Brutal weather conditions didn’t stop the country’s sixth-ranked women’s soccer team from putting up impressive numbers.

The Gaels cruised to two home victories this weekend, beating the Nipissing Lakers 8-1 and the Laurentian Voyageurs 4-1. Queen’s managed to keep their heads in games which were punctuated by roughness and physical play.

The two home wins may be just what the Gaels needed to boost their confidence heading into the second half of the season. The wins were their first back-to-back through the first eight games.

On Saturday, the Gaels outshot Nipissing 19-3 in a match they completely dominated in all aspects.

Jackie Tessier led the Gaels with a hat trick, while Alexis McKinty and Breanna Burton both buried two goals apiece. Striker Kayla Crnic also scored in the blowout.

After being shut out in three of their first six games, Queen’s has now scored 26 goals, — the second-best in the OUA.

“I feel some of the things we do in training are starting to kick in,” said head coach Dave McDowell. “I hate to sound like Tiger Woods, but it’s a process, right?”

Queen’s was spurred to victory over Laurentian on Sunday by their usual offensive tandem.

Burton scored twice in the game’s first 15 minutes, while Tessier found the net in the second half. Striker Brittany Almeida came off the bench to score Queen’s other goal.

The Gaels’ offense executed when chances were presented, maintaining a level of consistency over an entire weekend for the first time this season.

Burton said she’s pleased to see the confidence returning to Queen’s attack.

“Coming into the weekend we were looking to play to our potential, and it looks like we’re on our way to doing that,” she said.

“For a while we weren’t finishing how we liked to, so it was nice to put up all those goals.”

The Gaels’ defence remained strong this weekend, despite seeing their four-game shutout streak end against Nipissing.

Co-captain and defender Chantal McFetridge remains sidelined with an injury, with no timetable set for her return.

Up next for the Gaels is a rematch against the Carleton Ravens on Sept. 26. The teams met last Sunday in Kingston, playing to a 0-0 draw.