The Queen's Gaels Women's Rugby team opened the OUA playoffs, defeating the Western Mustangs 72-0 in the semifinal at Nixon Field. With this emphatic win, the Gaels advance to their seventh consecutive OUA final, aiming to secure another championship.
Queen's started strong, with
Siobhan Sheerin (Arts & Science) breaking through for the first try just seven minutes in.
Lauryn Bons (Kinesiology) added the conversion to give Queen's a 7-0 lead. Sheerin struck again minutes later, setting the tone for a relentless Gaels offense. Bons' second successful conversion made it 14-0.
The Gaels' forwards laid the foundation early, dominating the breakdowns and creating space for their backs to shine.
Jiggy Schonfeld (Kinesiology) extended the lead with a powerful run at the 21-minute mark, and Bons continued her flawless day from the tee. Tries from
Jordyn Schneppenheim (Arts & Science) and
Mika Matsukubo (Health Sciences) pushed the score to 31-0 by the half-hour mark. Before the half,
Kennedi Stevenson (Arts & Science) capped off a commanding first half with another try, bringing the score to 36-0 at halftime.
Queen's defensive pressure was equally impressive, stifling Western's attempts to gain any momentum. The Mustangs struggled to advance the ball into Gaels' territory throughout the match, with Queen's showing resilience in their tackling and defensive structure.
The second half saw more of the same from Queen's.
Jayne Armatage (Arts & Science) and
Maia Swemmer (Arts & Science) both crossed the line to extend the Gaels' lead early in the half. Sheerin added her third try in the 58th minute, while Bons continued converting with precision.
Eva Johnston (Business) and
Robyn Baker (Arts & Science) added late tries to round out the dominant performance, with Bons finishing with six successful conversions.
Queen's will now host either Brock or Guelph in the OUA final at Nixon Field on October 26th. With a perfect 6-0 regular season and a commanding playoff victory, the Gaels are looking to cap off their season with another title, solidifying their status as the best team in the country.
