The Carleton Ravens women’s rugby team kicked off the season against the defending Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) champion McGill Marlets at Keith Harris Stadium on Sept. 1, but ultimately failed to break them, losing 54-27.
The Ravens started the game off with intensity, pushing the ball into Martlet territory as early as five minutes into the game.
Carleton managed to draw first blood against last year’s champions, scoring the first try of the game seven minutes in. Ravens head coach Denis Blondin said the start of the game was promising.
“The first 10 minutes is the team we think we are,” he said.
It didn’t get better from there, though. McGill managed to respond 10 minutes later as Martlet centre Caroline Suchorski scored a well-fought try to put them up 7-5.
Blondin said the youth of his team really put them at a disadvantage as the game carried on, especially as competition at the university level is a longer battle.
“Our experience showed, we’ve got a number of first year players on our team,” he said. “The games are a bit longer for them, when you’re playing 10 minutes longer then you’re used to each half that wears down on you.”
As a result, the Martlets wore them down through the game. Carleton went into the second half trying to dig themselves out of a lopsided 33-5 score on their home field.
Carleton was able to score more tries in the second half in attempts to close the gap. Ravens winger Natasha Smith got the Ravens their third try of the game, and the Ravens started to regain some of the points they lost.
Overall, Blondin said he was pleased with the way they ended the game, even though there wasn’t enough time on the clock to mount a full comeback.
“Our finishers came on and got us a couple tries, great effort from the players on the bench,” Blondin said.
Olivia Merritt scored two tries for the Ravens while Natasha Smith and Melanie Michaud each added one of their own.
The Ravens will take on the Concordia University Stingers on Sept. 6 for their second consecutive home game.
