Redmen Baseball – A-
MVP: Adam Gordon
Athlete to Watch: Tyler Welence
Looking to rebound from a disappointing 2011 season, the Redmen turned to new Head Coach Jason Starr to restore order in McGill’s nationally renowned baseball program. Despite a poor start—dropping four of their first five contests—the Redmen stayed composed, and won eight of their final eleven games to secure a playoff berth.
Characteristic of the 2010 National Champions, McGill caught a spark at the most opportune time. They swept both their semifinal and final playoff opponents in Ottawa and Carleton, respectively, and qualified for the CIBA National Championship in the process. McGill remained hot throughout nationals, culminating in a dramatic walk-off grand slam to send the team to the national semifinal.
However, this proved to be as far as the momentum would carry them, as the Redmen fell to eventual champions St. Clair College 4-2, ending hopes of a second national championship in three years.
Martlet Soccer – B
MVP: Meghan Bourque
Athlete to Watch: Kristina Pearkes
The Martlets looked ready to earn another CIS Championship tournament berth after opening the 2012 season with six straight wins; they were ranked amongst the top ten in the country and were dominating RSEQ competition. However, McGill’s inconsistent play plagued the team down the stretch, as it managed to win just three of its last eight games. While McGill qualified for the conference playoffs, the team was clearly out of sync. The Martlets needed to prevail in the RSEQ semifinal to earn a trip to nationals, but lost to Sherbrooke on season-ending penalty kicks.
There were a few Martlets that put together impressive seasons, notably first-year standout Kristina Pearkes, leading goal-scorer Hannah Rivkin, and third-year midfielder Meghan Bourque. Looking forward to next season, the team will maintain a strong nucleus, including 2011 CIS Freshman-of-the-Year Alexandra Hoyte, who missed all of the 2012 campaign due to injury. Martlet leaders Julie Bahen and Beth Armstrong leave the team following graduation, and while this year’s result was undoubtedly disappointing, the program’s future looks bright.
McGill Cross-Country
Redmen B-
MVP: Benjamin Raymond
Athlete to Watch: Charles Litwin
The Redmen placed 16th at the CIS Championship—a decent showing for the runners. Freshman Benjamin Raymond played a crucial role, posting second place finishes at the McGill Open, the Laval Open, and the RSEQ Championships. The first year polished off the season with Quebec Rookie-of-the-Year accolades. Other top-scorers for the season included freshman Charles Litwin and sophomore Michael Abramson. Promising rookies Raymond and Litwin look to lead the team moving forward.
Martlets B+
MVP: Jessica Porfilio
Athlete to Watch: Caroline Pfister
The Martlets started their season strong, winning five of their first six meets, including multiple podium sweeps and the RSEQ Championship. Rookie Caroline Pfister, a high-profile athlete previously representing Canada at international age-class competitions, led the Martlets throughout the year. Other top runners included sophomore Quebec conference runner of the year, Jessica Porfilio, as well as seniors Sarah McCuaig and Madeleine Cummings. The Martlets placed seventh overall at nationals. The team has good depth and a young core, which bodes well for next season.
Martlet Rugby – B-
MVP: Brianna Miller
Athlete to Watch: Emily Barber
The McGill Martlets had a season of up and downs in 2012. They opened their season winning four out of their first five games. However, they failed to deliver when it counted once again, as the team fell in the RSEQ semifinal for the fifth consecutive season—this time, to rival Concordia. Third-year back Brianna Miller was honoured with All-Canadian status and named the RSEQ player of the year after recording six tries and a conference-high 40 conversions. The Martlets lose just two players to graduation, so next year’s roster has the potential to end their recent playoff woes.
Redmen Football – C+
MVP: Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
Athlete to Watch: Shaquille Johnson
After multiple seasons of disappointment on the gridiron, the Redmen finally ended their 23-game winless streak with a 36-9 victory over Mt. Allison. Overall, it was a tumultuous season for the Redmen, as strong performances—including another win against Bishop’s, and a narrow loss to rival Concordia—were mixed with the 40-point shutouts seen in previous years.
The improvements on the field were spearheaded by two All-Canadians: third-year offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, and freshman wide receiver Shaquille Johnson. Johnson became only the second Redman to capture the CIS Rookie-of-the-Year. This season also marked Head Coach Clint Uttley’s first full year in the position. This was a smart hire for McGill, as Uttley injected life into a downtrodden program. With both All-Canadians returning and only eleven graduating seniors, look for the Redmen to ride this wave of momentum into even more playoff appearances in the future.
Redmen Soccer – D
MVP: Alexis Pradié
Athletes To Watch: Max Leblond, Olivier Lacoste-Lebuis
The Redmen had an unfortunate season. After the year’s conclusion, the RSEQ announced that McGill had forfeited 11 of its 12 games for use of an ineligible player. The news sent the Redmen to the bottom of the standings with a miserable 0-12-0 record.
However, McGill MVP and centre-back Alexis Pradié still earned some glory when he was named to the CIS All-Canadian first-team for the second consecutive year. Pradié will graduate this year, undoubtedly leaving a huge hole in the leadership department.
However, with new rising freshman star Max Leblond coming through the ranks, McGill is sure to have a formidable team next fall. Leblond brought strong leadership to the keeper position, and delivered a laudable performance. Head Coach Jose Valdez will enter his second season at the position, which will give him more time to make his mark on the program.
Redmen Rugby – A
MVP: Cameron Perrin
Athlete to Watch: Robert Ashe
It was certainly a roller coaster ride for the Redmen this season. After coming out of the gate with four straight wins, the team was devastated after an ineligible player cost them all their victories. Despite the forfeits, the Redmen continued to dominate the rest of the year, and won their final four matches. The Redmen cruised to the championship by easily defeating Bishop’s in the semifinals, and for the third consecutive year, McGill faced Concordia in the final. While the Redmen played a somewhat sloppy game, they managed to come out on top to claim their seventh straight RSEQ title.
Even though McGill loses 15 players to graduation, the team is still in great shape. Fortunately, seniors comprised only half of the starting lineup. The team is in good hands moving forward, as Head Coach Craig Beemer currently sports a 66-6 record during his tenure at McGill.
Redmen Lacrosse – A
MVP: Jishan Sharples
Athlete to Watch: Alex Rohrbach
The Redmen finally achieved what they desired. The team had a storybook run through the playoffs to capture its first-ever CUFLA championship. McGill finished the regular season on top of the Eastern Conference with a 9-1 overall record. The Redmen pulled off a three goal rally in the final 80 seconds to stun Guelph in the national semifinal matchup. Then, in the championship game against Western, with mere seconds remaining in double overtime, captain Jishan Sharples scored the game-winner to claim the Baggataway Cup.
The Redmen will lose two key players to graduation: Ryan Besse graduates as McGill’s all-time leading goal scorer, while Sharples, who provided leadership and clutch play all season, will also not be returning. With veteran Coach Tim Murdoch at the helm, and depth at every position, the Redmen will have a chance to repeat as champions again next season.