Lancers win OFSAA rugby bronze medal

The Ursuline Lancers girls’ rugby team put forward a gritty and determined effort to win an OFSAA ‘AAA’ bronze medal in Aurora on Wednesday.

The Lancers defeated sixth seed Kitchener Collegiate 27-24 in overtime to earn the bronze.

Battered and bruised going into the medal match, the Lancers had to go deep into their bench, as well as ask players to step up into key roles with veterans Cassandra Delpech and Judine Vanderveen out of the lineup.

The overtime featured two five-minute halves. Zoie Knight and Bella Gray scored a try for the Lancers in overtime, with the Lancers holding on for the dramatic and historic victory. This was the first OFSAA medal for the Ursuline Lancer rugby program. The Lancers have built a girls rugby powerhouse, advancing to OFSAA in 12 of the past 14 years.

The Lancers opened the scoring in the bronze medal game, with Zoie Knight making a try with Payton Ameel converting. The Lancers led 7-5 at halftime. Victoria Matteis scored a try in the last minute of regulation to tie the game up 17-17 and force the overtime.

Grade 10 Layla Olah was named MVP of the bronze medal game.

The Lancers, who were the ninth seed, upset number one see Guelph John F. Ross 14-7 in a quarter-final with tries from Judine Vanderveen and MVP Bella Gray. Payton Ameel kicked two converts. They lost 26-5 to fifth seed Caledon Mayfield in the semifinals.