The Lions’ women’s rugby team lost their final home game of the Ontario University Athletics regular season to the Queen’s Gaels on Friday. The final score was 41-7. With only one more game left to play before the playoffs begin in later in October, the Lions look forward to making the playoffs and moving past the quarter-finals for the first time in team history.
The Gaels are a strong team. They were the OUA champions in 2013 and knocked the Lions out of the quarter-finals in 2014, and are currently ranked third at the national level. In Friday’s game, the Lions played confidently in the first half, but the Gaels were able to grab two tries and two conversions. The Lions responded with two successful plays of their own, with the Gaels leading 14-7 at the half.
In the second half, however, the Gaels completely dominated the Lions who remained unable to score and prevent their opponents from scoring another 27 points. The Gaels thus continued their undefeated streak this season and retained their top position in the OUA Russell Division rankings. The Lions’ updated record is 2-2 in the regular season and 2-1 in the preseason. The team ranks second in the OUA rankings.
The Lions’ women’s rugby team has lost 18 athletes since last year due to graduation, including Dorrian Khouri, the reigning OUA MVP. However, last season’s OUA rookie of the year Petra Woods returned to join the team this year, joining several experienced third-year players as well as a host of new young recruits.
In late September, the Lions lost to the Western Mustangs by a score of 38-22. It was their first loss of the regular season. Earlier in September, the Lions won a spectacular victory by a score of 80-0 over the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and defeated the Trent Excalibur by 38-23.
Hassam Munir, Sports and Health Editor
