November 5, 2021
Banner Season: Gaels, Gryphons get ready for fourth straight championship meeting under the lights
Burlington, Ont. - Even a year away from the pitch couldn't keep the paths of the Queen's Gaels and Guelph Gryphons from colliding in the banner season finale, as the two teams will come together for their fourth straight Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Women's Rugby Championship. Despite the consistency in the finalists, the matchup remains a must-see meeting between two of the best from across the country, and it all comes to a thrilling conclusion on Saturday, November 6 at 7:30pm.
2021 OUA Women's Rugby Championship | Fan Guide
For the host Gaels, who will welcome their familiar foes to Kingston for a second straight season, they are looking to put a feather in the cap of their undefeated conference campaign, and the No. 2 nationally-ranked team looks forward to the challenge ahead.
"We love the opportunity to play Guelph," said head coach Dan Valley, who was recently named the Shiels Division Coach of the Year. "They always splay us physically. They always bring their A game. That's super exciting. To have that as our final competition before nationals is big, but we're also not looking ahead to nationals. We want to make sure we come out and do our job this weekend and defend out OUA championship."
It will be a talent-laden roster that will look to help Queen's defend that title, which would be their third in program history. At the forefront of the Tricolour's contingent is three-time Shiels Division MVP Sophie de Goede. The senior from Victoria, B.C. had a terrific campaign for the Kingston squad, churning out her second-highest single season point total with 52.
A member of Canada's national rugby team, de Goede spent the cancelled 2020 OUA season playing professionally in England, and with that valuable experience in tow and the home crowd cheering her and her team on under the Nixon Field lights, the two-sport star will look to add another OUA accolade to her already impressive resume.
Matching de Goede's production on the pitch with five tries this season was fellow all-star Carmen Izyk (Blackie, Alta.), who has carved out a prominent role for Queen's in her second season with the team. With one championship fixture already under her belt from 2019, and a winning one at that, the sophomore wing is hoping to bring her offensive touch and impactful play to a second straight title-wining performance.
Both Izyk and de Goede were instrumental in the Gaels regular season win against Guelph on October 9. The former led the way with a pair of tries, while the latter chipped in with one of her own to catapult Queen's to the 31-3 victory. Guelph's lone points came via a Kendra Cousineau penalty kick, and the all-star fly half will be turned to for a productive outing once again on Saturday.
The school's 2019-20 rookie of the year has only gotten better since her debut campaign, and after losing to Queen's in her lone championship outing as a member of the Gryphons, she has been eager to not only get back to the finals, but to change the script this time around. The Port Colborne, Ont. native has been a force when it comes to putting points on the board, and beyond just scoring tries, has proven herself to be a reliable and consistent kicker.
Teammate Talia Hoffman (Stoney Creek, Ont.) is also looking for a different result in the 2021 championship, and has taken on more of a leadership role this season to help get her team in a position to achieve that goal. After sitting out her first year and some of her second, the talented fullback has since made her name well-known across OUA circles and has the accolades to show for it. The former OUA all-star and U SPORTS all-Canadian is hoping to add another OUA title to this list of accomplishments when she and her team take the field this weekend.
Another key piece of the Gryphons' transition game that is not to be overlooked is Sidney Brown (Brantford, Ont.), who may not be showing up on the scoreboard like some of her teammates, but does everything in her power to make sure she gets her squad moving in the right direction and on the attack.
Brown, like many of the upcoming game's participants, has seen her fair share of banner season festivities, but one individual who will step onto the championship stage for the first time is the 2021 rookie of the year, Chloe Daniels. But even though the Sutton, Ont. native doesn't have the same level of experience as some of her competitors from Guelph or teammates alongside her, she will surely be one to watch for the home side. Her four tries from the regular season positioned her as an offensive threat for Queen's and the all-star should factor into the end result in the highly anticipated 2021 finale.
Regardless of the school colours they don or the championship experience they boast, student-athletes on both sides of the ball are looking forward to what promises to be another high-calibre clash in Kingston. And whether it's Queen's playing for back-to-back banners or Guelph looking to carry their semifinal momentum into a return to the championship circle for the 17th time, the teams are excited and ready.
"The players have been building towards this game all season long," said Guelph head coach Colette McAuley. "We're looking forward to meeting Queen's again, as it is always a great battle."
The 2021 OUA Women's Rugby Championship will get underway at 7:30pm on Queen's University's Nixon Field. Fans can tune in to the event live via oua.tv or via CBC's digital platforms, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices, and the free CBC Gem streaming service.
2021 OUA Women's Rugby Championship | Fan Guide
For the host Gaels, who will welcome their familiar foes to Kingston for a second straight season, they are looking to put a feather in the cap of their undefeated conference campaign, and the No. 2 nationally-ranked team looks forward to the challenge ahead.
"We love the opportunity to play Guelph," said head coach Dan Valley, who was recently named the Shiels Division Coach of the Year. "They always splay us physically. They always bring their A game. That's super exciting. To have that as our final competition before nationals is big, but we're also not looking ahead to nationals. We want to make sure we come out and do our job this weekend and defend out OUA championship."
It will be a talent-laden roster that will look to help Queen's defend that title, which would be their third in program history. At the forefront of the Tricolour's contingent is three-time Shiels Division MVP Sophie de Goede. The senior from Victoria, B.C. had a terrific campaign for the Kingston squad, churning out her second-highest single season point total with 52.
A member of Canada's national rugby team, de Goede spent the cancelled 2020 OUA season playing professionally in England, and with that valuable experience in tow and the home crowd cheering her and her team on under the Nixon Field lights, the two-sport star will look to add another OUA accolade to her already impressive resume.
Matching de Goede's production on the pitch with five tries this season was fellow all-star Carmen Izyk (Blackie, Alta.), who has carved out a prominent role for Queen's in her second season with the team. With one championship fixture already under her belt from 2019, and a winning one at that, the sophomore wing is hoping to bring her offensive touch and impactful play to a second straight title-wining performance.
Both Izyk and de Goede were instrumental in the Gaels regular season win against Guelph on October 9. The former led the way with a pair of tries, while the latter chipped in with one of her own to catapult Queen's to the 31-3 victory. Guelph's lone points came via a Kendra Cousineau penalty kick, and the all-star fly half will be turned to for a productive outing once again on Saturday.
The school's 2019-20 rookie of the year has only gotten better since her debut campaign, and after losing to Queen's in her lone championship outing as a member of the Gryphons, she has been eager to not only get back to the finals, but to change the script this time around. The Port Colborne, Ont. native has been a force when it comes to putting points on the board, and beyond just scoring tries, has proven herself to be a reliable and consistent kicker.
Teammate Talia Hoffman (Stoney Creek, Ont.) is also looking for a different result in the 2021 championship, and has taken on more of a leadership role this season to help get her team in a position to achieve that goal. After sitting out her first year and some of her second, the talented fullback has since made her name well-known across OUA circles and has the accolades to show for it. The former OUA all-star and U SPORTS all-Canadian is hoping to add another OUA title to this list of accomplishments when she and her team take the field this weekend.
Another key piece of the Gryphons' transition game that is not to be overlooked is Sidney Brown (Brantford, Ont.), who may not be showing up on the scoreboard like some of her teammates, but does everything in her power to make sure she gets her squad moving in the right direction and on the attack.
Brown, like many of the upcoming game's participants, has seen her fair share of banner season festivities, but one individual who will step onto the championship stage for the first time is the 2021 rookie of the year, Chloe Daniels. But even though the Sutton, Ont. native doesn't have the same level of experience as some of her competitors from Guelph or teammates alongside her, she will surely be one to watch for the home side. Her four tries from the regular season positioned her as an offensive threat for Queen's and the all-star should factor into the end result in the highly anticipated 2021 finale.
Regardless of the school colours they don or the championship experience they boast, student-athletes on both sides of the ball are looking forward to what promises to be another high-calibre clash in Kingston. And whether it's Queen's playing for back-to-back banners or Guelph looking to carry their semifinal momentum into a return to the championship circle for the 17th time, the teams are excited and ready.
"The players have been building towards this game all season long," said Guelph head coach Colette McAuley. "We're looking forward to meeting Queen's again, as it is always a great battle."
The 2021 OUA Women's Rugby Championship will get underway at 7:30pm on Queen's University's Nixon Field. Fans can tune in to the event live via oua.tv or via CBC's digital platforms, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices, and the free CBC Gem streaming service.
