For the ninth time in the past 11 years, the Toronto Varsity Blues and Guelph Gryphons will battle for gold as both were victorious on Day 1 of the OUA field hockey championship (Oct. 30) at the University of Toronto's Back Campus Fields.
 
The top seeded Gryphons defeated the Waterloo Warriors 4-0 in the first semifinal of the day, before the defending champion Varsity Blues topped the York Lions 3-0. With the wins, both Guelph and Toronto have qualified for the CIS national championship, set for next week (Nov. 5-8) at the University of Victoria.
 
Guelph and Toronto will meet in the championship final tomorrow (Oct. 31) at 2 p.m. The two teams have combined for the last 11 provincial titles (Toronto 7, Guelph 4). Waterloo and York are set to battle for bronze at noon. Both games will be streamed live on OUA.tv.
 
Guelph 4, Waterloo 0
 
Third-year forward Crysta Stubbs opened the scoring in just the 3rd minute of the match and the Gryphons quickly built a two-goal lead after Moon Weijens converted on a corner opportunity in the 13th minute.
 
Despite numerous saves from Waterloo's Hilary Neeb (Wellesley), who earned OUA goalie of the year honours this season, Guelph was able to pad their lead in the 29th minute with a goal from Allison Chute, and held a 3-0 advantage at halftime.
 
The Gryphons added an insurance marker in the opening minutes of the second half, thanks to third-year midfielder Nicole Paola.
 
Guelph goalie Morgan Kelley earned the victory in net while OUA goalie of the year Hilary Neeb (Wellesley) was solid for Waterloo making several great saves to keep her team in it.