October was a busy month for all of the teams on campus, and although some teams are coming to the end of the season, other teams are just getting started.
Let’s take a look at the month of October, and how the teams favoured in the Canada West division.
Men’s Basketball – Pre-season record: 5-5-0
– Oct. 5 – UOFA @ MRU (92-67) LOSS
– Oct. 10 – UOFG 102 – 91 MRU LOSS @UOFC
– Oct. 12 – STFX 93 – 102 MRU WIN @UOFC
– Oct. 17 – MRU @ UOFS (72-89) LOSS
– Oct. 18 – LU 89 – 103 MRU WIN @UOFS
– Oct. 19 – Lakehead 106 – 94 MRU LOSS @UOFS
– Oct. 25 – MRU @ UBC (81-123) LOSS
– Oct. 26 – MRU @ TWU (104-93) WIN
Pre-season is all wrapped-up for the MRU men’s basketball team, and with a five win and five loss record, the team will look to go into the first game of the season with a winning mentality. The team’s best game was a blowout against UBC, in which they outscored the 2018 Canada-west runners-up by over 40 points. Their first game of the regular season takes place on Nov. 1 against the MacEwan Griffins, as they hope to get a strong start to the regular season.
**MRU won their first two games on Nov.1 and Nov. 2 against MacEwan University**
Women’s Basketball –Pre-season record: 0-5-0
– Oct. 18 – MRU @ UP (60-103) LOSS
– Oct. 19 – MRU @ RMC (75-93) LOSS
– Oct. 20 – MRU @ MSU (50-63) LOSS
– Oct. 25 – UBC 62-47 MRU LOSS @UOFC
– Oct. 27 – TWU 66-62 MRU LOSS @UOFC
The women’s basketball team had a tough start to the year, losing all five of their pre-season games. However, they had three matchups to start the year, with a trip to the United States to face off against three teams, The University of Providence, Rocky Mountain College, and Montana State University – North. Although they put up a great effort, they were not able to stand up to some of the best teams and players in the United States. They returned to Canada only to put up two more losses against their opponents from British Columbia, and will aim to have a stronger start to the regular season with back-to-back matchups against MacEwan.
**MRU lost their first game, but won their second game against MacEwan on Nov. 1-2**
The MRU women’s basketball teams looks to bounce back after a tough streak during pre-season, losing five games in a row. Photo credit: Cougar Athletics
Men’s Hockey – Regular season record: 6-2-0
– Oct. 5 – MRU @ MSU (2-5) LOSS
– Oct. 6 – MRU @ UNM (2-2) TIE
– Oct. 11 – UOFM @ MRU (3-5) WIN
– Oct. 12 – UOFM @ MRU (5-4) LOSS
– Oct. 18 – MRU @ UOFA (7-3) WIN
– Oct. 19 – UOFA @ MRU (0-3) LOSS
– Oct. 25 – MRU @ UOFR (6-1) WIN
– Oct. 26 – MRU @ UOFR (5-3) WIN
The men’s hockey team has had a decent month, with a three wins and two losses in October. However, two of these wins came against the U of A and U of R, blowing out the traditional Canada West powerhouses by four and five goals, respectively. With only two losses so far this season, the team is on their way to breaking their 12-11-5 record from last season. Their next game will be away from home on Nov. 8 against the U of L.
Women’s Hockey – Regular season record: 5-3-0
– Oct. 4 – UOFS @ MRU (0-1) LOSS
– Oct. 5 – UOFA @ MRU (1-3) WIN
– Oct. 12 – MRU @ UOFM (0-2) LOSS
– Oct. 13 – MRU @ UOFM (4-0) WIN
– Oct. 18 – UOFA @ MRU (1-0) WIN
– Oct. 19 – MRU @ UOFA (0-2) LOSS
– Oct. 25 – UOFR @ MRU (1-2) WIN
– Oct. 26 – UOFR @ MRU (1-6) WIN
It has so far been a good season for the women’s hockey team, who are on their way to a much better record from last season in which they won 12 and lost 16. They currently sit second in the Canada West division, only a point behind the U of L. They will be travelling to Lethbridge on Nov. 8 for two challenging away games in which MRU hopes to come out on top.
Men’s Soccer – Regular Season Record: 10-5-1
– Oct. 3 – MRU @ UOFL (2-0) WIN
– Oct. 6 – MRU @ UOFS (0-1) LOSS
– Oct. 12 – UOFA @ MRU (1-1) TIE
– Oct. 19 – MRU @ UOFC (0-1) LOSS
– Oct. 26 – TRU @ MRU (2-1) WIN *Canada West Quarter-final
**MRU Lost their semi-final matchup 2-1 against U of C to close out their season**
This has been a season to remember for the MRU Men’s soccer team. The team hosted a Canada-west playoff game for the first time in its history late last month. The crowd was intense, and the atmosphere was thrilling. The Cougars managed to hold on to a tight 2-1 lead against Thompson Rivers University to make it to the Conference semi-final against U of C, once again the first time in MRU history. MRU midfielder Dane Domic has had an amazing rookie season, and scored the opening goal in the tight quarter-final win against the WolfPack.
“The guys kept believing and supported each other,” Domic said. “Producing these special moments we’ve had this season in my first year is such an honour but we know the work isn’t over.”
Women’s Soccer – Regular season record: 2-10-2
– Oct. 5 – UOFR @ MRU (3-2) LOSS
– Oct. 6 – UOFS @ MRU (1-0) LOSS
– Oct. 12 – UOFL @ MRU (0-1) WIN
– Oct. 13 – MRU @ UOFL (1-2) LOSS
– Oct. 15 – MacEwan @ MRU (7-1) LOSS
– Oct. 18 – MRU @ UOFM (1-3) LOSS
– Oct. 19 – MRU @ UOFW (3-1) WIN
The women’s soccer team wrapped-up their season with a big win again the University of Winnipeg, and with a final record of only two wins and 10 losses, they know improvements still need to be made before next season. They had a record of five wins and six losses last season, making this a season to forget for the Cougars.
Men’s Volleyball – Regular season record: 2-2-0
– Oct. 2 – TWU 3-0 MRU LOSS @ UBC
– Oct. 3 – QueensU 0-3 MRU WIN @UBC
– Oct. 4 – UBCO 3-0 MRU LOSS @ TWU
– Oct. 5 – BU 3-0 MRU LOSS @ TWU
– Oct. 18 – MacEwan @ MRU (3-2) LOSS
– Oct. 19 – MacEwan @ MRU (3-0) WIN
– Oct. 26 – MRU @ UOFM (3-2) WIN
– Oct. 27 – MRU @ UOFM (1-3) LOSS
It has been an up and down start to the season for the men’s volleyball team, who have played against two teams, MacEwan University and the University of Manitoba, in which they registered one win and one loss each. However, some of the players have had great starts so far, including Trent Mounter, who is leading the team in kills and Keal Prince, who has been leading in assists so far.
Women’s Volleyball – Regular season record: 4-0-0
– Oct. 18 – MacEwan @ MRU (2-3) WIN
– Oct. 19 – MacEwan @ MRU (0-3) WIN
– Oct. 26 – MRU @ UOFM (3-2) WIN
– Oct. 27 – MRU @ UOFM (3-1) WIN
It has been a turnaround season for the women’s volleyball team, who have stared their season with four straight wins, having only allowed five points during October. They are running the league with a total of 277 kills so far, 42 more than the average of the other teams in Canada West. Madison Marshall has been on fire to start the season, leading the team in kills with 62, as well as contributing defensively with 35 digs and 11 blocks.
The MRU women’s volleyball team has had an outstanding start to their 2019 season, picking up wins in all four of their October matchups. Photo credit: Cougar Athletics
Editors Note: This story is part of the Calgary Journal’s November-December print issue. You can find a digital version here, or grab a copy at news stands across the city.