Guelph, Ont. - The Gryphons fell to 0-2 at the CIS women's rugby championship after a 21-15 loss to the Ottawa Gee-Gees Friday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.  The Gryphons will face Alberta in the fifth place game Sunday morning at 10:00am.

Although the Gryphons were able to control play in the opening half, they were unable to capitalize on their possession within Ottawa's 22.  Thanks to their 'bend-but-don't-break' defence, the Gee-Gees were able to limit Guelph to just one try in the opening 35 minutes.  From an attacking standpoint, leading the way for Ottawa was fourth year fullback Irene Patrinos (Mississauga, Ont.) who, despite the tough conditions, produced the most impressive kicking performance of the tournament thus far.  In the first half, Patrinos would split the uprights on a pair of penalty kicks including a make from 36-metres out.  Ottawa led 11-5 at the break.
 
After Patrinos connected on her third penalty kick of the game, Allison MacCormack (Orangeville, Ont.) would score a try for the Gee-Gees to put Ottawa up 21-5.  For the Gryphons, Brittany Kassil (Guelph, Ont.) was an imposing force all match long.  Aside from electrifying the crowd with the biggest collision of the game, Kassil would also punch through the Gee-Gees defence for a try in the 63^rd minute to trim Guelph's deficit to 11.  That seemed to spark the Gryphons who would make a furious comeback attempt late in regulation.  Alexandra King (Ottawa, Ont.) would score another try for the Gryphons in the 68^th minute to make it 21-15.  With around two minutes remaining, the Gryphons were one clean pass away from another try, but a handling error on the outside would prove costly.  The crowd at Alumni Stadium would come alive one last time when Jennifer Dunn (West Vancouver, BC) would race down the sideline only to be forced out of bounds deep within Ottawa territory as the Gee-Gees would hold on to win it 21-15.  Megan Copeland-Dinan (Ottawa, Ont.) was named player of the game for the Gee-Gees. Brittany Kassil received the same honour for Guelph.
 
While rainy conditions made ball handling a challenge, Guelph head coach Colette McAuley was nevertheless frustrated with her team's performance stating, "you can't win games when all you're doing is dropping the ball."
 
For Ottawa, coach of the year Jen Boyd continues to lead a young group of Gee-Gees who are turning some heads in CIS rugby circles.  "None of the girls have ever been here before.  We told them to enjoy it and just try to be better every game.  We are going to try to enjoy this one for a few hours, but the focus has already shifted to recovering and getting ready for McMaster."  Ottawa and McMaster will play Saturday at 1:30pm with the winner earning a spot in the gold medal match on Sunday.  

 
SCORING SUMMARY
Gue 5-10: 15
Ott 11-10: 21
 
First half
Ottawa – Irene Patrinos penalty kick 4^th (GUE 0 – OTT 3)
Ottawa – Danielle Erdelyi try 7^th (conversion no good) - (GUE 0 – OTT 8)
 
Guelph – Devon Stober try 18^th (conversion no good) - (GUE 5 – OTT 8)
 
Ottawa – Irene Patrinos penalty kick 35^th (GUE 5 – OTT 11)
 
 
Second half
Ottawa – Irene Patrinos penalty kick 40^th (GUE 5 – OTT 14)
Ottawa – Allison MacCormack try 45^th (Irene Patrinos conversion) - (GUE 5 – OTT 21)
 
Guelph – Brittany Kassil try 63^rd (conversion no good) – (GUE 10 – OTT 21)
Guelph – Alexandra King try 68^th (conversion no good) – (GUE 15 – OTT 21)
 
 
Players of the game
Ottawa: Megan Copeland-Dinan
Guelph: Brittany Kassil
 
 
Legend:
Try:  5 points
Penalty goal:  3 points
Convert:  2 points
 
 
POOL STANDINGS, SCHEDULE & RESULTS
 
Pool A preliminary round
                        GP       W        L          T          PF        PA       PTS
1. StFX             1          1          0          0          41        17        5
2. Western        1          1          0          0          22        19        4
3. Alberta          2          0          2          0          36        63        1
 
 
Pool B preliminary round
                       GP       W        L          T          PF        PA       PTS
1. McMaster     1          1          0          0          15        13        4         
2. Ottawa         1          1          0          0          21        15        4
3. Guelph         2          0          2          0          28        36        2
 
NOTE 1: A win is worth 4 points and a tie 2 points.
NOTE 2: 1 bonus point is awarded for scoring 4 tries or more in a game.
NOTE 3: 1 bonus point is awarded for a loss by 7 points or less.
 

Thursday, Oct. 30

10:30 Pool A: Alberta 19, Western 22
13:30 Pool B: McMaster 15, Guelph 13
 

Friday, Oct. 31

10:30 Pool A: Alberta 17, StFX 41
13:30 Pool B: Guelph 15, Ottawa 21
 

Saturday, Nov. 1

10:30 Pool A: Western vs. StFX (CIS-SIC.tv)
13:30 Pool B: McMaster vs. Ottawa (CIS-SIC.tv)
 

Sunday, Nov. 2

10:00 Fifth place: Alberta vs. Guelph (CIS-SIC.tv)
12:00 Bronze medal: 2^nd Pool A vs. 2^nd Pool B (CIS-SIC.tv)
14:00 Championship final: 1^st Pool A vs. 1^st Pool B (CIS-SIC.tv)
 

 
For more information:
 
Andy Baechler
Sports Information Officer
University of Guelph
Off: 519-824-4120 ext. 53159
Cell: 519-212-4865
baechler@uoguelph.ca