Stingers roundup

By John Austen

Inconsistent Stingers must go through Laval - again

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. The Concordia Stingers football team must get through the Laval Rouge et Or to have any hope of advancing in the playoffs and taking a shot at the nation's ultimate prize, the Vanier Cup.

Laval was the only team to beat Concordia last season, beating them once in the regular season, and once when it counted most, in the Quebec final, where they were shellacked 59-7.

After an impressive 7-1 league mark in 2003, the Stingers have been inconsistent this season, finishing at 4-4. They lost twice to the undefeated Montreal Carabins and twice to Laval.

The third-place Stingers travel to Ste. Foy next week for the QUFC semifinal against Laval. A win, and they play the winner of the other semifinal tilt between McGill and U of M. A loss, and it’s season over.
"We can beat Laval, but we have to have all facets of the game working," said Concordia nose tackle Sam Taulealea. "Our offence, defence and special teams have to be in synch. If that happens we'll be OK."

The Stingers were dumped by Laval 24-7 in the last regular season game for both clubs played last Saturday afternoon at Concordia Stadium. The 18th annual Shrine Bowl contest drew almost 3,000 fans.

While the competition on the field was fierce, the Stingers showed their softer side on a visit to the Montreal Shriners Hospital for Children on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Eleven senior players spent time visiting the children, talking, signing autographs and offering gifts.
Last year's Montreal Shrine Bowl game between Concordia Stingers and the McGill Redmen produced a donation of $32,000 in net proceeds for the Shriners Hospital for Children.

Shriners Hospitals for Children are a network of 22 hospitals in the United States, Canada and Mexico that have provided free medical care to over 625,000 children under the age of 18.

Stingers second in Manitoba

Strong performances from veteran guards Graziella Charles and Pascale Morin helped the Concordia Stingers finish second at the University of Manitoba’s Garbonzo's Invitational Women's Basketball Tournament was held late last month.

With 20 points and five rebounds from Morin, the Stingers defeated the CIS's No. 3-ranked Bisons 79-74 on the final day of action. Charles chipped in with 12 points and 10 rebounds.

"I'm very pleased with our performance," said head coach Pruden. "We did very well against three very good teams. It is a great starting point for the rest of the season."

Concordia also defeated the Western Mustangs 58-56 on Saturday. Charles scored 13 points to lead the Stingers.

On the first day of action, the Stingers lost 89-80 to the No. 4-ranked Winnipeg Westmen. With a 2-1 win-loss record, Concordia finished second in the tournament. Winnipeg went on to win the championship.

Hockey Stingers turn tables on Ottawa

After an embarrassing 8-1 loss in Ottawa to open the 2004-2005 university hockey season, the men's team regrouped to beat the same Ottawa Gee-Gees squad 7-4 at the Ed Meagher Arena last Friday night.

Patrice Theriault and Fred Faucher scored two goals each to pace the attack. Goaltender Trevor Cunning stopped 32 of 36 shots to earn the win.

The Stingers league record sits at 1-2 after a 5-3 loss to McGill on home ice last Sunday afternoon.

Moseley, Cunningham tops

Troy Cunningham, who played arguably the best game of his five-year career with the football team, and Skye Moseley, who helped her soccer team defeat the Montreal Carabins with the lone gola, have been named the Sir Winston Churchill Pub athletes of the week for the period ending Oct. 24.