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U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship Presented by the University of Ottawa
Greg Kolz

Gaels battle with Laval, finish as U SPORTS silver medalists

| By: Shawn MacDonald (Sports Information Officer)
OTTAWA (U SPORTS) – In the final game of the U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championship, the Laval Rouge et Or defeated the Queen's Gaels by a score of 22-14 at Matt Anthony Field at the University of Ottawa to win the gold medal.
 
Schedule & Results

Both teams were coming off impressive defensive showings in the semifinals, where they were able to hold their respective opponents, Ottawa and Guelph, to a combined 15 points on Friday.

On a Laval lineout at the five-yard line, Nele Pien was the centre of the maul and her teammates pushed her the rest of the way for the early try.
 
The play of both teams settled down with the ball not leaving the central part of the field. Marie-Laura Choquette changed that when she burst down the sideline for the try and was able to create enough space for herself to set up her teammate for the conversion.

Laval controlled the ball for the majority of the first 40 minutes but weren't able to capitalize for the rest of the half. The Gaels defence came up with an extended, big try-line stand to close out the half. Laval led 12-0 with 40 minutes to play.

Off the kickoff, the Rouge et Or were given a yellow card for tackling a Queen's player in the air. With the extra player, the Gaels offence came alive when McKinley Hunt scored a try through the middle.

Laval responded though. Again off a lineout, the Rouge et Or maul pushed the Gaels back 15-yards to allow Jan-Ma Létinois to score.

Queen's wasn't about to go out quietly. Sophie de Goede got the ball out of the ruck and ran in the try to cut the lead to 19-14 Laval.

With the Laval lead at five, they took the opportunity to get points with a straightaway Anne-Charlotte Beaulieu penalty kick to extend the Laval lead to two scores.

With time running out, Laval was happy to kill the clock and play slow. The Gaels couldn't get together an offensive run before time ran out and Laval claimed their first-ever U SPORTS gold medal.

For Queen's it marks their second U SPORTS silver in the past five-seasons having won silver at home on Nixon Field in 2015.

The Tricolour will once again play host to the national championship next year as the best in Canada come to Kingston in November of 2020.

MUST SEE
Hunt scores de Goede with a try Best fans in Canada FINAL SAY
Head coach Dan Valley  Nike Top Performers
 LAV: Fabiola Forteza
QUE: Taylor Black
 
Championship MVP: Justine Pelletier, Laval
 
Championship All-Stars
Cloé Maranda, Laval
Pippi McKay, Queen's
Maya Montiel, Ottawa
Andréanne Valois, Laval
McKinley Hunt, Queen's
Madison Grant, Ottawa
Fabiola Forteza, Laval
Sophie de Goede, Queen's
Justine Pelletier, Laval
Anne-Charlotte Beaulieu, Laval
Anaïs Gilbert, Laval
Laura Pfleiderer, Acadia
Emilie Merilainen, Acadia
Rachel Hickson, Queen's
Talia Hoffman, Guelph
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