RECAP: #4 women’s rugby falls to #3 Laval, will face Carleton in playoffs

Despite a late push to get the game within two points in the final 15 minutes, the Gee-Gees women's rugby team fell by a 32-22 score to the third ranked Laval Rouge et Or at Stade TELUS-UL in Quebec City Saturday afternoon.

The Rouge et Or, who hadn't given up a single point through five games heading into the match, got the scoring started early with a pair of tries inside the first ten minutes. 

Ottawa responded with tries from Claire Gallagher and Ketsia Kamba, but the third-ranked team in the country led 24-12 at halftime. 

Coming out of the break, the Gee-Gees tightened up defensively. The strong play on the back end forced a poor pass from the Rouge et Or, allowing for Sarah White to scoop up a loose ball and weave into the try zone. A Gallagher convert and penalty shortly thereafter made the score 24-22 with less than 15 minutes to go. 

The Rouge et Or would pull away however, scoring eight unanswered points to extend their winning streak to four over the Gee-Gees. 

In all likelihood, the match served as a preview of the RSEQ Final, which is slated for Saturday, Oct. 22. Laval (6-0) finishes the regular season in first place, and therefore have the right to home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs. 

Ottawa (5-1) closes out the regular season in second place and shift their focus to their first-round playoff matchup against the Carleton Ravens. The winner clinches a spot in the U SPORTS National Championship and a berth in the RSEQ title game. Carleton and Ottawa battled earlier this season, with the Gee-Gees emerging victorious 54-3. 

Gallagher wraps up the season as Ottawa's leading scorer with 66 points (three tries, 24 converts, 1 penalty). Mercedes Cole and Ketsia Kamba conclude the season tied for the team lead in tries with eight apiece.

The first-round playoff matchup takes place Friday, Oct. 14 at 6:00 p.m. at Matt Anthony Field. Tickets for the pivotal game are on sale at tickets.geegees.ca.