Walking off the field at PECI for the last time was bittersweet for the Panthers Senior Girls Rugby team.

On one hand, they had just finished beating the brakes off of the Trenton High School Tigers 66-19, in the Bay of Quinte Athletic Conference Quarterfinals. On the other, it was the final time the seniors on the Panthers would get to play alongside their teammates at home. 

There was not a dry eye among them as coaches addressed the seniors after the game. 

“They are an incredibly close group. Most of the senior girls have put four years into the program. That’s 60 rugby games together. The closeness comes from them. We have a ton of fun. It’s really easy to show up to practice, and they’re the ones who do it,” said Head Coach Doug Holt. 

Cassie Mazurski led the way on the scoresheet for PECI with four tries on the evening. Kensey Koutroulides added three, while Co-Captain Sophie Caissie, Co-Captain Juliette Blouin, and Milly Dowson all contributed single tries. Koutroulides handled convert responsibilities, picking up eight on the contest. 

“We started the season a little bit rough. We lost a few games on this field. Today was a complete switch. We knew we needed to win to move on, and we played the best game I think this team has played all season,” Caissie said. “These past four years have been the best of my life. All with these girls. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else with any other people.” 

The Panthers who didn’t end up on the scoresheet also played some of their best rugby. Shorthanded with only 17 players to start the game, all 17 saw time, and all 17 made a handful of plays worthy of coach recognition. 

Even during the only stretch in the game when Trenton threatened to keep it close, there was no negativity on the Panther bench. 

“We were resilient. We came in with 17 players, having two subs for a rugby game. Being tough, resilient and united in their goal was what we wanted out of the performance and that’s exactly how I would analyze the performance,” Mr. Holt said.

The win earned the team  the right to line up alongside each other one more time. They were at Mary Anne Sills Friday for a semi-final matchup leading to the Bay of Quinte league championships. They fell 27-0 to Centennial Secondary School in the semi-final. But a few hours later, they defeated St. Theresa Catholic Secondary School 40-12 in the Bronze Medal match.

For many of the Panthers, the opportunity to extend their time with teammates they have grown close with was what was really at stake on Friday. This is a team that lifts its members up throughout the game. An incredibly close group who love playing rugby, as evidenced by the smiles on the faces of players limping off after a major collision. 

The 2026 PECI Panthers will always remember their time together, and the time they “Kicked Trenton’s Butt” to send their seniors off on a high note. 

“You sink hundreds, and maybe thousands of hours into the gameplay here. Knowing we’re getting close to the end of our journey is a very emotional moment for us,” Mr. Holt said.