SAULT STE. MARIE, Ont. – The UOIT curling teams looked impressive on the opening day of the OUA curling championship hosted by Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
The UOIT men's team picked up a 9-8 win in their lone match on day one of the bonspiel while the women's team split their games.
Things looked bleak for the men's team against McMaster, going down 6-0 after the first three ends. The team managed to find a way to claw back putting up three points in both the fourth and sixth, while holding Algoma to just one in the fifth and seventh.
Trailing 8-6, UOIT scored two points with the hammer in the eighth followed by a steal of one in the ninth to complete the impressive comeback.
The Ridgebacks will take on Laurentian (12:30 p.m.) and Toronto (7:30 p.m.) on day two.
On the women's side, the UOIT women's team was an inch away from converting a raise take out in the eighth end for a win, but they eventually feel 7-5 to the hosting Algoma Thunderbirds.
In the night draw, UOIT scored three points in the eighth to pick up a 7-5 victory of their own over the Toronto Varsity Blues. The Ridgebacks also scored three points in the fifth and had a steal of one in the sixth to give them an opportunity for victory.
UOIT will match up against Queen's (12:30 p.m.) and Ryerson (7:30 p.m.) on day two.
With the Olympics in full swing in South Korea, it was fitting that the opening ceremony at the championship featured 2014 Olympic gold medalist Brad Jacobs throwing out the ceremonial first stone.
The women's and men's gold and silver medalists will advance to the national championships. Gold and silver matches will be held on Monday afternoon at the Community First Curling Centre.
The U Sports national curling championships are being hosted by the University of Alberta in March at the Leduc Recreation Centre. U of A will also be hosting the 2018 Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship and 2018 CCAA Curling Canada Championship.
Schedule:
http://algomathunderbirds.ca/sports/2018/1/23/schedule-results-curling.aspx
