2018-19 GUELPH GRYPHONS WOMEN’S RUGBY 1 University of guelph SEASON REVIEW 2018-19 About the University of Guelph Their team manta is “As One.” become a trademark of the side. Guelph’s players not only love the offensive aspect of the game but relish the And the Guelph Gryphons women’s rugby team certainly opportunity to initiate contact and break down the com- played like that throughout a memorable 2018 season. petition when they have the ball. Enrollment: Approximately 19,000 undergraduate students & 2,500 graduate The Gryphons added another chapter to the program’s students. International students representing over 100 countries storied history with a 39-14 win over the Queen’s Gaels The multi-dimensional approach was on full display in President & Vice-Chancellor: Dr. Franco J. Vaccarino in the OUA Championship at Varsity Field Saturday, Oct. the OUA postseason. The two-time defending champi- 20. women’s rugby action vs Queen’sThat victory com- ons traded tries early with the Russell Division-leading www.uoguelph.ca pleted a three-peat, which was also marked the eighth Brock Badgers in the OUA semi-final before running provincial banner in the past 11 years, and 16th overall away to a one-sided 97-12 win. The dominance contin- guelph Gryphons WOMEN’S RUGBY Quick Facts in the quarter century of OUA women’s rugby. The Gry- ued in the final and while Guelph squandered a couple phons now head to Atlantic Canada in search of the third opportunities early against Queen’s, they built momen- Director of Athletics: Scott McRoberts national title in program history. tum and scored the first 29 points of the match to secure Nickname: Gryphons a third straight title. The 2018 U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship, Colours: Red, Black & Gold hosted for the first time by Acadia University, kicks off While OUA success has come with regularity, the side Conference: OUA on Thursday (Nov. 1) at Raymond Field and concludes has had a deep desire to perform better on the nation- Sunday (Nov. 4) with the gold-medal final at 4:30 p.m. ET al stage. The conference championship was considered Contact Info / 1:30 p.m. PT. Live-streaming is available on USPORTS. just one of the boxes ticked and as head coach Colette LIVE. The Gryphons open up play with a Thursday after- McAuley said after the win over Queen’s, “we’re not done 50 Stone Road E. Guelph, ON Canada, N1G 2W1 noon national quarter-final against the University of Vic- yet.” Heach Coach: Colette McAuley (12th season) toria Vikes. The match kicks off at 3:30pm ET. Gryphon fans can watch the game on campus with both Brass Taps and Gryphs Restaurant airing the games live. Guelph once again ran the table and finished the regular season unbeaten atop the Shiels Division. Julia Schell at 2018 OUA ChampionshipsThe Gryphons did it by over- whelming OUA opponents with a blend of creative, ev- er-evolving offence and the defensive grit that has also 2 3 ALL-CANADIANS SCHEDULE & RESULTS 2018-19 2018-19 Julia Schell Saturday, September 8, 2018 First Team All-Canadian Guelph Gryphons v Queen’s Gaels W 39-34 Nixon Field, Kingston, ON Position: Fly half Height: 5-4 Academic Year: 4 Friday, September 14, 2018 Eligibility Year: 4 Guelph Gryphons v Western Mustangs W 73-0 London, ON Program: Sociology Hometown: Uxbridge, ON Saturday, September 22, 2018 Guelph Gryphons v York Lions W 121-0 Varsity Field, Guelph, ON emilie nicholl Saturday, September 29, 2018 First Team All-Canadian Guelph Gryphons v McMaster Marauders W 41-17 Varsity Field, Guelph, ON Position: Lock Height: 5-11 Saturday, October 13, 2018 Academic Year: 3 OUA Semi-final Eligibility Year: 4 Guelph Gryphons v Brock Badgers W 97-12 Varsity Field, Guelph, ON Program: Bio-Medical Science Hometown: Toronto, ON Saturday, October 20, 2018 OUA Championship emmanuela jada Guelph Gryphons v Queen’s Gaels W 39-14 Varsity Field, Guelph, ON Second Team All-Canadian Position: Centre Height: 5-6 Academic Year: Masters Eligibility Year: 4 Program: International Development Hometown: Guelph, ON alexandra everett Second Team All-Canadian Position: Centre Height: 5-9 Academic Year: 4 Eligibility Year: 4 Program: Wildlife Biology Hometown: Brockville, ON brodie schmidt Second Team All-Canadian Position: Prop Height: 5-10 Academic Year: 3 Eligibility Year: 3 Program: Environmental Governance Hometown: Uxbridge, ON 4 5 head coach Colette mcauley TEAM ROSTER & COACHING STAFF 2018-19 2018 OUA Coach of the Year U of G head coach Colette McAuley was named the Shiels Division Coach of the Year for the fifth time in her 12 seasons in charge of the Gryphons (2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, & 2018). “Colette has an unmatched competitive drive. It’s something that permeates through her athletes and the results speak for themselves,” says Scott McRoberts, Director of Athletics at the University of Guelph. “Our women’s rugby program has established some incredibly high standards of excellence, and Colette’s tireless work ethic is responsible for helping our women’s rugby student-athletes continu- ally reach new levels.” # First Name Last Name Pronunciation Pos Ht Elig. Acad. Yr. Program Hometown The Gryphons have won nine OUA championships with her as head coach – in- 1 Andi Lakatos la-KAY-toes Prop 5-4 5 5 Hotel & Food Admin. Guelph, ON cluding the most recent title on Oct. 20, 2018, a 39-14 victory over Queen’s – and a 2 April Wright Hooker 5-6 4 4 Human Kinetics Waterford, ON national title in 2011. Guelph finished the OUA season undefeated at 6-0 and rose 3 Cassandra Tuffnail Forward 5-4 2 3 Human Kinetics Heidelberg, ON to No. 2 in the U SPORTS national poll. 4 Emilie Nicholl Lock 5-11 3 4 Bio-Medical Science Toronto, ON 5 Amara Hill Flanker 5-2 2 3 Env Sciences Colborne, ON McAuley, who has been named U SPORTS Coach of the Year three times in her career (2008, 2015 & 2017), emphasizes 6 Taylor Durham Flanker 5-6 4 5 Human Kinetics Burford, ON the technical aspects of the game but is also a believer in developing the psyche of her players, having them focus on short-term goals and turn anxiety into energy to be used on the pitch. That teaching approach has worked, both at the 7 Kylie Shaughnessy SHAWN-a-SEE 8th man 5-7 5 5 Bio-Medical Science Peterborough, ON university level, and with her extensive involvement in various national teams. 8 Emmanuela Jada Wing 5-6 4 5 Int’l Development Guelph, ON 9 Mikhaila Irving Scrum half 5-3 4 4 Studio Art Stouffville, ON McAuley, who currently serves as the Rugby Canada Assistant Coach for National Senior Women’s 15s, had a busy sum- 10 Julia Schell Shell Fly half 5-4 4 4 Sociology Uxbridge, ON mer prior to the Colette McAuley addresses her team prior to the 2015 OUA FinalGryphons’ banner 2017 season. In 11 Talia Hoffman Scrum Half 5-4 2 3 Env. Sciences Binbrook, ON June, she went on a tour in New Zealand with the Senior 15s and in August, McAuley assisted with the Team Canada side 12 Alexandra Everett Centre 5-9 4 4 Wildlife Biology Brockville, ON that finished fifth in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland. She also traveled to Las Vegas in March as an assistant with 13 Madison Brattan Centre 5-7 5 5 Marine & Freshwater Bio Guelph, ON the Maple Leafs 7s, who played in the International invitational. In August 2014, McAuley was an assistant coach with the 14 Brodie Schmidt Lock 5-9 3 3 Envir Governance Uxbridge, ON silver medal Canadian team at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in France. 15 Rebecka Sundell Centre 5-5 2 5 Eng. & Physical Sc Malmoe, Sweden “Coach McAuley has been an excellent resource for us in identifying and developing young players that have the ability SUBSTITUTES to represent Canada both now and in the future,” said Canadian National Senior coach John Tait. “She has worked closely Adea Elliott Forward 5-7 2 2 Child, Youth & Family Owen Sound, ON with Team Canada and Maple Leafs over the last couple of years, to not only our benefit but to ensure her own coaching development and that Guelph continues to remain cutting edge with their practice. Coach McAuley runs an athlete-cen- Megan Acheson at-CH-son Flanker 5-3 4 5 Animal Biology Strathroy, ON tred program that focuses on helping her players reach their potential, while also ensuring that her team continues to Marissa Themeles Wing 5-8 3 4 English Burlington, ON remain one of the most successful in the country.” Jasmine Ing Centre 5-8 2 2 Commerce Guelph, ON Claire Traversa Prop 5-5 5 Masters Nutritional Sciences Guelph, ON McAuley was also a decorated player, a fullback with the Gryphons, as well as a long-serving member of the Ontario Erika Barton Flanker 5-5 2 2 Food & Agr. Business Napanee, ON Provincial team and National squad. She represented Canada 21 times for the national Women’s 15s, including a trip to Emily Frasson Flanker 5-5 2 3 Nutrition Guelph, ON the World Cup in 2002 and Canada Cups in 2001, 2003 and 2005. McAuley was a member of the National Women’s 7s Sidney Brown Wing 5-5 2 3 Psychology Brantford, ON team for two years, winning tournaments in San Diego and Toronto, as well traveling with them abroad to Hong Kong, Jacinta Addai-Sarfo Centre 5-6 2 3 Arts Bradford, ON Dubai and Los Angeles.