EYE ON SPORTS
Laval advances to U Sports women’s soccer championship
The Université Laval Rouge et Or women’s soccer team advanced to the U Sports national championship by defeating the Université de Montréal Carabins 2-1 (5-4 on penalties) for the provincial title on Nov. 1. With the score tied 1-1 after 120 minutes, Mérédith St-Pierre’s goal sealed the win in a penalty shootout. Laval will play Trinity Western University (Langley, B.C.) in the quarterfinals on Nov. 7. The championship is being played at Dalhousie University in Halifax. (Photo courtesy of Université Laval Rouge et Or via X) EYE ON SPORTS: Laval advances to U Sports women’s soccer championship
Members of the Université Laval Rouge et Or rugby team celebrate after defeating the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees 30-26 in Ottawa to win the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) title on Oct. 19, a year after losing to the Gee-Gees in the 2023 title game. Behind 19-5 at halftime, the Rouge et Or scored a try in the final seconds of the game to seal a crucial win. The QCT’s regular sports coverage of Remparts hockey and college and university sports returns Nov. 6 – just in time for the RSEQ football playoffs featuring the Rouge et Or. (QCT staff) (Photo courtesy of Université Laval Rouge et Or via Facebook) 
Université Laval Rouge et Or kicker Felipe Forteza celebrates his team record 53-yard field goal with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter, to seal a 23-20 victory over the defending Vanier Cup champions, the Université de Montréal Carabins, in front of a Stade Telus record crowd of 20,903 fans on Sept. 7. (The previous record of 19,381 was set in 2019.) Université Laval’s previous record for the longest field goal was 49 yards, made by Christopher Milo in 2008. The Rouge et Or will visit the McGill Redbirds on Sept. 14. (screenshot) 
On Aug. 30, sports fans were shocked by news of the sudden death of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau of the Columbus Blue Jackets. Gaudreau, 31, and his brother Matthew, 29, were both killed by a drunk driver while riding their bikes in Oldmans Township, New Jersey, on Aug. 29. The brothers were in town for the wedding of their sister Katie to hockey player Devon Joyce on Aug. 30. Nicknamed “Johnny Hockey,” Gaudreau played 11 seasons in the NHL (nine in Calgary, two in Columbus), scoring 243 goals and 500 assists for 743 points in 763 games. (LL) (screenshot) 
Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee, announced Aug. 10 that he will not seek a re-election. Bach, a 1976 Olympic gold medalist in team fencing for Germany, has been at the helm of the IOC for the past 12 years and his second term will end in 2025. He officially closed the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Aug. 11. (LL)
(Photo: IOC/Greg Martin)