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Julia Gregory vs McMaster
First-year full back Julia Gregory tracks a loose ball versus McMaster at Alumni Field on Saturday, Oct. 16.

Women's Rugby Stephen Leithwood

Badgers battle Marauders in close match at Alumni Field

Despite a collection of highlight-reel plays, the Brock women's rugby lost 19-12 to the visiting McMaster Marauders at Alumni Field on Saturday, Oct. 16.
 
The game remained close until McMaster's Katie McLeod scored her second try for the game-winner with 15 minutes left.
 
Head coach Mark Smerdon said the Badgers' defensive mindset is improving game in and game out.
 
"We're still improving and moving forward every time we step on the field. Our style of play was good and varied, so it kept our opponent on their toes," Smerdon said. "There were a couple of opportunities that didn't go the way we hoped, yet our team made things happen out there. They should be proud of themselves the way they performed."
 
The Badgers named Karenna Ottywill the Player of the Match.
 
"Karenna led by example on defence and on the attack. She improved immensely during the pandemic period. She put a lot of work in," Smerdon said. "Karenna's our captain and has been a great leader behaving as the glue of the team. She keeps them together."
 
In the second half, Ottywill had the crowd roaring with an electric interception as McMaster attempted to break out of their zone.
 
Karenna Ottywill breakaway try
Ottywill's second half try.

Daniella Michaud shot up on their fly back, and the McMaster ball carrier passed late. Ottywill was right there for the snag. The third-year centre broke away into the end zone for a try while leaving a trail of Marauders in her wake.
 
"We put in a huge fight today. We have a saying, 'Big Dogs Gotta Eat,' and we ate today," Ottywill said. "I'm proud of where we've come and where we're going, and what we're going to see in ourselves by the end of this season."
 
A first-year full-back, Julia Gregory put Brock on the board first with a try. Michaud registered the convert.
 
"When Julia showed up at training camp earlier this season, we put her at 15 (full back), a position she never played before, but she has all the attributes of a full back," said Smerdon of Gregory, a Nursing student. "Julia has the full-scale set of catch, pass, track tackling, and she can kick. In addition, she communicates well with her teammates on the field and moves the pieces around on the field where we need them to be."
 
The first half featured a valiant goalline stand by the Badgers defence as they repeatedly denied McMaster on the doorstep before Katie McLeod found the end zone.
 
"It was fantastic. Their mindset on defence was phenomenal," Smerdon said. "They were putting in some big tackles, double tackles as we like to call them, and we stopped some excellent and big rugby players in their tracks. So we were pumped about that."
 
For McMaster, Stacey Warner also scored a try while McLeod tallied two converts.
 
The Badgers wore 'Ruck Cancer' T-shirts in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
 
"One of our player's mum has been going through this during the summer," Smerdon said. "We used these our warmup and sidelines shirts to represent our support for her and anyone impacted by breast cancer."
 
Next, the Badgers (0-3) travel to Toronto to face the York Lions for their final regular-season game on Friday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.
 
Ruck Cancer Women's Rugby
Tess Armstrong and Miia Sorra of the Brock women's rugby team sport 'Ruck Cancer' in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
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Players Mentioned

Daniella Michaud

Daniella Michaud

5' 8"
Second Year
Karenna Ottywill

Karenna Ottywill

Third Year
Julia Gregory

Julia Gregory

First Year

Players Mentioned

Daniella Michaud

Daniella Michaud

5' 8"
Second Year
Karenna Ottywill

Karenna Ottywill

Third Year
Julia Gregory

Julia Gregory

First Year