Strong performances lift teams through divisional semifinals at 2023 Women’s U18 Nationals

July 27, Ottawa, ON – The second game day of the Football Canada 2023 Women’s U18 Tackle National Championship moved to the stadium at TD Place on Wednesday for a set of entertaining divisional semi-finals.

The opening game of the day pitted Team Manitoba against the National Indigenous Team. Despite renewed energy and their best effort, the National Indigenous Team struggled to get any momentum, seeing their opponent from Manitoba overpower them on their way to a 53-0 win. Manitoba’s Shayla Mohamed (defensive) and Brooklyn Morcombe (offensive) got MVP honours on the day, while the honour went to Synaira Whitesell (defensive) and Kayleigh Boucher (offensive), her second nod in two games, for the National Indigenous Team.

With games moving to the stadium at TD Place for the rest of the day, Team Québec offered another explosive performance, topping Team Saskatchewan 63-29 to secure a spot in the Harlow Division gold medal game. Saskatchewan’s top performers in the hard-fought clash were Sienna Berns (defensive) and Nevaeh Lang (offensive), while Québec’s Catherine Poirier (defensive) and Frédérique Morneau (offensive) were selected for the award.

The third game of the day featured a matchup between Team Ontario Black and Team New Brunswick, both looking to earn their spot in the Cummings Division final. And it was Ontario Black’s day, delighting the many supporters attending the game, as they put together a 39-14 win. Off determined executions by both sides, Emery Bowland (defensive) and Jana McAllister (offensive) were selected MVPs for New Brunswick, and Lilliana Sawchyn (defensive) and Maia Peters (offensive) were honoured for Team Ontario Black.

The late night concluded with a Team Alberta sweep, 60-0, over Team Ontario Red. Both teams rallied after an unfortunate injury game delay to put on the best show possible under the lights at TD Place. Ontario Red’s top performers were Calli Dorey (defensive) and Isabelle Berube (offensive), and Kaley Boucher (defensive) and Sidanee Bowers (offensive) were Alberta’s standouts.

The Women’s U-18 Tackle National Championship 2023 concludes on Saturday, back on the field at Carleton University, with divisional consolations and gold medal games.

In the Cummings Division, the National Indigenous Team will face New Brunswick in the consolation final at 10 am, and Manitoba will battle Team Ontario Black for the division title at 4 pm. The Harlow Division will see Saskatchewan face team Ontario Red at 1 pm in the consolation final, with Team Québec and Team Alberta closing the championship with the gold medal game at 7 pm. All games are open to the public, with full-day passes and single-game tickets on sale now.

Fans from across the country can also follow the tournament live on Football Canada TV. Visit https://footballcanada.com/event/2023-womens-u18-nationals/ for the complete schedule, results and links to tickets and live stream.