SHERBROOKE, Que. – The Bishop's Gaiters women's rugby team will step onto the pitch for the final time in 2015 on Thursday night in Montreal as they face the McGill Martlets on McEwan Field. 
 
Women's rugby is the only Bishop's Gaiters team in action on Thursday while Friday starts to heat up a busy weekend for the purple and white. Men's rugby is at home for their second to last contest, a match-up with the ETS Pirhanas while women's soccer travels to face the UQAM Citadins.  The men's and women's basketball teams also each tip-off in a trio of pre-season games over three days. Saturday boasts the football team in Montreal to face Concordia and the lacrosse team home to Ottawa. The weekend wraps up on Sunday with women's soccer in Quebec City to face the Laval Rouge et Or.
 
Women's Rugby
The Gaiters (0-6) are coming off a 32-19 loss to Carleton in the nation's capital on Sunday.  The quick turnaround has them set to take on a McGill squad (2-3) that is battling for the final playoff spot in RSEQ University women's rugby. Bishop's has been powered by their rookie class who has been able to energize the returning players and show promise for the future. Bishop's will look to play spoiler and take away positives as they head into the offseason.
 
Men's Rugby
Bishop's (3-2, 14 points) has two games remaining in the re-vamped RSEQ University rugby season, both games against opponents in their division.  Saturday they host third place ETS (1-4, 4 points) on Coulter Field at 7 p.m. A victory would leave Bishop's within striking distance of the McGill Redmen (5-0, 22 points), their opponent on the last day of the regular season. McGill however will have the opportunity to lock up first place on Saturday when they host fellow division leader Montreal (4-1, 16 points). First place in each division results in a bye during the quarter-final weekend and home field advantage in the semifinals.
 
The Gaiters topped start-up ETS in Montreal 26-12 on Sept. 27.  The 2015 campaign marks the first time the Pirhanas are in the RSEQ since 2007.
 
Women's Soccer
Still seeking their first win of the 2015 campaign, the Bishop's Gaiters women's soccer team (0-6-2) is on the road for a pair of RSEQ University women's soccer contests this weekend.  On Friday they are in Montreal to face the UQAM Citadins (2-5-1) at 8 p.m. at Stade Saputo.  Sunday they trek to the provincial capital for a tilt with the first-place Laval Rouge et Or at 2 p.m.  Laval is also the top-ranked team in the nation.
 
Both games are rematches from contests that took place to open the season on Coulter Field.  On Sept. 11 Bishop's fell 3-0 to UQAM and on Sept. 13 Bishop's played tough but ultimately came up short 2-0 against Laval.
 
Football
After a bye-week over the Thanksgiving weekend, the Bishop's Gaiters (1-4) are back on the football field for a RSEQ University football game with the Concordia Stingers (2-3) in Montreal.  Bishop's will look to find their stride after coming off a tough loss on homecoming Saturday to the McGill Redmen (3-2).  Earlier this year Concordia topped Bishop's 38-18 in Lennoxville.  A complete game-day guide will be available on www.gaiters.ca on Friday, Oct. 16.
 
Lacrosse
The Bishop's Gaiters men's lacrosse team knows they will finish in second place in the CUFLA East and they will play in the quarter-final of the 2015 Baggataway Cup, an event they are hosting from Nov. 6-8, 2015.  The Gaiters have two regular season contests left to fine tune and prepare for the single-elimination tournament. Next up for the purple is a tilt with the University of Ottawa on Coulter Field on Saturday at 6 p.m.
 
Men's Basketball
The Gaiters men's basketball team is in Ottawa for the House-Laughton Tournament hosted by the Carleton Ravens.  They play a trio of games against CIS competition. On Friday the Toronto Varsity Blues are their opponent at 6 p.m.; Saturday they face the Acadia Axemen at 6 p.m. and on Sunday it's the five-time defending national champion Carleton Ravens who they tip-off with at 2 p.m.


Women's Basketball
After a successful road trip to North Bay where the Lady Gaiters posted a 2-1 record, they make their way east for a trio of CIS exhibition games.  Bishop's will compete in the Mickey Place Memorial Tournament hosted by the UPEI Panthers in Charlottetown. On Friday they face the hosts at 6 p.m. local time, on Saturday Acadia is their opponent at 2 p.m. and on Sunday the Ottawa Gee-Gees and Gaiters will battle at 9 a.m.
 
Follow all the Gaiters sports teams anytime at www.gaiters.ca or on social media using @BishopsGaiters. 
 
Webcasts this weekend
Men's Rugby vs. ETS, Friday at 7 p.m.: www.gaiters.ca/webcast
Football at Concordia, Saturday at 2 p.m.: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/cumo/portal.htm?eventId=242096&streamType=video
Lacrosse vs. Ottawa, Saturday at 6 p.m.: www.gaiters.ca/webcast
Women's Soccer at Laval, Sunday at 2 p.m.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XBV_OYMc3Q
Men's Basketball at Carleton, Sunday at 2 p.m.: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/oua/
 
-30-