WATERLOO, Ont. - There were a few layers to the celebration around this year's Battle of Waterloo women's rugby match-up on Sunday afternoon at Columbia Icefield's rugby pitch, but the significance of Laurier's 40-17 win was the cherry on top.

With UW women's rugby alumni coming together to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the program's establishment, Laurier head coach Eric Ciezar, a former men's rugby student-athlete at UW, was a centrepiece of the festivities.

He was the first coach in Warriors women's rugby history and coached the program until 2009, winning back-to-back OUA championships in 2000 and 2001. 

Having "crossed the street" to take the reigns of Laurier's program before the start of the 2024 season, Ciezer has now officially guided the Golden Hawks back to the OUA playoffs, with his current squad clinching a postseason birth with one regular season game to go. 

A win over Toronto in the team's upcoming Senior Day game will secure the first home playoff game in program history against either Brock or York. 

A loss would send Laurier to either St.Catherines or North York for a road playoff match-up against the Badgers or Lions.

Kick-off for the Golden Hawks' regular season finale at University Stadium on Saturday, October 4 is set for 12 pm. As always, admission is free.