PORTAGE LA PRARIE, Man. ­– Three weeks removed from capturing McMaster's first OUA curling championship in 25 years, the Marauder women's curling team is set to compete for a national title at the U SPORTS University Curling Championships March 11-15 in Portage La Prarie, Manitoba.

McMaster enters the tournament ranked third in the country following its dominant 10-0 showing at the OUA championship where the Marauders defeated reigning champions Queen's University in a 7-5 match to capture the school's third banner.

Led by head coach John Gregory, the Marauder team of Madelyn Warriner, Madison Fisher, Grace Lloyd, Kaelyn Gregory and Danielle Hudson will open with a match against the AUS champion Dalhousie Tigers on Wednesday.

For two of the players, Kaelyn Gregory and skip Madelyn Warriner, the spotlight will be nothing new. Both have competed on the national stage at the Canadian Juniors and know they'll be meeting some familiar opponents all hungry for the title. The five-day championship event will see McMaster square off with Dalhousie, Brandon, Regina, Alberta and New Brunswick, as well as conference foes Queen's and Wilfred Laurier in the round-robin format.

Despite building confidence with their wild run at the OUA championships, the Marauders know they have their work cut out for them with the level of talent headed to Manitoba. "All of the teams at U SPORTS are going to be really solid, there aren't going to be any easy games" said Lloyd, a sophomore second. "At OUA's, we had seen a lot of the teams before, but at U SPORTS there are going to be a lot of new faces on the ice."

But the Dundas native says her team's destiny is up to them.

"We know that no matter who we're playing, we just have to go out there and do our thing."

With this group now in its second year together, the Marauders have been lauded for their poise and ability to rise to the big moments. Fisher thinks it has a lot to do with their bonds off the ice.

"Because we are so close, we keep it very supportive which leads to a pretty calm atmosphere on the ice. I feel that our strong communication really helps us to focus on making our shots. We're confident in our abilities and know that even if we're down in a match, we can come back."

"All five of us have that drive and put in the same effort, so I feel like we're closer than most teams" adds Hudson, a fifth-year senior.

Now in his second season at the helm of the program, John Gregory knows his team has what it takes to take its already historic run to new heights.

"They're confident, but not over-confident. At OUA's, we expected to medal but going 10-0 was just a bonus. Their confidence is high, but they're also humble in knowing there are some really good teams out west and they're going to have to be on top of their game."

Adding to the team's close-knit dynamic is the unique father-daughter relationship that the Gregory's share on and off the ice. "He's pretty much my best friend, so it's cool that we're getting to experience this together" says Kaelyn. But John also brings a wealth of experience to the table, experience that the team has relied on to help shape their game to get to the next level.

"He's coached at the national level twice already, so he knows what we need to do to get it done and we trust his leadership".

The 2020 U SPORTS Curling Championships get underway Wednesday, March 11 at Stride Place in Portage La Prarie, Man., where the Marauders will try to bring home McMaster's first national championship.

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