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No.3 Gaels to host OUA Championship next Friday night with semifinal win, qualify for U SPORTS championship in Ottawa

| By: Shawn MacDonald (Sports Information Officer)
KINGSTON, Ont. (October 11, 2019) - The No.3 Queen's Gaels took down the Brock Badgers 74-3 on Friday night under the lights at Nixon Field. With the win, the Gaels will host the OUA Championship next Friday night at 7 pm on homecoming weekend. The Gaels also booked their ticket back to the U SPORTS national championship.

GAME FLOW
The reigning U SPORTS MVP Sophie de Goede wasted no time in the match as she circled the Brock defence for a try and nailed the conversion herself to put the Tricolour ahead 7-0.

Queen's continued to dominate the play and possession as 2018 U SPORTS All-Canadian Rachel Hickson was able to get the ball out wide and put down a try to make it 12-0 Gaels.

The Gaels were able to block a kick from Brock deep in the Badgers end to gain possession. From there Queen's worked it outside to Lizzie Gibson who dashed for open space and dove over the try line for the score.

McKinley Hunt and de Goede each scored tries and Queen's was ahead 31-0 late in the opening half.

With Brock looking to get their first points on the board, Lane Hessels broke free for a near field-long run but it was the Gaels Hickson who never gave up on the play and chased down Hessels with a great try-saving tackle to ensure a 31-0 lead for Queen's at halftime.

The second half started with Hickson using her speed once again down the outside of the field for a try. The Badgers were finally able to score their first points of the match as Taylor Knezevich kicked a penalty for three points from the 22.

Queen's went on to add another 33 in the half and seal the win 74-3.

The victory sets up a rematch of the 2018 OUA Final with the Guelph Gryphons. Queen's and Guelph met earlier this season where the Gaels came away with a 54-19 win in Guelph. The Gaels will be looking to win the program's second OUA championship title and first-ever on home soil.

MUST SEE
de Goede opens the scoring Hickson hustles for a try-saving tackle Hickson keeps the speed going for a late try FINAL SAY
Head Coach - Dan Valley
"We had a really great performance against Guelph this year and we know they are going to be reloaded and show up here pretty pissed off and that's exciting for us. We're really looking forward to that challenge. Having the final at home is a reflection of the work that our athletes have done to earn that right.

On Hickson's tackle.
"It's a reflection of our attitude. There are a lot of people that would have said we can't close that space but we had Carmen Izyk and Rachel Hickson who had no business catching that person just pin their ears back and go. And that's a massive boost for us." 

BY THE NUMBERS
1st - Time in school history the women's rugby team will host the OUA Championship
1 - Spot secured at the U SPORTS National Championship at Ottawa
16 - Points on the night for de Goede
2 - Victories over Brock this season
8 - Different try scorers for the Tricolour

UP NEXT
The Gaels are back in action next Friday night for a homecoming OUA Championship match as they welcome the Guelph Gryphons to Nixon Field for a 7 pm start. Catch all the action live on OUA.tv.
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