Pat Richardson
Men’s rugby
Flanker Pat Richardson scored both of the men’s rugby team’s tries in its crucial road match against the Western Mustangs last weekend, including a last-second try that snatched a 12-12 draw out of the jaws of defeat.
Richardson said his team should get the credit, though.
“It was more of a team effort, I think,” he said. “Both of the tries were set up by other players, and I was just at the right place.”
Richardson said it was special for him to score against Western, given the team’s history against the Mustangs.
“Western’s probably one of our biggest rivals,” he said.
Richardson started playing rugby in Grade 8 at St. George’s High School in Vancouver. He said he became interested in the game because of its popularity at his school.
Richardson plays with his identical twin brother, Tim, on the varsity squad. He said they’ve gotten to know each other’s style very well over the years.
“We’ve played together for most of my rugby career,” he said. “It’s always fun. We know how to play with each other, and we’ve played together for so long that it’s easy.”
Richardson said there normally isn’t much sibling rivalry, something that came in handy this week due to an OUA statistical error.
“On the OUA website, they said he scored the two tries,” he said. “I don’t know how they messed that up, but it doesn’t really bother me.”
Richardson said he got onto the varsity team by working his way up and took inspiration from his brother.
“I didn’t make the first team right away,” he said. “In my first year, I played most of the time on the second team. My brother Tim, he made the first team in his first year and played most of the season on the first team. I wasn’t dissapointed, but I was motivated to get there.”
Richardson said his role as a flanker involves linking the team’s defence and offence, as well as throwing a lot of hard hits.
“You’re basically between the big guys and the fast guys,” he said. “On defence, you do a lot of tackling.”
Richardson said he doesn’t mind the physical punishment and the hard work involved in varsity rugby.
“You do it because you enjoy playing the game,” he said, adding that he’s motivated to try and get the team back to the OUA Final. They lost to the Brock Badgers last season, and he missed last year’s game due to injury.
“It was a big game and it really sucked watching it from the sidelines,” he said. “I want to get back there and win it this time.” —Andrew Bucholtz
Katie McKenna
Women’s soccer
Headlines are usually made when players score the game-winning goal. But Katie McKenna focuses on keeping those game-winning goals from happening. McKenna is in her fourth year of minding the net for the women’s soccer team.
McKenna played a large role in the unranked Gaels’ 2-0 victory over the fifth-ranked Ottawa Gee-Gees Saturday, making five crucial saves to record her second consecutive shutout and her third clean sheet of the year. She said beating a highly touted opponent was inspirational for the Gaels.
“It was fantastic,” McKenna said. “It definitely gave the team a confidence boost.” McKenna’s shutout streak came to an end in Sunday’s game, though, when Laurentian’s Lisa Watson beat her with a 16-yard blast. McKenna said conceding the goal was difficult for her because it was one of the few times Laurentian threatened all game.
“It’s tough,” she said. “Sometimes you don’t see the ball for 75 minutes and then you’re called to make
the save.”
McKenna said she has grown as a player over her career.
“When I think of myself in my rookie year, I definitely see a difference,” she said. “I like to think I’ve grown up a bit and play with more confidence. I’m not afraid to communicate and go hard for
the ball.” McKenna, who’s currently in teacher’s college, has taken on a greater leadership role on the team this season due to its large complement of young players.
“I often joke that I feel old on the team, since we have 15 rookies this year,” she said.
McKenna said she loves the new mix of players due to the unique skills and personalities the rookies bring to the team.
“It’s awesome,” she said. “There are all different scenarios, different individual qualities, [but] we all play as a unit.” McKenna said soccer will always be a part of her life, but coaching is an avenue she hopes to pursue.
“Coaching on the university level has always been a goal of mine.” Head coach Dave McDowell said McKenna brings a tremendous amount of support and leadership to the team.
“You can’t really put into words what Katie means to the team,” he said. “She is kind of like the team mom. We rely a lot on Katie.”
McDowell said he’s seen McKenna become a better player over the years.
“It’s a natural process as you get older, but Katie is a great organizer and has perspective.” McDowell said he thinks McKenna will make an excellent coach someday, but the team will certainly miss her.
—Leah Larocque
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