning from the trip a starting line up was created
with many
> familiar and a few new faces. Returning for another year was
former Canadian
> Under 21 team member & Captain David Thompson, 5th
year team leader &
> previous Doug Banton Award recipient George
Ashfield, versatile and skilled
> BC half back Kevin Charlton, as well as
2003 Raven Rookie Of The Year Scott
> McLeish, and exciting and sure
tackling Matt Barthe. Of particular note was
> freshman Tom Kerswell who
earned himself a starting position as a result of
> outstanding
performances against both USA Collegiate sides.
>
>
The Ravens once again qualified for post-season play with a record of
3-3.
> Wins came at the expense of Trent University, University of Toronto
& of
> once again Queen's University. While this is the second
year in a row
> Carleton has defeated Queen's it is the first time they
have ever done it in
> regular season play. Injuries, however, gradually
ate away at the starting
> line up throughout the season and by playoff
time, the team was without
> several prominent players in their starting
line up. To the credit of
> several players moving up from the Development
Team, we were able to make
> the quarterfinal competitive but could not
keep up with Waterloo who was
> more senior and deeper in talent.
>
> There have been highs and there have been lows, but in the end there
have
> been lessons learned, skills developed, achievements to celebrate
and
> relationships strengthened. Through the last 4-5 years several
players on
> our team have contributed much and we salute them as they
move on to do
> great things beyond Ravens Rugby, perhaps within rugby,
perhaps in the world
> of work, and or perhaps in the community. One thing
is for sure: if you take
> the work ethic learned through Ravens Rugby,
use the perseverance displayed
> by your teammates as an example to
emulate, and pursue excellence in
> everything you do, you are bound to be
a success in whatever you do,
> wherever you go.
>
> MEN'S
SOCCER
>
> The Ravens Men's Soccer Team finished out their regular
season last weekend
> at home to Queen's, having already clinched first
place in the OUA East/West
> Division. The team now has a welcomed bye
into the second round of playoffs
> and a chance to rest and recover from
injuries accumulated over a long
> season. The Ravens first playoff game
is this Sunday at 1:00pm at home at
> Keith Harris Stadium most likely
against the Sir Wilfred Laurier University
> Golden Hawks. This will be
the last home game for the team as the OUA Finals
> will be hosted by the
highest remaining Western seed on the 6th and 7th of
> November.
>
> The first and second place finishers in the OUA qualify for the
CIS
> Championships held in Montreal starting November 11th, with the
final played
> on Sunday, the 14th. The Ravens are currently ranked 6th in
the CIS national
> rankings and are focussing on a place in the final 6 in
Montreal.
>
> Men's Soccer One Win away from National
Championships
>
> On November, 6th and 7th the Men's Soccer team
will be competing in the OUA
> Provincial Championships at the University
of Western Ontario in London. The
> games on Saturday will pit the regular
season champions from each division
> against each other.
>
> The first game sees the Brock Badgers take on the hosts, while the
second
> game features the East Division regular season champion Ravens
against the U
> of T Varsity Blues. Both semi-final games are of even more
importance
> because it is the winners of these games that will qualify
for the national
> championships as the two representative teams from the
OUA. Provincial
> bragging rights are up for grabs on Sunday in the OUA
final. The Raven's
> last trip to the OUA final in 2002 resulted in a lost
to the Varsity Blues.
>
> If the team qualifies, CIS Championships
take place in Montreal from
> Thursday November 11th to Sunday the 14th
.
>
> SWIMMING
>
> The Carleton Men's and Women's Swim
Team began their 2004-2005 season on the
> 3rd of October at Carleton
University. The meet wasn't officially scored,
> but the Ravens
clearly dominated the Ottawa U Gee-Gees. During the meet, 10
> women
and 13 men made the OUA cut, with 5 other swimmers very close.
>
>
Next, on Friday, October 15th, the team was on the road at Guelph where
they
> faced off against Guelph and Queens to kick off their dual season.
(The dual
> season can be viewed as the team's regular season.) On
the way, the bus
> broke down and caused the team to arrive late. By
this time, the meet was
> already under way. At the end, the final
scores for the women were Queens
> 105-Carleton 76, and Guelph
125-Carleton 67. The men still managed to
> defeat Queen's by a
score of 100-69, but fell to Guelph a heartbreaking
> 95-90. One of
the events missed was the 200 metre breaststroke. A win in
> an
individual event is worth 7 points, and veteran Keegan Harris, who was
>
10th at last year's CIS championship and is the current Carleton
University
> record holder for the event, would have been able to take it
with ease.
> This ended the Men's hopes of completing their dual season
undefeated, a
> goal that was definitely achievable.
>
> At
Saturday's OUA Sprint Meet, Carleton placed 2nd for the men and 3rd for
>
the women. Rookie sprint/breaststroker Heather MacDonald was selected as
the
> Carleton Female Athlete of the Week for making the CIS cut in the
50-meter
> breaststroke with a time of 35.25.
>
> Sunday
yielded much better results. Both the men and women swept the
>
competition with score of Carleton 191-Trent 85 and Carleton 195-York 73
for
> the women, and Carleton 185-Trent 87 and Carleton 205-York 54 for
the men.
>
> Next, the team faced off against Ottawa and Waterloo
on the 24th of October,
> at Ottawa U. The women were able to defeat
Waterloo by a score of 148-84,
> but fell to Ottawa by a score of
130-104. The men defeated Ottawa by a
> score of 141-89, and
Waterloo by a score of 121-110.
>
> The women now stand with a dual
record of 3-3, and have 12 swimmers
> qualified for OUAs, and one
qualified for CIS. The men stand with a dual
> record of 5-1 and
have 14 swimmers qualified for OUA's. Next the team will
> face off
against Brock and Ottawa on the 6th of November, but the focus now
> turns
to the Eynon Divisional Championships to be held at Laurentian on
>
November 20-21.
>
> WOMEN'S WATERPOLO
>
> The women's
water polo team had a strong start to the year, earning the
> silver medal
at Carleton's Annual Early Bird Tournament. The team put on a
>
solid performance, defeating Queens, Carleton's Alumni team (ORCA) and
>
Middlebury College to earn a spot in the finals. In an exciting gold
medal
> game, the Ravens fell short by one goal to the ORCA team, who was
led by
> Team Canada member Marianne Illing.
>
> The Ravens
were unfortunately unable to carry this momentum into their
> season
openers, with a heart-wrenching 12-11 loss to York and a 13-6 loss to
>
McMaster. Sore and tired from playing a very physical Marauders team,
the
> Ravens were only able to secure a 6-6 tie with Queens.
>
> But don't lose faith in your favourite women's water polo team
yet. With
> strong returning players, accomplished recruits, and an
experienced coaching
> staff, the Ravens have the necessary ingredients
for success.
>
> The team is pumped to
head down to Kingston October 30-31 and kick a little
> Gaels and Blues'
derrière.
>
>
> ATHLETE PROFILES
>
>
STACEY SIOPIS - WOMEN'S SOCCER
>
> There is one name that rarely
goes unmentioned when it comes to the Carleton
> Ravens Women's Soccer
team: Stacey Siopis. The team co-captain's efforts,
> both on and
off the field, rarely go unrecognised. Throughout her five-year
>
varsity career, Stacey has received a number of awards including team
MVP,
> OUA All-star and Chatelaine's Woman of Distinction. She was
also named a
> representative for Canada at the World University
Games.
>
> Though Stacey is humble about the recognition she
has received, none of her
> awards go undeserved. On the field,
Stacey is the backbone of Carleton's
> trademark defence. She is
often described as an explosive, aggressive,
> determined and physical
player, and an integral part of the defensive line.
> She is often
responsible for marking the opposition's most threatening
> striker, and
is always able to shut them down. Stacey plays with a
> competitive
drive and will never let her man beat her. Her determination to
>
break her player down and never let them score has facilitated the
team's
> defensive accomplishments over the last few years.
>
> Stacey also adds an important element to the team through her
>
leadership. Stacey naturally leads by example, her skill and drive as
a
> player rubbing off on her teammates. She also demands a calibre
of play
> that is very high, and helps bring everyone up to their
potential. Though
> Stacey will always help out her fellow soccer
players by telling them where
> to go and what to do, she will always
point out the positives and let her
> players know what they're doing
right.
>
> Though this November marks the end of her successful
Carleton career, it is
> not the end of soccer for Stacey. She plans
to continue playing in the
> Ottawa indoor league this summer, and play
club soccer in the local women's
> league. Stacey does feel,
however, that playing varsity soccer will be the
> highlight of her
career, stating that "Carleton has made me into a better
> soccer player
than I have ever been, or thought I would be". She also adds
> "You have
to cherish every moment, every opportunity you get being on this
> team,
and a part of Carleton athletics - it's all over so quickly. I'd
give
> anything to have it back all over again".
>
> Stacey's
coaches and teammates would also give anything to have their
> defensive
leader back for a sixth year. It looks as if the team will have
>
some huge cleats to fill come August.
>
> HEATHER MacDONALD -
WOMEN'S SWIMMING
>
> Heather Macdonald was 13 years old when she
took her first plunge into
> competitive swimming - and she's been doing
it ever since. At 18, Macdonald
> left her small hometown, Edson,
Alberta, to begin a busy future in Ottawa;
> no longer making waves in a
pond, but rather an ocean. Under coach Alex
> Diep, she trained eight
times a week with the Edson Orcas, often by herself
> because the majority
of the swimmers on her team were under age ten. Now at
> Carleton
University, the first-year aerospace engineering student says she
> is
being exposed to a team aspect of sport, for the first time in her life.
>
> "It's overwhelming because I've never seen so many people on deck
before,"
> she says. "I've never trained so fast in my life... like
never. There's a
> lot more motivation with the team. I'm
really impressed. I've never been
> pushed like this in practice and
it's obviously paying off."
>
> MacDonald says she has already swum
personal best times in four events this
> year, despite the fact that the
team is in the middle of hard training.
> Also says she like to race a
good mix of everything, chuckling as she
> reveals her "secret love" for
the 400-metre Individual Medley, a race where
> you swim 100 metres of
each stroke.