In front of the largest crowd for a collegiate women’s sporting event in Quebec history, the Rouge et Or of the University of Laval did not spoil the party on Wednesday night at PEPS by signing a 7-5 victory in extremis over the UBC Thunderbirds to reach the Final Four the Canadian Rugby Championship.
A crowd of 3,577 supporters provided extra energy for the Rouge et Or girls. The previous record was 3,200 people, recorded at PEPS on February 3, 2023 for a volleyball doubleheader against the University of Sherbrooke’s Vert & Or.
In a heated atmosphere, Léa Ouellet tried to secure a 5-5 draw ten minutes before the end of the game, and Audrey Champagne made the breakthrough with a two-point win.
“It’s really nice what we just experienced and I thank everyone,” said Ouellet, who is used to performing in front of a few hundred fans. It is a great achievement for women’s sport to have attracted so many people. We knew it would be a historic game. We were excited but not stressed. We did what we do best by achieving a collective victory.”
Supported by around a hundred people from Victoriaville, including two buses full of young people from her former high school (Le Boisé), Laurence Chabot experienced an unforgettable evening. “My brother Julien filled two buses and it really touched me that the young people came to me,” she said. Young people from the Le Tamdem school were also present. In Quebec you grow up with the Rouge et Or and come to watch football, but that’s not the case in Victoriaville, where there are no university sports. That’s why her presence touches me so much. The participation of physical activity among girls has decreased after the pandemic and it is important to hold such events. It’s the next generation that was present.”
Laurence experienced this great moment accompanied by her sister Maude, who also wears the colors of Rouge et Or.
Scenario similar to 2019
As in 2019, the Rouge et Or bounced back from defeat in the RSEQ final by once again eliminating UBC, who had won the West title. “The championship is in Quebec and it would have been disappointing to lose our first game,” Chabot said. Now we continue our journey and try to achieve a second victory in a row.”
Despite being 5-0 down at half-time, François Vachon-Marceau never lost his confidence. “We made a mistake in their attempt, but we knew we were in the right place,” said the Laval head coach. We spent a lot of time in their zone and knew it would pay off in the end.”
“The girls performed well and I hope people will join us again in the semifinals,” Vachon-Marceau continued. The fans gave the girls energy and the atmosphere definitely helped us.”
The final word goes to Julie Dionne. “It was an incredible evening and I think those present got something out of it,” said the head of the sports activities department. This game means a lot for the promotion of women’s sports. We were treated to quite a spectacle.”
See you again at Queen’s
On Friday at 7 p.m., the Rouge et Or will cross swords with the Queen’s Gaels in a rematch of the 2022 Canadian final, where Laval won the second national title in its history after the one in 2019.
The Gee Gees, early favorites and losers of the Rouge et Or in the provincial final, were dismissed by the Victoria Vikes to everyone’s surprise.