PREVIEW: Number-1 ranked rugby team plays at home Saturday

The Gee-Gees women's rugby team returns home this weekend, hosting the Montreal Carabins at Matt Anthony Field on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Ranked number one in the nation with a 2-0 regular season record, uOttawa will look to dispatch a 1-1 Carabins squad which has been ousted from the RSEQ playoffs in three consecutive seasons at Matt Anthony Field, creating a rivalry.

"The odds are against you," says Gee-Gees head coach Jen Boyd of that streak within the rivalry. "Eventually you lose to teams, and I think Montreal always plays their best rugby against us. I'm glad we're playing them in game three and not in game one."

As the third game in a seven-game regular season, the Garnet and Grey consider themselves at a benchmark in the year.

"Game three is a real tell-tale sign for us," says Boyd. "You figure out combinations and if the systems are the right systems with this group. You really get into a rhythm after your third game."

Ottawa has earned a 24-12 home win over Laval and a 43-17 road victory at Sherbrooke. "We need to go back to the idea of building, using consistency in the starting group and how the impact subs are coming in."

The team will be missing fifth-year centre/scrum half Erin McCallan due to injury on Saturday, but in general have a healthy lineup. "It's an opportunity for someone else to lead. Someone is going to get to step up into a really important role on this team and I look forward to seeing who that's going to be."

Saturday's game will be webcast live on OUA.tv with Gee-Gees alumni Megan Copeland-Dinan and Ashley Strike on the broadcast.