HAMILTON, Ont. – Hannah Ehrhardt and Jenny So earned 2009 Russell division all-star status as Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced women’s rugby major award winners and all-stars on Wednesday, October 28.
This is the first all-star recognition for the two Toronto natives. Ehrhardt finished the regular season ranked eighth in the OUA with 25 points in five games. The fourth-year veteran scored both tries in the Blues lone 12-0 victory over the York Lions this season.
A fourth-year faculty of physical education and health student, So was a driving force behind the Blues attack all season, consistently leading the Toronto charge down the field.
The McMaster Marauders walked away with the most award winners and all-stars in the Russell division, taking all three major awards and five spots on the all-star team.
McMaster’s Nina Bui (North York, Ont.) was named the division’s most valuable player. The fourth-year centre played a huge part the Marauders first place finish, tallying six tries in five games for a total of 30 points on the regular season.
Bui’s teammate Maggie Cogger-Orr (Thornhill, Ont.) made quite an impression on the league and received the rookie of the year honour. In her first year as a hooker for the Marauders, Cogger-Orr scored one try for five points in regular season play.
Five Marauders were named to the Russell division all-star list, including Bui, Cogger-Orr, fly-half Kirsten Shedden (Barrie, Ont.), pop Sarah Van Hoof (Lindsay, Ont.), 8-man Natasha Turner (Palo Alto, CA).
McMaster head coach Sandro Fiorino was named the Russell division’s coach of the year. Fiorino led the team to their 4-1-0 record, landing them in the top spot in their division.
In the Shiels division, Western’s Laura Russell (Bolton, Ont.) claimed the most valuable player award, with teammate Laurie Biewald (Ottawa, Ont.) earning the rookie of the year award. Russell and Biewald helped the Western Mustangs to a 3-2-0 record, placing second in the division, one spot back of the Guelph Gryphons.
The Laurier Golden Hawks received two nods in the voting, with head coach Jennifer Armatage receiving the coach of the year award.
Guelph dominated the all-star list for the Shiels division with five members claiming spots. Jacey Murphy (Alliston, Ont.) notched a place on the list; the third-year 8-man landed fifth in the OUA in points with 40 in five games.
The OUA’s top scorer, Brittney Benn (Napanee, Ont.) was also named to the team. The second-year centre led the league in scoring with 13 tries and 12 converts for 89 points during the regular season.
Other Gryphons to make the list are flanker Michelle Joslin (Waterloo, Ont.), prop Catherine Wilson (Metcalfe, Ont.) and lock Caitlin Beaton (Hepworth, Ont.).
2009 WOMEN'S RUGBY MAJOR AWARD WINNERS & ALL-STARS
SHIELS DIVISION
Most Valuable Player – Laura Russell (Western)
Rookie of the Year – Laurie Biewald (Western)
Coach of the Year – Jennifer Armatage (Laurier)
RUSSELL DIVISION
Most Valuable Player – Nina Bui (McMaster)
Rookie of the Year – Maggie Cogger-Orr (McMaster)
Coach of the Year – Sandro Fiorino (McMaster)
OUA WOMEN'S RUGBY ALL-STARS 2009
SHIELS DIVISION
Jacey Murphy – 8-man (Guelph)
Brittany Benn – Centre (Guelph)
Michelle Joslin – Flanker (Guelph)
Catherine Wilson – Prop (Guelph)
Caitlin Beaton -- Lock (Guelph)
Shannon Holder – Flanker/Scrum (Waterloo)
Kaley Maksymk – Hook/Flanker (Waterloo)
Julie Prout – Fly/Centre (Waterloo)
Melissa Mcguire – Lock/Prop (Waterloo)
Laura Russell -- 8-man/Prop (Western)
Laurie Biewald – Fly Half/Centre (Western)
Karen Harwood – Prop (Western)
Jocelyn Fenwick – 9 (Brock)
Holly Monkman – Fly Half (Brock)
Tamara Simmons – Lock (Laurier)
RUSSELL DIVISION
Kirsten Shedden – Fly Half (McMaster)
Nina Bui – Centre (McMaster)
Sarah Van Hoof – Prop (McMaster)
Natasha Turner – 8-man (McMaster)
Maggie Cogger-Orr – Hooker (McMaster)
Andrea Wadsworth – Centre (Queen's)
Jocelyn Poirier – Flanker (Queen's)
Karlye Wong – Centre (Queen's)
Susan Heald – Scrum Half (Queen's)
Lauren Wizowski – Prop (Trent)
Lianne Schumacher – Flanker (Trent)
Ashley Burton -- Scrum Half (Trent)
Jenny So – Centre (Toronto)
Hannah Ehrhardt – Fly Half (Toronto)
Ashley Holligan-Mytil -- Prop (York)
– OUA –
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