Badgers battle Gryphons in women's rugby OUA semifinals

The Brock Badgers women's rugby team will face their toughest test of the season in the OUA semifinals on Saturday. The Badgers visit the undefeated, defending provincial champion Guelph Gryphons on Saturday, Oct. 13. "From a spectator point of view, fans will enjoy seeing some of the best players within the OUA, and Canada, battle it out for 80 minutes," said Brock head coach Stefanie Pavlovich. "There will be some very electric positional matchups."

LOCATION: Guelph Varsity Field TIME: Noon

ABOUT THE BADGERS (5-0): Brock overcame the York Lions in Toronto by a score of 20-13 last Friday. The Badgers have worked their way out of the Russell division unscathed and have outscored their opponents by 244 points, yet they're viewed as the underdogs due to their strength of schedule. For the first time in a long time, the Badgers have a shot at an OUA medal and a chance to go to nationals. "Being the 'underdog' doesn't change our mind-set nor does it take away from our level of performance," said Pavlovich. "The girls are here to play rugby and compete at the highest possible level. There is no denying that Guelph is a strong team, one that features great talent and coaching. Similar to us, they are fast and explosive around the pitch, and they are hungry to compete."

ABOUT THE GRYPHONS (4-0): Guelph finished the season on top of the Shiels Division with 274 points for, however they haven't experienced game action since Sept. 29. "We need to shut them (Brock) down in their first two passes and put a lot of pressure on them defensively so they can't use time and space to form an attack," head coach Colette McAuley told gryphons.ca. The Gryphons are built around their senior centres Alexandra Everett (league-leading 11 tries) and Emmanuela Jada (second on the team with seven tries), as well as fourth-year fly half Julia Schell (two tries and 17 converts). 

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, OCT. 12

HOME

Men's Hockey vs. York, 7:15 p.m. (Seymour-Hannah)

AWAY

Men's Basketball at Saint Mary's, 6 p.m. (Halifax, Nova Scotia)

Cross Country, Marauder Open (Bayfront Park)

SATURDAY, OCT. 13

HOME

Men's & Women's Soccer vs. Algoma, 1 & 3:15 p.m. (Brock Alumni Field)

Women's Hockey vs. Laurier, 2:15 p.m. (Exhibition, Seymour-Hannah)

Men's Lacrosse vs. Laurentian, 7 p.m. (Brock Alumni Field)

AWAY

Women's Rugby at Guelph, Noon (Guelph Varsity Field)

Men's Rugby at Laurier, 1 p.m. (Waterloo University Stadium)

Women's Lacrosse at Toronto & UOIT, 1:15 & 4:45 p.m. (UOIT)

Men's Hockey at Laurier, 7:07 p.m. (Sun Life Arena, Waterloo)

SUNDAY, OCT. 14

HOME

Women's & Men's Soccer, Noon & 2:15 p.m. (Brock Alumni Field)

AWAY

Women's Lacrosse vs. York, 3 p.m. (UOIT)

Golf at OUA Championships (Heron Point Golf Links, Ancaster)