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Weekend Watch: Panda-monium: Carleton and Ottawa to square off in 53rd Panda Game

U SPORTS Staff

Welcome to Weekend Watch, your weekly preview of all the best U SPORTS action you can’t miss across CW, OUA, RSEQ and AUS during the 2022-23 season.

FOOTBALL

OUA

*GAME OF THE WEEK*

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 PANDA GAME: No. 10 Carleton Ravens @ No. 7 Ottawa Gee-Gees

The Panda Game between the Ottawa Gee-Gees (4-1) and Carleton Ravens (3-2) is a long-running tradition in the city of Ottawa which has ignited school spirit since 1955.

This weekend, the 2022 Panda Game is set to mark the 53rd game in the storied series between the cross-town rivals.

Ottawa quarterback Ben Maracle enters the matchup throwing seven touchdowns and only two interceptions on the year. Headlining the Gee-Gees backfield is J-P Cimankinda, who has averaged 106.2 yards per game (fourth in U SPORTS) as well as a pair of touchdowns in five appearances to begin the season.

Linebacker James Peter has been the defensive stalwart for Ottawa. The fourth-year human kinetics major currently leads the nation in solo tackles (30) and total tackles (38.5) and has recorded two forced fumbles on the year.

For Carleton, quarterback Tanner Dejong has brought an offensive spark for the Ravens. The fifth-year pivot currently ranks sixth in U SPORTS in passing yards per game with 254.8 and six majors through five starts.

Carleton’s defence has also managed to put points on the board for the Ravens, scoring a nation-leading four defensive touchdowns. In last week’s 24-7 victory over the Windsor Lancers, safety Othman Brahm took an interception 50 yards to the house.

Both Ravens and Gee-Gees fans will pack TD Place to continue the longstanding tradition. Ottawa holds the all-time record of 35-17 over Carleton.

Toronto Varsity Blues @ Waterloo Warriors

  • Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
  • Video: OUA.TV

No. 1 Western Mustangs @ McMaster Marauders

York Lions @ No. 4 Queen’s Gaels

Laurier Golden Hawks @ Windsor Lancers

  • Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT
  • Video: OUA.TV

 AUS

Saint Mary’s Huskies @ Acadia Axemen

  • Saturday, 2:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
  • Video: AUStv

Mount Allison Mounties @ Bishop’s Gaiters

  • Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
  • Video: AUStv

RSEQ

Sherbrooke Vert & Or @ Concordia Stingers

  • Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
  • French Television: TVA Sports 
  • English Video: YARE TV  

McGill Redbirds @ No. 5 Laval Rouge et Or

 Canada West

No. 9 Manitoba Bisons @ No. 2 Saskatchewan Huskies

Calgary Dinos @ UBC Thunderbirds

Alberta Golden Bears @ No. 6 Regina Rams

WOMEN’S SOCCER

*GAME OF THE WEEK*

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No. 9 Cape Breton Capers @ No. 8 Acadia Axewomen

  • Friday, 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT
  • Video: AUStv

Tormented by heavy rain and winds, Fiona disrupted AUS programming last week; however, leading AUS conference women’s soccer teams, No. 9 Cape Breton Capers (4-0-0) and No. 8 Acadia Axewomen (3-0-0), faceoff this Friday in Wolfville, Nova Scotia to battle for the top AUS ranking.

Amidst undefeated streaks, the Capers and Axewomen have yet to lose a regular season game this year. Will the Capers’ offence led by top scorer Alliyah Rowe with five of the Capers’ 15 goals be enough to disrupt the Axewomen’s position and the U SPORTS women’s soccer Top 10 rankings? Expect Axewomen leading scorers Abigail Aucoin, Jayden Boudreau, and Grace Longley to apply equal pressure on the Capers’ net. Tune in to find out which Nova Scotian team will reign victorious.

No. 10 Calgary Dinos @ No. 2 Trinity Western Spartans

No. 4 Queen’s Gaels @ Toronto Varsity Blues

  • Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
  • Video: OUA.TV

MEN’S SOCCER

*GAME OF THE WEEK*

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McGill Redbirds @ UQAM Citadins

  • Friday, 8:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. PT

RSEQ is turning up the heat this Friday as McGill (2-2-2) faces division-leading UQAM (3-1-2) at Saputo Stadium. With 11 points in six games, the Citadins are riding a three-game victory following a 4-1 defeat of Laval Rouge et Or last weekend. MVP striker Alexis Jeanne found the net twice, while 22-year-old Timothé Makanzu-Tinadio scored the other two UQAM goals.

After being ejected from McGill’s romp against Sherbrooke last weekend, will Redbirds standout goalkeeper and U SPORTS player of the week (period ending Sept. 18, 2022) Ludovyck Ciociola be back in play to protect the net?

UNBC Timberwolves @ No. 7 UBC Thunderbirds

No. 6 StFX X-Men @ Memorial Seahawks

  • Saturday, 9:00 a.m. ET / 6:00 a.m. PT
  • Video: AUStv

RUGBY

*GAME OF THE WEEK*

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No. 10 Concordia Stingers @ Sherbrooke Vert & Or

  • Sunday, 4:00 p.m. ET / 1:00 p.m. PT

It’s an RSEQ showdown in U SPORTS women's rugby this Sunday as previously unranked No. 10 Concordia Stingers (2-2-0) challenge the Sherbrooke Vert et Or (1-3-0) on the road at Terrain Synthétique in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

The Vert et Or will face the Concordia Stingers women’s rugby athlete of the week (period ending Sept. 25, 2022), Mahalia Robinson, who played a significant role in the Stringers 55-3 victory over the McGill Martlets in the 18th annual Kelly-Anne Drummond Cup on Sunday. The third-year back accounted for 20 points with two tries and five converts and was named the MVP of the game.

Will the Vert et Or have what it takes to shake up the U SPORTS rankings, or will the Stingers maintain their place amongst the nation’s top U SPORTS teams?

No. 9 Carleton @ No. 4 Ottawa Gee-Gees

  • Friday, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT

No. 7 PEI Panthers @ StFX X-Women

  • Saturday, 1:00 p.m. ET / 10:00 a.m. PT
  • Video: AUStv

FIELD HOCKEY

*GAME OF THE WEEK*

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Western Mustangs @ Waterloo Warriors

  • Sunday, 9:00 a.m. ET / 6:00 a.m. PT

The field hockey duel of the week will pit OUA West rivals Western Mustangs (1-1-2) and Waterloo Warriors (1-2-1) for a battle to crack the U SPORTS Top 5 rankings during game two of this two-game Ontario series. Sitting at No. 6 and No. 7, the Warriors will host the Mustangs at the Waterloo Warrior Field bright and early on Sunday morning. Coming off a 1-0 win last weekend, Waterloo's second-year defence Mackenzie Blake may look to surprise the crowd and pop another game-winning goal to solidify the Warriors' defeat over the Mustangs; that is, if third-year Mustangs goalkeeper Alyssa Evans let’s one slide.

Calgary Dinos @ No. 5 UBC Thunderbirds

  • Sunday, 2:00 p.m. / 11:00 a.m. PT