ALGONQUIN WINS OCAA WOMEN'S RUGBY BRONZE MEDAL MATCH

KINGSTON, Ont. – Two penalty kicks by Courtney Mastine proved to be the difference, as the Algonquin College Thunder upset the East Division Champion St. Lawrence College Vikings 6-5 in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) women's rugby bronze-medal game on Sunday, Nov. 12.

It was a thrilling contest played before an enthusiastic crowd of Vikings supporters on a windy and chilly day at St. Lawrence College.

And it went right down to the final whistle.

Mastine's first penalty kick score didn't come until well into the second half, as both teams had great defensive stands in the first half.

Mastine's second penalty kick came with about 15 minutes to play in the second half.

From then on, the Vikings played with urgency. Hannah Gillespie, of Brighton, Ont., ended a lengthy surge by the Vikings offence by diving into the end zone for a try with about 10 minutes left in the half.  

But Juletta Cull's convert attempt, against a very difficult wind, was no good and the game resumed with Algonquin leading 6-5.

The Vikings kept the momentum up and most of injury time was played deep in the Algonquin end. Yet, the Thunder never allowed the ball to enter the end zone. When the final whistle went the Thunder players stormed onto the field in wild celebration.

"I was nervous at the end," admitted Thunder head coach Jen Boyd. "But they really pulled through."

It was a surprise win, considering the Vikings beat Algonquin twice in the regular season, including a 24-7 rout when the teams last met in Kingston on Oct. 5.

Boyd said her team knew it had to play much differently in the bronze-medal game in order to beat St. Lawrence this time.

"We had to stay low, use our fitness and move the ball as quickly as possible," she said.

The game was a frustrating way for the Vikings to end their season, considering they went 5-0-1 in regular season play to capture the East Division crown.

The team's first loss didn't come until a week earlier when they lost to Conestoga in an OCAA division cross-over semi-final game.

Vikings coach Gary Peacock said he had to tip his cap to the visiting team.

"They came out and wanted it badly," he said. "They didn't miss any tackles. Full credit to them."

While frustrated with the way the season ended, Peacock said there's reason for Vikings players to be optimistic about next year.

About half of the players on this year's roster are eligible to return next year.

"I told them next year starts now," he said. "Start working on your fitness and skills."

Source: St. Lawrence College

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