TORONTO, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons field hockey team fell just short of capturing an OUA title on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 27), with the Gryphons falling to the Waterloo Warriors by a score of 2-0 in the 2024 OUA field hockey gold medal game, played at the University of Toronto's Back Campus Field. A scoreless first half saw Waterloo with eight penalty corner opportunities and two shots, but Guelph's defensive play limited any potential offensive impact, keeping zeros on the scoreboard. The Gryphons recorded four shots in the half, but Waterloo's Marielle Fernback stopped all three shots she faced to keep the game even.
 
With just over a minute to play in the third quarter, Mary Lencz opened the scoring for Waterloo by jamming home a rebound off of a penalty corner, converting on the Warriors first shot on goal of the game. The Warriors doubled their lead less than a minute into the fourth quarter when Isabella Beck potted the insurance marker off of a scramble in front of the net that ensued following a penalty corner, with Sarah Schnarr drawing the assist. Guelph battled back in the final moments of the game, but Waterloo prevented any comeback with strong defensive play to clinch the championship.
 
For the University of Waterloo, it marked their first OUA title since 2003 and third since 1971. The silver medal for the Gryphons is their best result since also claiming silver in 2021, with U of G's last OUA title in field hockey coming in 2019. The Warriors advance to the 2024 U SPORTS Field Hockey Championship where they will face the winner of the Canada West in a best two of three series.