The McMaster Marauders women's rugby team hoisted the Monilex Trophy for the first time in program history thanks in part to the phenomenal performance of number eight Cindy Nelles (Belleville, Ont).
Prior to the tournament, Nelles a fourth-year civil engineering student-athlete, was named CIS player of the year and a CIS All-Canadian.
In their opening game of the CIS championship against Lethbridge, Nelles scored back-to-back tries for the Marauders in the 21st and 24th minutes to help McMaster stretch their to 31-0. They would go on to win the contest 62-14 and the Belleville, Ont. native was named player of the game for the Marauders.
After being held off the scoresheet in McMaster’s 14-8 semifinal victory over the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, Nelles crossed the try line twice in the 5th and 21st minutes as McMaster defeated the host and OUA rival Queen’s Gaels 27-3 to win the championship.
"It's absolutely been an incredible journey," said Nelles postgame. "This team has come so far from when I first came to McMaster and it's been absolutely amazing to be a part of that journey."
Nelles capped off an outstanding week, month and season as she was named Championship MVP.
