If six years is any proof, it’s safe to say the Gaels women’s rugby team has forgotten how to lose.
On Oct. 4, Queen’s women’s rugby finished their regular season with a bang, defeating the McMaster Marauders 89-0 in Hamilton, ON. The statement win sealed the Gaels’ sixth straight undefeated campaign and locked off the top playoff seed. Currently ranked first in the country, Queen’s controlled every minute—scoring at will, keeping McMaster off the board, and finishing 6-0 to earn a direct bye to the OUA semifinal later this month.
Mika Matsukubo, MPH ‘26, led the attack with four tries, a statement performance in her last regular-season game as a Gael. Matsukubo’s dominant performance earned her a nod as one of Queen’s Athletes of the Week. Veteran Lizzie Gibson, M.PL. ’26, added three tries and went 7-for-7 on conversions, finishing with 29 points in a dominant finish to her Gaels regular season career.
Kennedi Stevenson, ArtSci ’28, scored a hat trick with three tries, and Jayne Armatage, HealthSci ’27, Olivia Dibua, ArtSci ’27, Jiggy Schonfeld, Kin ’27, Michaela Cormier, ConEd ’27, and Robyn Baker, ArtSci ’27, each contributed a try to round out the scoring.
The shutout marked the second consecutive game in which Queen’s held its opponent scoreless, following last week’s 80-3 victory over Western on Seniors’ Night at Nixon Field. Head Coach Dan Valley’s group has now posted back-to-back 80-plus-point outings, a statement heading into the playoffs.
With six dominant seasons under head coach Dan Valley, no player on Queen’s current roster has ever experienced a regular-season loss in the Tricolour. This year’s squad features 14 seniors—all set to graduate with spotless regular-season records.
Having secured a first-round bye, the Gaels now get an extra week of rest before hosting an OUA semifinal at Nixon Field on Oct. 18. Their opponent will be determined after next weekend’s quarterfinal matchups, with kickoff time still to be announced.
Queen’s will aim to carry its momentum into the postseason, targeting a return to the OUA title game and another shot at a national championship.
The Gaels hope to reclaim the OUA Championship crown from the Guelph Gryphons, who snatched last year’s title due to a last-second try in 2024 after back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023.
Tags
Dan Valley, Kennedi Stevenson, Lizzie Gibson, mcmaster marauders, Mika Matsukubo, Women's rugby
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