Entering the playoffs after another undefeated season for the Women’s Rugby program, the Gaels looked to mount the Western Mustangs during their matchup at Nixon field.
The Gaels welcomed Western University to Nixon Field with evil intentions on Oct. 18, contributing to their Homecoming celebrations by defeating the Mustangs by a decisive score of 72-0, simultaneously advancing to the OUA finals, where they’ll look to defend their provincial title on Oct. 25.
Siobhan Sheerin, ArtSci ’25, got things going early for the Gaels, scoring the game’s first try just seven minutes into the contest. Sheerin and the Gaels refused to take their feet off the gas pedal, punching home a second try just three minutes later.
Head Coach of the Women’s Rugby team, Dan Valley, reflected on what it’s like to have a dominant player such as Sheerin leading the charge for the Gaels.
“Siobhan Sheerin is arguably the best player I’ve ever coached, and I’ve had the really good fortune of coaching her. She continues to get better week by week, month by month, year by year, so the fact she’s in her sixth year, it’s really cool to see her unlock a gear I didn’t even know she was capable of getting to this season,” Valley said in an interview with The Journal.
Coupled with successful conversions from Lauryn Bons, Kin ’27, the Gaels found themselves up 14-0, and from then on, never looked back.
The Gaels rounded out the first half with four more tries from Jiggy Schonfeld, Kin ’27, Jordyn Schneppenheim, ArtSci ’27, Mika Matsukubo, HealthSci ’25, and Kennedi Stevenson, ArtSci ’28.
Throughout the first 45 minutes of play, immense pressure left the Mustangs unable to advance the ball down the pitch whatsoever, leaving the Gaels to maintain pressure on Western’s try line.
The Gaels seemed to be far too strong for the Mustangs to handle, breaking numerous tackles on their way to the end zone.
During the second half of play, the Gaels showed no signs of slowing down, hammering six more tries home with the help of Jayne Armatage, ArtSci ’26, Maia Swemmer, ArtSci ’26, who recorded two tries, Eva Johnston, Comm ’28, Robyn Baker, ArtSci ’27, and Sheerin, who scored a highlight-reel-worthy try.
The Gaels will look to defend their OUA champions status with longtime rivals, the Guelph Gryphons, on Oct. 25 at Nixon Field.
Head Coach Valley reflected on any screws that might need tightening before they look to wrap up a perfect season within the Ontario rugby circuit.
“I think we were a little bit slow to get going in and around the attacking breakdown; we did a really great job correcting that throughout the second half, though, so I feel good about that. We just need to come out the way we finished in minute zero next week,” Valley said.
The last time the Gaels met the Gryphons, the Gaels clawed their way back from a 24-7 point deficit, which they faced at the end of the first half. The Gaels were able to shutout the Gryphons in the second frame, eventually winning the game 31-24.
Should the Gaels get off to a better start, they could hopefully find themselves repeating as OUA champions.
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