KINGSTON, Ont. – With 16 conference championship banners in the 25-year history of OUA women's rugby, the Guelph Gryphons are the most dominant women's rugby program in the province. They will be looking to add to that storied history on Friday night in Kingston as they face the Queen's Gaels in the 2019 OUA gold medal game.
OUA Women's Rugby Gold Medal Match
Date: Friday, Oct. 18
Time: 7pm
Location: Nixon Field (Queen's University)
Broadcast: OUA.tv
Friday night's contest will mark the third straight season in which Guelph and Queen's have met in the OUA gold medal match, with the Gryphons winning the previous two title matchups, both in Guelph.
Emmanuela Jada vs Queen's in 2018 OUA title game
This year, however, homefield advantage swings the Gaels' way after Queen's was able to earn a 54-19 victory over the Gryphons back on September 14 in Guelph. The Gryphons, who played that game without the services of a pair of All-Canadian talents in Emilie Nicholl and Emmanuela Jada, will now get a second chance at the Gaels, this time with the squad at full health.
"Managing our injuries has certainly been a challenge for us this season, but we're excited to have our veteran leadership back in the lineup for this one to matchup against a very talented Queen's squad," says Gryphon head coach
Colette McAuley, who has led Guelph to eight OUA titles in her 12 seasons as head coach. "Our focus in preparing for this game has been on our defensive organization. In order to slow down Queen's we need to make sure we're defending not as individuals but as units. Offensively, we feel like we have some threats on all sides of the ball and will look to build off of our performance in the OUA semi's versus McMaster where we were able to execute at a very high level."
The Gryphons are coming off of a 77-24 victory over the Marauders to book a spot in the OUA championship match.
Julia Schell in 2018 OUA gold medal match
Fifth-year captain
Julia Schell returned from injury in that game and led the way with a team-high 32 points (4 tries, 6 converts). For Schell, a three-time All-Canadian who will be playing in the final OUA game of her varsity career on Friday night, the chance to avenge the team's regular season loss to the Gaels is a welcomed challenge. "Our team is extremely determined heading into the OUA finals," says Schell, who was named a U SPORTS First Team All-Canadian a season ago. "We've improved so much since our last meeting with Queen's and we know what we need to do to be successful on Friday night. It all comes down to grit and being relentless on both offence and defence and trusting each other through all 80 minutes."
Perhaps nobody on the Gryphons best exemplifies that grit and relentlessness better than fifth-year lock
Emilie Nicholl. The bio-medical science major from Toronto was unable to suit up for the Gryphons in their first meeting with Queen's, but will return Friday night to help the Gryphons pursue a fourth consecutive OUA banner. Nicholl and Schell are among five Gryphon players who will be playing in their final OUA game, with
Emmanuela Jada,
April Wright and
Mikhaila Irving all wrapping up memorable careers at the conference level.
Regardless of the result Friday night, the Gryphons women's rugby team will also head to nationals in Ottawa (Oct. 30 – Nov. 2) where they will look to take home the third national title in program history (1998, 2011).
Friday night's matchup versus Queen's can be seen live online at OUA.tv.
