NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, Ont. - Entering the 2024 OUA Championship as the defending provincial silver medalists, the McMaster Marauders women's squash team just missed out on a second straight podium finish, ending the three day competition in fourth spot.
The Marauders opened the tournament with two straight wins in pool play, topping the Guelph Gryphons 6-1 before beating the Brock Badgers by an identical scoreline on Friday at White Oaks. On Saturday, McMaster would have their toughest battle, facing the Western Mustangs in the final round robin contest. The host Mustangs took the match 6-1 with Terra Poon Tip picking up the lone point for the Marauders. With a 2-1 pool play record, the maroon and grey had a semifinal match-up with the 8x defending OUA Champions, the Queen's Gaels. The Gaels swept the contest, setting the Marauders up for a rematch with the Western Mustangs in the bronze medal match, this time with hardware on the line.
With the most meaningful game to be played on the third and final day of competition, the Mustangs picked up a 6-1 victory in the bronze medal match. In a tightly contested gold medal game, the Gaels defeated the Waterloo Warriors 4-3 for their ninth straight OUA Championship title.
Despite the loss, the McMaster women's squash team capped off its season with an impressive performance and is sure to be a podium threat again next season, as the team graduates just one student-athlete from its roster.
On the men's side, the Marauders fell 5-1 to the Guelph Gryphons before being swept by the Queen's Gaels on Day 1 of competition. With the losses, McMaster closed out the first day of competition with an 0-2 record. On Saturday morning, the maroon and grey matched-up perennial OUA Champions - the Western Mustangs where they were swept, setting up a consolation semifinal match with the Brock Badgers. Three Marauders picked up wins but Brock narrowly edged McMaster 4-3. In the final contest of the weekend, the Ottawa Gee-Gees defeated McMaster in the 7th place game on Sunday morning.
