Photo by Marc Lafleur
Sherbrooke, Que. – The Carleton Ravens rolled into Lennoxville on Saturday afternoon on a four-game win streak and rolled out flawless in their last five. In a match played predominantly on the Bishop’s side of the half, the Ravens finished the regular season with a 28-0 victory.
Rigaud’s Vanessa Chiappetta had 11 points for the evening with a try and 3 conversations. As has been the case throughout the season, the Ravens’ got great contributions from everyone in the line-up. Having already clinched an RSEQ Championship quarter-final match-up the Ravens dressed a young line-up that featured only two seniors and three rookies.
It was the Ravens starting front row of Madison Cunha (Hamilton, Ont.), Asia Tomlinson (Courtice, Ont.) and Taylor Reid (Gatineau, Que.) who impressed in the first half. In true Ravens fashion, the Ravens used quick hands to stretch the field and establish their offence deep in Gaiters territory before rolling phase after phase of attack against the opposing defence. After a series of possessions, the Ravens would be rewarded when Reid would break through the Gaiters’ line scoring her first U SPORTS try.
The Ravens would finish the half with a second try when Brianna Messer (Pembroke, Ont.) finished another pounding Ravens drive. At the half, the Ravens led 14-0.
It was more of the same in the second half, strong defensive leadership from the likes of Eryn Bonney-Brookman (Orangeville, Ont.) would show the depth the Ravens will have for years to come. Throughout the match-up Bonney-Brookman could be found directing the Ravens defensive line, leading an attack that frustrated a Bishop’s team who struggled to generate any momentum. For her efforts, Bonney-Brookman would be rewarded late in the half, picking a loose ball and scoring along the left side of the try-line.
With the game nearing its conclusion, Chiappetta would be rewarded for her efforts in the match, taking off on another video game-like run, exploding through the Bishop’s line before centering in the try zone, giving herself a prime line for the conversion.
The game wasn’t without it’s challenges, midway through the second half Ravens forward Zoe Totten-Coulter was injured in a collision bringing the game to a pause. Totten-Coulter was able to stand on her own power before being helped off the field for further evaluation. After the pause, the Ravens were understandably slow to respond allowing Bishop’s to carry the pace for the first five minutes before scoring their final two tries.
With the victory the 5-1 Ravens have officially secured second place in the RSEQ B Division. Finishing strong, the Ravens will put their +229 point differential on the line against the Concordia Stringers or uOttawa Gee-Gees on Saturday, October 23 at the Ravens’ Perch.
Despite equal 5-1 records, the Ravens fall to second in the RSEQ B Division behind the Montreal Carabins by point differential. In their two-game season series, in which the two teams split 1-1, the Ravens were outscored 29-22.
The Stingers (2-3) and Gee-Gees (3-2) will meet in the final game of the regular season on Sunday. Having previously lost to the Gee-Gees 50-0, the Stingers must win by 51 points to move into second place in the RSEQ A Division.
