LONDON, ON - The Western Mustangs faced reigning OUA champions, the Queens Gaels, and despite a determined effort, consistency challenges led to a 53-0 defeat.

In a hard-fought battle, the Mustangs faced the reigning OUA champions, the Queens Gaels, in a match that showcased their determination and fight. However, the Mustangs' consistency let them down as they struggled to maintain control against the Gaels.

"We came into this week knowing it would be a lot of defense, there were a few times where we got caught turned off, passive, not ready, then there were a few times where we were getting up there and punching them in the mouth. It was just inconsistent," said Mustangs Captain, Katie Salverda. 

Right from the start, Western came out of the gate with a fierce determination to take on their opponent. Unfortunately, just under five minutes into the game, Queens managed to score the opening try, setting the tone for the match. 

The Mustangs fought relentlessly in the early minutes of the match, but Queens charged through the goal line once more, adding their second try shortly after.

Queens exhibited dominant and powerful play throughout the game, especially in the scrum, where they consistently overpowered the Mustangs. Despite some impressive individual efforts, including strong takedowns by Western's Amy Wynee,  the Gaels continued to advance the ball forward, scoring their third try with a conversion at the 16-minute mark, bringing the scoreline at 19-0 in favor of Queens.

The Mustangs, determined to make a comeback, drove hard toward the Gaels' goal line. However, several turnovers on lineouts gave possession back to Queens. 

The Gaels continued to extend their lead, scoring additional tries at the 24:24 and 31:00 marks, with successful conversions, bringing the score to 33-0 for Queens at halftime.

The second half saw the Mustangs regrouping and coming out stronger, drawing penalties against Queens and performing much better in the lineout. 

"We were a little bit shell-shocked coming out in the first half, we kind of fell away from our game plan," said Western's Head Coach, Josh Campbell. "Just hitting the reset button at half time, and coming back out knowing what we're capable of doing and just executing on that - it was a much better second half," he continued. 

Western displayed a renewed intensity, however Queens continued to charge down the field, scoring their first try of the half at the 52-minute mark, pushing the score up to 45-0 for the visiting team.

Despite the deficit, the Mustangs set up a strong formation and confidently charged down the field. 

Queens began facing difficulties toward the midway mark of the half, knocking on the ball twice, as the Mustangs attempted to capitalize on these opportunities. 

As the midway mark of the second half passed, the Mustangs managed to hold the Gaels to just one try.

Mustang Cassie Osatchuk, was dominant in her takedowns, displaying exceptional defensive skills. 

Queens managed to score a drop goal at the 70-minute mark, increasing their lead, and as the match entered its final minutes, the Gaels scored another try, solidifying their lead at 53-0. 

Despite their valiant effort, the Mustangs ultimately fell to the Queen's Gaels. 

While they played a stronger game in the second half and displayed remarkable resilience, the consistency issues in the first half proved to be a significant challenge against the reigning champions. 

The Mustangs will be back on Alumni Field against the Laurier Golden Hawks on Friday, September 22nd at 4pm.