The Gaels secured their spot in the 2016 OUA semi-finals against number two nationally-ranked Guelph this weekend in a landslide victory against the York Lions. 

Spearheading the team’s attack was the combination of Miranda Seifert and Nadia Popov.

The duo — who entered the game eight and ninth in the OUA in points — had another strong game for the Gaels. 

On the day, Seifert was able to score three tries, making that eight in her last two games. In similarly dominant fashion, Popov would add two tries and five conversions to the Gaels scoring.

In an email to The Journal, captain Erin Geddes said that the match against the Lions showed how much the depth the team carries. 

“The fact that six of our players scored during the game speaks volumes to the amount of depth we carry on our team,” Geddes said. 

The Gaels will face the Guelph Gryphons in the semi-finals. When the Gaels last faced the Gryphons, the Gaels suffered a 5-50 home defeat. 

Since Queen’s upset the Gryphons in the 2013 OUA final, Guelph has outscored the Gaels 165 to 36, over their last four meetings.

“The team is hoping to maintain momentum going into this weeks semi-final playoff game against Guelph. Coming off a game having scored a lot of points, helped build camaraderie amongst the players and confidence which I think will have a positive impact going into this weeks training leading up to the game,” Geddes wrote. 

Geddes thinks that the team’s experience earlier this season against Guelph is more important than simply the end result and that it will help the team this weekend. 

“I can imagine both teams will be training extra hard this week knowing the level of game the other brings which I am sure will result in a very competitive match this weekend,” she wrote.

“Walking away with a loss in our previous game against the Gryphons has put us in the ‘under dog’ position … our team often excels when put in this position as we play like we have nothing to lose and everything to prove.”

The Gaels will travel to Guelph this weekend to face off against the Gryphons to determine who will play for gold in the OUA finals. The winner will go to the CIS National Championships.