OTTAWA, Ontario — The Carleton Ravens women’s rugby team had a bounce-back season in 2021. After going 0-6 in league play, being demoted to Division B in 2019 and missing the season in 2020, the Ravens turned it around and finished 5-1. The team made it to the bronze medal match against the University of Montreal. Flyhalf Vanessa Chiappetta said it was one of the craziest games of her life.

“Our drive to win, I’ve never seen it before,” Chiapetta said. “There was never a moment on the field where people were like, ‘Oh it’s over, we’re losing.’ We did have a rough start, but we came back so hard. It felt amazing.”

The game went to overtime, where the Ravens pulled out the 26-24 win for the bronze.

Chiappetta, a criminology major from Rigaud, Quebec, has been playing rugby since the seventh grade. She initially tried out for rugby because a friend wanted someone to try out with, and then she fell in love with the sport.

“I’m a very soft person on the outside, but when it comes to rugby, all the anger from the inside just comes out,” she said. “That’s the best part of rugby: the tackling, the defense and getting all your anger out.”

Chiappetta turned in a tremendous individual season. She finished third in RSEQ scoring, had three game MVPs, was named an RSEQ All-Star and was named RSEQ Athlete of the Month for October. Chiappetta never imagined she’d win an award like RSEQ Athlete of the Month and credited her teammates.

“I didn’t think I’d ever get that, but I wouldn’t be in that position without my team,” Chiappetta said. “We’ve been working so hard because we know we deserve a spot in the top tier.”

The team gelled this year under new head coach David Luong, a former assistant coach. Chiappetta says the team was more connected due to being able to do off-season training that wasn’t allowed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our structure is a lot better, we’re a lot more connected,” she said. “Everyone has been working super hard and everyone is dedicated to improving on themselves and as a team together. This has been the craziest season I’ve ever been a part of.”

The Ravens definitely had a bounce-back, finishing third overall in the playoffs. There will be a vote to see if the tier system remains in place for RSEQ rugby. As the current system works, Carleton will still be in B Tier next year and will start the year as the sixth-place team between the two divisions.

Chiappetta says the goal for the team next year is nationals and making it to the top tier. Her own goals for her final rugby season involve improving on the little things, getting stronger and enjoying the time with her teammates in what is, as of now, her last season of university rugby.

“We’re such a connected team. (Leaving) sucks, I don’t even want to think about it,” Chiappetta said. “I’m definitely going to miss it. I’m probably going to try and stick around.”

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