Canada’s U23 Women’s Rugby Team opens Border Battle with win over USA

Canada’s U23 Women’s Rugby Team opened the two-match “Border Battle” against the USA with a win at Veterans Memorial Stadium, the home of the MLR’s New England Free Jacks, on Wednesday night.

Two players who made their senior national team debut earlier this month in Ottawa combined for Canada’s first try. Mya Brubacher offloaded the ball to Claire Gallagher, who touched it down between the uprights in the 17th minute. Gallagher, who is captaining the team in Massachusetts, converted the try to give Canada a 7-0 lead.

Savannah Bauder scored twice within five minutes to further Canada’s lead to 17-0, which the team carried into half-time. Neither team was able to score for much of the second half, with significant defensive plays made at both ends of the pitch. Rachel Smith broke the stalemate in the 65th minute, with Gallagher kicking another clean conversion to make the score 24-0.

The United States scored in the final minute of play to put the final score at 24-5.

Canada’s second and final match against the USA takes place Sunday July 30 at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed for free on The Rugby Network.

CANADA’S U23 WOMEN’S RUGBY TEAM vs USA – JULY 26, 2023

1. Zoe Williams (Victoria, BC) – Westshore RFC / University of Victoria
2. Jordan McLeod (Rivers, MB) – Brandon Barbarians / University of British Columbia
3. Mya Brubacher (West Montrose, ON) – Queen’s University
4. Grace Anderson (Montreal, QC) – Kingston Panthers / Queen’s University
5. Julia Omokhuale (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Irish / University of Calgary
6. Rachel Smith (South Surrey, BC) –University of British Columbia
7. Lizzie Gibson (Caledon, ON) – Kingston Panthers / Queen’s University
8. Tylo Borsboom (Winnipeg, MB) – Assassins RFC / University of Ottawa
9. Corinne Fréchette (Saint-Zéphirin-de-Courval, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval
10. Claire Gallagher (Caledon, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / University of Ottawa
11. Carmen Izyk (High River, AB) – Foothills Lions / Queen’s University
12. Maggie Banks (Coquitlam, BC) – Kingston Panthers / Queen’s University
13. Maggie MacKinnon (Sooke, BC) – University of Victoria
14. Maelle Reed (Victoria, BC) – Castaway Wanderers / University of Victoria
15. Savannah Bauder (North Vancouver, BC) – University of British Columbia

FINISHERS

16. Madison Jumeau (Victoria, BC) – University of Victoria
17. Cécile Leclerc (Québec, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval
18. Rori Wood (Sooke, BC) – University of British Columbia
19. Cécile Leclerc (Québec, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval
20. Emily Clark (Mississauga, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / University of Guelph
21. Siobhan Sheerin (Toronto, ON) – Scarborough RFC / Queen’s University
22. Maddy Kushner (Ottawa, ON) – Ottawa Irish / Queen’s University
23. Kendra Cousineau (Port Colborne, ON) – Niagara Wasps / University of Guelph
24. Laura Guay (Québec, QC) – Club de rugby de Québec / Université Laval
25. Natalie Armatage (Waterloo, ON) – Guelph Redcoats / University of Guelph