SEASON PREVIEW: UPEI Women鈥檚 Rugby Panthers gear up for historic 2024 season
The UPEI Women鈥檚 Rugby team is poised for another unforgettable season in 2024, building on their historic success from last year. To kick off their season, the Panthers will host the Acadia University Axewomen at home on Saturday, September 7 at 2:00 pm at MacAdam Field (UPEI Alumni Canada Games Place).
In 2023, the Panthers finished atop the standings with a 5-1 record, hosted the Atlantic University Sport (AUS) championship game at home for the first time, and fielded a program-best five all-stars. This season, even more history will be made as UPEI prepares to host the U SPORTS Women鈥檚 Rugby Championship for the first time. While expectations are high, the UPEI squad is embracing the opportunity to be in the national spotlight.
鈥淲e're all incredibly excited. It鈥檚 an honour to host this tournament at home, especially with our fans cheering us on,鈥� said Panthers captain Emma MacLean. 鈥淭he past two hosts set a high bar with the experiences they created, and we鈥檙e confident we鈥檒l do the same here at UPEI.鈥�
In the AUS conference, the road to glory will be challenging, with the St. FX X-Women, Acadia Axewomen, and Saint Mary鈥檚 Huskies providing tough competition. But the Panthers are ready to avenge last season鈥檚 championship loss to the X-Women, relying on a new multi-layered attack structure on the offensive end while becoming a more physical unit on defence.
鈥淟ast season's championship game left us with even more determination to win,鈥� said Abbey Morice, who鈥檒l assume the role of captain alongside MacLean. 鈥淎s Coach Voye says, it's in the 鈥榬earview,鈥� but we are using it as motivation to push even harder.鈥�
On the field, the Panthers boast a fierce forward pack anchored by seasoned veterans. MacLean will once again don the number 7 jersey, leading the way with her experience and leadership. The biggest development this offseason was the return of All-Canadian standout Emily Duffy. She鈥檚 a game-changer who brings an unmatched level of skill and intensity that sets her apart as one of the most dominant players in the conference. Lining up around Duffy will be a strong contingent of ball carriers, including Olivia McLeod, Carla Stewart, and Emily-Anne MacQuarrie.
Mackenzie Stewart, shifting from the second row to the back row, will take on the role of flanker this season, while Morice returns to the second row, where her presence in the lineout will be crucial on both sides of the ball.
Sahara MacLean, who will start at number 8, is a new face in this year's starting lineup. The sophomore worked tirelessly in the offseason and is coming off a successful summer, having competed at the U19 Atlantic Championships as a member of the U19 Atlantic Selects.
鈥淏ringing back key veterans to this year鈥檚 pack gives us a significant edge in scrummaging and ensures we have the physicality needed to contend in the conference and at the U SPORTS championship level,鈥� said Panthers head coach James Voye.
In the backfield, veteran scrum-half Mia Fradsham and fly-half Paige MacLean will provide the tactical insight needed to direct the team鈥檚 attack. Fans should be particularly excited to watch U20 Canada standout Ria Johnston, whose speed and agility are a sight to behold. The return of starting centre Emily McKenna adds further strength to the lineup, while Sarah Bain is expected to have a breakout season after shifting to the outside centre position.
鈥淭heir overall speed, athleticism, and rugby IQ is exceptional, and I look forward to seeing them attack open space within our new structure,鈥� Voye said. 鈥淭his should allow them to run freely if we can move the ball to the outside channels more efficiently.鈥�
Rookies will also play a vital role for the Panthers this season. Freshmen forwards like Adrianna Platis, Madeline Landry, Deirdre Studer, and Halee Trenholm bring new energy to the team, while Rowan Gallagher and Isabella MacKinnon are set to make their mark in the backfield, adding defensive aggression and bolstering the team鈥檚 offence.
With their sights set on both conference and national titles, the Panthers are primed for another exciting season. With a combination of experienced leaders and enthusiastic newcomers, they鈥檙e ready to build on last year's success and leave a lasting impression on the U SPORTS stage.
